More often than not, food is left unfinished after a meal gathering. It will be a shame to simply throw them away so here are some tips on how to freeze leftovers!
But first know that not all food is suitable for freezing as that will adversely alter the texture. This includes green leafed salads, fresh fruit or vegetable salads, grapes, fresh whole apples, and uncooked plums or pears.
Package Your Leftover Food in the Right Quantities
Fruit and Vegetables: Up to 1 kg per pack
Meat: Up to 3 kgs per pack
Ready-made Meals: Up to 1 kg per pack
Use Appropriate Packaging
Solid foods (such as meat, vegetables, bread or baked goods) that are intended for defrosting and microwave cooking should only be packed in packaging specified for this purpose.
Pack liquid and soft foods (such as juices, soups, and soft fruit fillings) in suitably strong, airtight food bags or in microwave safe containers.
Be sure to label your packaging – and don’t forget the date!
Do Not Exceed Recommended Storage Periods
Vegetables: 6 to 12 months
Fruit: 8 to 12 months
Meat: 3 to 6 months (depending on type)
Ready-made meals: Up to 3 months
Actual storage times are dependent on many factors, including your type of freezer. Never eat food that doesn’t look fit for consumption.
Does your leftover food require defrosting?
Do check! Most food items can be prepared from frozen or when lightly thawed. As a general rule, larger pieces of meat, poultry and fish must be fully defrosted or well thawed before cooking.
Tips for Freezing
Turkey:
Remove meat from bones. Freeze meat and bones separately.
Storage life in freezer compartment: 3 months
Cooked & Smoked Ham:
Slice or cut up ham, wrap in airtight freezer bags.
Storage life in freezer compartment: 2 months
Casseroles:
Freeze in the baking dish, once frozen, move to foil or plastic container.
Storage life in freezer compartment: 2-3 months
Roasted Meats:
Freeze whole or in slices, with foil between the slices.
Storage life in freezer compartment: 3 months
Stew:
Cook and divide into portions. Pack in solid containers or cook-in freezer bags.
Storage life in freezer compartment: 3 months
Dumplings:
Store cooked, ready-to-serve dumplings in a solid container or cook-in freezer bag.
Storage life in freezer compartment: 3 months
Soup:
Some soups freeze better than others. Remove items that won’t freeze well, such as pasta, before freezing. It would be better (and more appetising) to add such items back once you have reheated the soup. Freeze in small containers or freezer-ready food bags.
Storage life in freezer compartment: 3 months
If you have a Liebherr freezer, activate SuperFrost before preparing the items to be frozen. By reducing the temperature in the freezer compartment to as low as -32° C, you can freeze fresh food quickly and carefully, preserving taste and vitamins in the process.
Don’t have a Liebherr? Give your leftovers a great home! Upgrade to a Liebherr today: Find out more about our full range here.
