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Farm Kitchen:  Freezing food  |
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applesaucemom
Farmgirl in Training
37 Posts
Rebekah
37 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 18 2010 : 9:38:05 PM
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Hi ladies,
I'm new to the forum so I hope I'm not asking a repetive question. How do you all freeze your food? Is there any way to freeze things without using zip lock bags? I want to make some chicken stock and would like to freeze it, but I really don't like using plastic. Is there a secret I don't know about. Oh...and.. I would love to can but have never tried and totally don't have a clue how to do that so I'm not brave enough yet....but am thinking about it.
my blog: www.applesaucemom.blogspot.com |
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vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2010 : 04:51:40 AM
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I did notice that the new ball canning jars in pints and some quarts say they are freezer safe. I hate plastic too, but you can fit so much more in the freezer if you use a bag. I wash them out and reuse them. As far as canning, some of the canning books will scare the pants off you, but it is a fun and rewarding process. Maybe your county extension office has canning classes. Ours does in the spring and summer. Welcome to the forum.
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2010 : 07:07:39 AM
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Hi Rebekah. I have made beef and chicken stoch and froze it. I just put it in glass canning jars with about 1" head space for expansion. Wait til it's cooled then put in freezer. I've done it with plastic freezer bags and glass jars. I reuse all my plastic baggies til they start leaking. If you do the glass make sure thsy are COOL before freezing and leave enough room from expansion when frozen. Or they will crack. Good luck! And canning is NOT as scary as people make it out to be. It's just using common sense.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2010 : 11:01:52 AM
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I have frozen food in small pans or muffin tins and them popped them out and wrapped them. There are lots of options if you get creative.
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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applesaucemom
Farmgirl in Training
37 Posts
Rebekah
37 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2010 : 12:13:06 AM
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Wow, grwat ideas thank you! I'm definitely going to check the county extension office for classes. Thank you so much!
my blog: www.applesaucemom.blogspot.com |
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Candy C.
True Blue Farmgirl
823 Posts
Candy
Mescal
AZ
USA
823 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2010 : 07:17:53 AM
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I froze some peaches this year in a sugar pack and used pint canning jars. Just make sure the box says the jars are okay for freezing. I noticed the quart jars did NOT say they were okay which was a bummer because I wanted the larger quantity.
Candy C.
Farmgirl Sister #977
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. |
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prairie_princess
True Blue Farmgirl
613 Posts
Elizabeth
Carpenter
WY
USA
613 Posts |
Posted - Sep 26 2010 : 10:42:10 AM
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So far, I've used cottage cheese/sour cream containers for freezing my broths... I love them because you know how much is there if you fill up the container (leaving expansion room, of course) as a reference for future use. I try to steer clear of plastic as well, but they are handy!
"Only two things that money can't buy, that's true love and homegrown tomatoes."
- Guy Clark
"The man who has planted a garden feels he has done something for the good of the world."
- Charles Dudley Warner |
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Violets November
True Blue Farmgirl
342 Posts
Violet
Exeter
California
USA
342 Posts |
Posted - Sep 27 2010 : 10:14:01 PM
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There are some great ideas here.
I usually use glass jars. But just be sure to leave head space as suggested because as the contents freeze, they expand and they will break the glass.
The freezer ziplocks work really well. Place the food, stock, etc in them, lay them flat on a plate or pan, then freeze. When frozen, you can stack them easily on the freezer shelf.
~Violet~
Farmgirl Sister #1669
My blog, http://hiddenacre.blogspot.com/
Our Organic Jewelry, http://www.etsy.com/shop/GaelicForge |
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CathyM
True Blue Farmgirl
344 Posts
Cathy
Tulsa
OK
USA
344 Posts |
Posted - Sep 29 2010 : 10:09:37 PM
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I freeze a lot of different foods. Right now in my freezer I have already mixed and shaped meatballs and meatloaf ready to cook, cut up/chopped onions and peppers, homemade chicken soup, homemade lasagna, Amish friendship bread mix, as well as the regular things, chicken breasts, sausages, ice lol, etc. I always buy my organic chicken and beef when it's on sale and mix and separate everything into serving sizes and freeze in ziplock freezer bags (I reuse them), for the meat I wrap it up in freezer paper and I label everything with a sharpie on freezer tape. I also have plastic shoe boxes in my fridge labeled with meat, veggies, etc so it's easy to find everything.
I haven't tried freezing in glass containers yet, I am going to try that next with casseroles. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the glass doesn't break any suggestions?
www.MurrayDesigns.etsy.com
Farmgirl Sister #710
"Not all who wander are lost"
JRR Tolkien
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Farm Kitchen: Freezing food |
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Freezing food
