Best food storage solutions

Wondering about the best containers to store your extra meals in? Getting started with meal planning does require working out the best storage option for your freezer. We take a quick look at which option might suit you best.

You don’t need a kitchen-full of gadgets to get started, but it is important to have some storage options that work for your freezer. So if you haven’t got any containers, work out how much space you have in your freezer and the most appropriate size of storage to fit.

Glass
Glass storage containers are great for keeping herbs and leafy greens fresh, but also work well for leftovers or doubled-up meals in your freezer if you have the space. Choose a few sizes if you can, as you might want to store different amounts of foods in them e.g. a full meal for a family of four or a single serve of leftovers. They are great as you can use the same container to defrost the meal in the microwave if you have one, and wash easily in the dishwasher. The only disadvantage of glass containers is their bulk, so may not suit you in you have limited space. We like to have 2–3 full household meals at any one time in the freezer, so go with this option if you have plenty of space.

Plastic
Whether you are using Tupperware containers or ones bought from the supermarket, plastic storage containers are a versatile option. Again, choose a range of sizes for different amounts. Try and match the amount of food you are freezing to the closest sized storage container to help prevent freezer burn. Look for BPA free storage containers if possible. Check to see if they can transfer to the microwave, if not, simply remove them from the freezer a day in advance and leave to defrost in your refrigerator. Some containers don’t fare so well in the dishwasher, and again, may be bulky if you have limited space.

Freezable snaplock bags
If you are short on space, freezable snaplock bags that you can write on are a perfect solution. We like to write the date cooked, the meal and the number of serves on the bags for easy reference a few weeks down the track. You can squeeze out the air, close them tightly and store then flat which will maximise the room in your freezer. They are also quick to defrost. If you are worried about the waste, simply wash them out and reuse them and remember to re-label the new meal.

It doesn’t matter which type of storage options you have: plastic, glass or freezable bags you can write on. Our top meal planning tip is to cook double of all freezable meals so that you can food bank for a few weeks down the track.

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