Can you refreeze spaghetti? 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.

Sign, seal and deliver (to the freezer): Jot down the item name and date on every meal-prep item you freeze. Depending on what’s inside, I like to scribble other details as well, to help me out when I pull meals from the freezer. You might want to make a note of the recipe name, freeze date, number of servings or portions and reheating/cooking directions. 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: Make smoothie packs by adding 2 cups of spinach and 2 cups of fruit to a freezer bag. Freeze and then when you’re ready to make a smoothie, toss the contents of the bag into the blender with 2 cups of liquid! Bam! Instant healthy smoothie! Yep! This is one a lot of people probably don’t know about. The biggest thing to keep in mind when freezing dairy is that it will change the texture of a lot of these things. This means they’re best to be used by cooking or mixed into something, rather than thawing and eating it as-is. Butter, Stick or Tub – This is a great one to stock up on when it’s on sale and then you always have a stock to pull from! This is one that actually thaws and remains the same texture. Find extra details on Can You Refreeze Chicken.

That said, the USDA recommends these steps: If a food has been thawed in the refrigerator safely, you can refreeze it, as long as it’s within three to four days since thawing. Food that was thawed and then cooked is safe to refreeze. Do not refreeze any foods left outside the fridge for longer than two hours. If you’re in temperatures above 90 degrees F, the USDA puts that time window at one hour. Previously frozen meat, poultry, or fish purchased from the store can be refrozen as long as it’s been handled safely and hasn’t been at room temperature for more than that two-hour period. With safety procedures and good habits in place, you can make the most of your freezer as a go-to place for healthy foods. With a well-stocked space, you may even be able to stretch out the time between shopping rounds.