Can you refreeze celery? How to Freeze Just About Anything? Depending on the size of your freezer and the types of food you eat, freezing food and meals can be a real time-saver. Before you throw things in your freezer, however, stock up on some of these essentials: resealable plastic containers, plastic freezer bags in assorted sizes, heavy foil, plastic wrap and a Sharpie or marker for dating when food went in the freezer. Whether you have a deep freezer or a standard freezer, the principles of freezing food items are the same. Here are some things you can freeze and specific tips for how to do so.

Why make freezer meals? Your freezer is one of the most useful tools in your kitchen for make-ahead meals and freezer-friendly dishes.Not only do freezer meals help on those busy weeknights, but they also cut back on food waste and allow you to stock up on ingredients that go on sale. These benefits all add up to saving time, money and calories. Maximize space in your freezer: Use good quality freezer bags to freeze soups, beans and sauces. They save space because you can lay them flat to freeze. Once frozen, you can stack them up on top of each other or keep them in bins upright.

Pro Tip: When freezing any liquid, leave room for expansion. You don’t want an explosion in your freezer! Leave at least a half-inch or more of space at the top of your container. This one is probably a big ole duh to you, but you can freeze both raw and cooked meat. We like to buy meat in bulk, cook it, and then freeze in smaller, meal-sized portions. It makes dinner prep super easy on those busy nights! Beef – A vacuum sealer will save your wallet and keep your raw meat from getting freezer burn. They’re totally worth the investment! You can also pre-cook ground meat to make dinner go quicker and easier. Chicken – Freeze chicken as soon as you bring it home or cook it before you forget about it! You can freeze grilled and shredded chicken for easy meal prep. Discover additional info at Can You Freeze Ricotta Cheese.

“Commercially caught fish and shellfish, flash frozen on the boat at sea, are usually vacuum-sealed and safe to keep for six months, although the flavor may go stale if you keep it that long,” he says. Even mild thawing can shorten a fish’s freshness, he adds, so it’s important to keep frozen seafood completely frozen. That means if you’re running other errands after going to the grocery store, it may be worth bringing a cooler with ice packs to ensure your frozen fish stays at the right temperature. If you’re buying fresh fish, use freezer-designed packaging like freezer bags or freezer paper. You may also want to consider investing in a vacuum sealer for fish and other foods.