How to Freeze Batches of Sauce Now for Easy Dinners in the Future
Cooking a big batch of Sunday gravy , curry or a huge pot of chilli is tedious. Recipes require a large number of ingredients, the process can take several hours or a whole day – and for what? Yes, yes, you will get 10-20 servings of flavorful sauce, prepared with love and patience. It’s worth making sure every drop is used, so use technology and freeze most of it. Here’s how to freeze large amounts of sauce for easy lunches later.
Freeze smarter
The biggest problem with freezing anything—sauce, stock, or even meat—in large blocks is that thawing a small portion of it is a real pain in the ass. You’ll either have to defrost the whole thing and freeze it again, which can affect the quality, or cut it into pieces, which can be dangerous.
Instead, determine your serving size before freezing the sauce for the first time. You may have heard of using ice cube trays to deliciously portion sauce. While it’s important for everyone to figure out what works for them (and it might work for you), to me, an ice cube tray is a garbage idea. First of all, it’s too small. Each ice cube compartment contains a tablespoon of water. I’ll need at least half the tray for one small bowl of pasta. I’m also relatively sure that these trays will subsequently become saturated with the smell of tomatoes, garlic or basil, which means I’ll never be able to use them for ice again, and I’m not the type of person who wants to stick to a specific sauce. ice cube trays in my house. Instead of ice cube trays, use something more realistic that matches your actual serving size.
Select “single serving” size
Ice cube trays are suitable for freezing strong and potent liquids, such as lemon juice or olive brine, and you’ll likely only need a little. If the sauce portions are large, divide them into resealable plastic containers or bags. The size should be the “single” serving you are likely to need. If you have a family of five, you’ll freeze larger portions than a family of two. Use appropriately sized freezer bags or reusable containers.
Sheet trays are indispensable assistants for flat freezing:
When in doubt, stand still
Organizing your freezer can sometimes feel like a terrifying puzzle. I know there is a way to fit it all, but there are so many irregular shapes. Freezing the liquid flat rather than in a block can make it easier to store. More importantly, you can easily break the sauce into pieces when frozen thin and flat to adjust the serving size later. This is ideal if you’re not entirely sure how much you’ll need for dinner on any given night. This way, the sauce will not only freeze faster, but will also defrost and cook.
How to Freeze Large Batch Sauce
There are two ways to do this: pre-batch the sauce or use the sheet pan method.
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Pre-portion using freezer bags: Simply pour “one serving” into a freezer bag, about one to four cups. Place it on a baking sheet and place it in the freezer until set. If necessary, you can probably fit multiple bags on one tray. Then carefully stack the frozen sauce packets.
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Sheet tray method. To combine even more slabs, you’ll have to use the sheet tray a little differently. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or plastic wrap so that it extends over the sides. Spoon the sauce directly onto the baking sheet, about a half-inch deep. Carefully place the pan in the freezer to avoid spilling. Let the sauce set, about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the type of sauce and its thickness. Remove it from the freezer and use the liner to lift the sauce and break it into smaller pieces. Place the slabs in freezer bags or other containers.
Even if you’ve been portioning ice cube trays your whole life, you can still put the cubes in a bag or container if it helps with freezer tetris. When you’re ready to simmer down the sauce effortlessly on a busy weeknight, simply toss a chunk or two of the sauce into the pan along with some frozen rice and a tablespoon of water (to prevent sticking). Cover with a lid and place on low heat. Let it heat up on its own for 20 minutes while you take some time to relax.