Pegasus Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 Can you please share your experience, good and bad, with reusable freezer containers? We are trying to reduce how many single-use products we use. I hate using a heavy freezer bag once and then tossing it. Can this be done economically? Does anyone use regular canning jars? Does the headspace in the jars cause freezer burn? What about the plastic reusable containers? Assuming those can go through the dishwasher? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 Wide-mouth pint canning jars--the kind with a fill line for freezing--have worked great for me. I use them for broths, fruit, raw meat, and also muffins. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 10 minutes ago, Pegasus said: I hate using a heavy freezer bag once and then tossing it. You can wash and reuse freezer bags. I have also frozen and reused single use containers that used to hold salsa, cottage cheese, ice cream.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 I wash and reuse freezer bags. I have been using the same one for frozen fruit for smoothies for over a year now. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JIN MOUSA Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 We use canning jars (with single-piece plastic lids) and also Pyrex with plastic lids. We don't keep things in the freezer for a very long time, so I haven't noticed any freezer burn problems. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livetoread Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 I get the pint and the pint and a half jars that are safe for freezers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 I’m trying to puzzle this one out myself. How do you reduce plastic use and keep your food preserved in the freezer? I don’t like glass jars because I feel that isn’t an efficient shape for my tiny over-the-fridge freezer. I’m contemplating some sort of one cup silicone cubes that I can freeze in, then pop out and wrap in what? Foil? Butcher paper? Plastic wrap then foil? Ideally it could be something I can compost or recycle. I don’t relish the thought of buying more plastic “so I can reuse it.” I DO cook things that I like to store up to six months. I haven’t quite found an answer that completely works for me. I’m using freezer bags now because they work really well and don’t waste space. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 I use the wide-mouth mason jars for most of my freezing - that's my preference but they are not always practical, so I also use heavy plastic containers - such as the Rubbermaid "easy find lid" type - for some things. Sometimes I put a sheet of plastic wrap directly on the food to protect from freezer burn. I also sometimes reuse freezer bags but never ones that have had meat in them. Reuse depends on how much water I'd have to use to get the bag clean enough to reuse. I've not had good results with reusing yogurt or similar containers - they usually end up cracking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 6 hours ago, KungFuPanda said: I’m trying to puzzle this one out myself. How do you reduce plastic use and keep your food preserved in the freezer? I don’t like glass jars because I feel that isn’t an efficient shape for my tiny over-the-fridge freezer. I’m contemplating some sort of one cup silicone cubes that I can freeze in, then pop out and wrap in what? Foil? Butcher paper? Plastic wrap then foil? Ideally it could be something I can compost or recycle. I don’t relish the thought of buying more plastic “so I can reuse it.” I DO cook things that I like to store up to six months. I haven’t quite found an answer that completely works for me. I’m using freezer bags now because they work really well and don’t waste space. Anchor Hocking makes rectangular glass containers for the freezer. These, for example. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denise in IN Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 I wash and reuse ziploc bags if they weren't used for meat or anything terribly messy/greasy. I really like the Gladware plastic containers that are made for freezer use - they're heavier than the regular ones and hold up better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted July 29, 2018 Share Posted July 29, 2018 I use straight-sided, regular mouth half pint canning jars with plastic lids (pizza sauce, chicken broth). One cup is a good size for me for those. I haven't tried larger jars, but have heard you want the straighter sides (which is probably why people use wide-mouth jars above). I have a couple of round pyrex with plastic lids that are great, but probably not the most efficient use of space. I would look for rectangular ones if that was a concern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 We use Pyrex glass containers or freezer bags. I reuse the freezer bags a lot because I mostly use them for things that are already wrapped in foil (like leftover pizza or pancakes). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clemsondana Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 We grow a lot of our own vegetables and fill a chest freezer since I don't want to can. I use plastic containers made by Arrow - I got a ton of them on Amazon. Since I have a bunch, I use them for other things that I need to freeze, too. They only get washed 2-3x/year since I freeze produce in the summer and then only use the a couple of times before I'm ready to freeze the next year's green beans or tomatoes, but I run them through the dishwasher on the top rack and they've done fine. They stack efficiently - the quart, pint, and 1.5 pint containers are the same footprint, just different heights, so they stack well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 1 hour ago, happysmileylady said: I tried glass canning jars and they just didn't work for me. I am in LOVE with these containers. They work for leftover storage, freezer storage, taking things for lunch, storing chicken stock, etc etc etc. Plastic? Yes. But inexpensive, versatile, fridge, freezer, microwave friendly, as well as dishwasher safe. Pluse they seal well so that they don't leak at all when used for things like taking soup to work for lunch, etc. I use similar containers. Reditainer Extreme Freeze Deli Food Containers with Lids, 16-Ounce, 36-Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HG8YTB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.rNxBb4DFB604 I have them in 8, 16, and 32oz. Love them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 Glasslocks mason jars glass 9x13 pans I have a few very large plastic containers but I do not use plastic for anything that may be heated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted July 30, 2018 Author Share Posted July 30, 2018 11 hours ago, happysmileylady said: I tried glass canning jars and they just didn't work for me. I am in LOVE with these containers. They work for leftover storage, freezer storage, taking things for lunch, storing chicken stock, etc etc etc. Plastic? Yes. But inexpensive, versatile, fridge, freezer, microwave friendly, as well as dishwasher safe. Pluse they seal well so that they don't leak at all when used for things like taking soup to work for lunch, etc. My thanks to everyone for their experiences and input! I really like the look of these very economical containers that can be run through the dishwasher between uses. I'm sure I'll use them for lots of different things but one of my main goals is to divide up large family packages of meat. . .so I don't trust that I could wash freezer bags sufficiently between uses to keep the food safe. I don't heat in plastic but I'm comfortable freezing in it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 20 hours ago, heartlikealion said: I don't have an answer. I just want to say that in day to day life here I use pyrex for non freezer things and I hate that the plastic lids tend to crack on me. It may just be on the edge where I open them, but it makes me question how well they would seal food were I need to put them in the freezer. We have an outlet mall that sells replacement lids and such but I just think their lids could be more durable. I also wonder if the pyrex would crack at some point in my deep freeze and that's a mess I would not want to have to deal with. FWIW, I've been using glass in the freezer for about a decade now, with no problems. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bootsie Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 14 hours ago, Pegasus said: My thanks to everyone for their experiences and input! I really like the look of these very economical containers that can be run through the dishwasher between uses. I'm sure I'll use them for lots of different things but one of my main goals is to divide up large family packages of meat. . .so I don't trust that I could wash freezer bags sufficiently between uses to keep the food safe. I don't heat in plastic but I'm comfortable freezing in it. If I am freezing raw meat, I wrap it tightly in butcher paper or freezer paper. Then it can be wrapped in aluminium foil or placed in a plastic bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 On 7/29/2018 at 8:29 AM, JIN MOUSA said: We use canning jars (with single-piece plastic lids) and also Pyrex with plastic lids. We don't keep things in the freezer for a very long time, so I haven't noticed any freezer burn problems. I wish I could use my canning jars but several have cracked - if not while in the freezer, then during the thawing process. Now I have an odd mix of bags and plastic containers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JIN MOUSA Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 5 hours ago, Liz CA said: I wish I could use my canning jars but several have cracked - if not while in the freezer, then during the thawing process. Now I have an odd mix of bags and plastic containers. I have no idea what sort of magic-canning-jar-juju is going on at my house, but I can't remember ever having a jar crack. I only use wide mouth jars, I cool them in the fridge before moving them to the freezer, and again thaw them in the fridge before I need them. I've even used the quart size ones, which do I have shoulders. I'm sure if I had jars breaking on me, I'd be working on a different solution. Also, if I had a choice of magic juju at my house, I *don't* think I would have chosen canning jars... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavender's green Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 Ball makes, or used to make, plastic pint containers specifically for freezer use. The lid has a groove so they stack nicely. Recently I've started using take-out soup containers. You can get a set on Amazon if you don't regularly get take-out soup. However, I'm not sure how tight that seal is. I try to rotate through frozen food quickly, so I've never had a problem with freezer burn, but YMMV depending on how long you plan to store it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 4 hours ago, JIN MOUSA said: I have no idea what sort of magic-canning-jar-juju is going on at my house, but I can't remember ever having a jar crack. I only use wide mouth jars, I cool them in the fridge before moving them to the freezer, and again thaw them in the fridge before I need them. I've even used the quart size ones, which do I have shoulders. I'm sure if I had jars breaking on me, I'd be working on a different solution. Also, if I had a choice of magic juju at my house, I *don't* think I would have chosen canning jars... I have not been putting them in the fridge BEFORE freezing but I thaw in the fridge. Perhaps this makes a difference. I am now also looking at plastic Ball jars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamanthaCarter Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 (edited) You can get square sided deli containers similar to the round ones linked above. I’m almost ready to buy a case. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/reviews/B01M06YL0L/ref=cm_cr_dp_mb_show_all_btm?ie=UTF8 Edited July 31, 2018 by SamanthaCarter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 (edited) 47 minutes ago, SamanthaCarter said: You can get square sided deli containers similar to the round ones linked above. I’m almost ready to buy a case. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/reviews/B01M06YL0L/ref=cm_cr_dp_mb_show_all_btm?ie=UTF8 Those are nice and it does make the most sense to have square containers. I use my 16oz containers the most so I would probably try a set of 16oz first. Edited July 31, 2018 by kitten18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockhopper Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 (edited) A little late to the party, but I use these and have for years:Arrow Plastic 1-Quart Freezer Containers, 3-Pack - Set of 2 (Total 6 Containers) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RU38BYW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DtlyBb060B6D4 They come in three sizes (1/2 pt, pt and qt) and all sizes use the same lid, which I love! They are dishwasher safe and of course freezer safe. They are harder to find than they used to be, but worth it to me even though they're a bit pricey now. They last a long time. And did I mention how much I love the fact that they all use the same lid? Edited July 31, 2018 by Rockhopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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