if you don't use plastic, what do you freeze stuff in?

[binxsmom]

i'm moving away from plastics and need some tips and pointers. what do y'all use to freeze? and what about the mamas that freeze major amounts of garden veggies? i'm curious. thanks!

[mamamelia]

for stocks, sauces and milk, i use canning jars.
for meats, i use paper lunch bags (recycled ones), double them up and tape them. or you can use brown paper (again recycled) and wrap each portion really well like a package. i chose recycled because they are more eco-freindly and not bleached with chlorine.
you can also use pyrex bowls to store foods. the rectangular ones fit better in the freezer.
for vegies, i am not sure. i suppose you could line the bags with paper so that the food is not in contact with the plastic?

it's so hard to stay away from plastics.

[Snowdrift]

Mason Jars Rock! And I'm not even plastics-avoidant (yet), it just keeps the stuff better. Just rinsed out a dozen quart jars for the soup I'll have simmering all day tomorrow.

[daisyem]

I use glass jars or class pyrex bowls (although the lids are plastic)

They work GREAT!!

Also, awesome idea about the brown paper bags! I've never thought of that!

[KathinJapan]

I wrap stuff in wax paper. I like the paper bag idea, too.
Kathryn

[mamimapster]

Originally Posted by mamamelia

for stocks, sauces and milk, i use canning jars.

Please please tell me how you do this without breaking them. I had six different canning jars break when trying to freeze sauce & stock. I refrigerated for 24 hours first, i didn't fill all the way to the top (left about 1" from the top, and still they shattered on me. I lost a whole bunch of organic homemade marnara sauce & veggie stock this way

[mags]

Subscribing, b/c I too want to know how to do this w/o worrying about glass breaking. Also, for those using jars, I'm assuming you have to let the sauce/soup defrost slowly on it's own, b/c there is no way to, "pop" it out, right?

[Annie]

Subscribing too

I'd also like to hear of ways to get away from storing/freezing stuff in plastick :

[binxsmom]

Originally Posted by mags

Also, for those using jars, I'm assuming you have to let the sauce/soup defrost slowly on it's own, b/c there is no way to, "pop" it out, right?

:

[teachermom]

I do not avoid plastics but the thing about sauces in glass made me thing of something my grandmother used to do. she would freeze sauces in metal ice cube trays then put them into baggies (you could use glass containers) after they were frozen for us to use for smaller servings. I have done this with things like pestos when I had lots of freash basil. guess it wouldn't work out as well for soups though.

[mamimapster]

Well,
I think I figured it out. NOT with a canning jar, which is what I was originally trying, but with a recycled applesauce jar (I suspect the thicker glass helped). I filled the jar 3/4 with stock, refrigerated for 24 hours and then froze until solid with NO LID. When it was frozen solid then I put the lid on and voila, totally intact jar. I have now repeated the experiment with two jars of marinara, and everything has been intact so far. Yeahh! I think the lack of a lid allowed the air to vent out at the liquid froze and expanded which prevented breakage.

[mzfern]

Thanks for the tip, mamimapster! I'll try your technique next time.

[AntoninBeGonin]

Originally Posted by tie-dyed

Mason Jars Rock! And I'm not even plastics-avoidant (yet), it just keeps the stuff better. Just rinsed out a dozen quart jars for the soup I'll have simmering all day tomorrow.

Can you use mason jars in the freezer?

tia
~Nay

[AnnieMarie]

Oh these tips are wonderfull!!!!!!

I freeze a lot of garden veggies and have always used plastic bags for lack of other ideas. I will try the paper bags!!

[tabitha]

you can use any sort of glass jar in the freezer- freezing with no lid, then adding the lid, but there are special canning jars (straight sides) that make freezing easier. they will say for freezing & canning if you are buying then used.

that said, i have had even those break on me at times. grumble.

i often freeze in stainless steel bowls with plastic lids. these dont burst and they stack well.

we use a pressure canner and can most of our stored food. this way they dont require electricity to stay preserved and you do not have to thaw them.

[ErinEmily]

What about freezer Paper?

I have just lately bought some freezer paper. I didn't realize till later that it is plastic lined.

Any one know how well it will work as an alternitive?

Erin