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How to Freeze Your Food Flat for Better Storage

Looking for ways to optimize food freezing and storage? We have a tip that makes freezing a breeze, thawing quicker, and saves space in your freezer, too: Lay your foods flat before freezing! Here’s how to go about it.

How to Freeze Your Food Flat for Better Storage

Liquids: These include homemade stocks, sauces and soups.

 

Semi-solids: This category includes the likes of ground meats and chilis.

Why do it

It’s easy to do and a great method because:

  • you can lay them flat one on top of the other (or stacked next to one another) to make space and have a clean-looking and organized freezer;
  • it prevents freezer burn due to the fact that you can push the air out of a bag easier than out of a storage container;
  • the flat surface area not only allows your food to freeze faster, it’ll defrost more quickly, as well.

How to do it

Follow these simple steps to flat freezing your leftovers and other foods:

  1.  Purchase storage bags made for the freezer because they are stronger and thicker.
  2.  Fill the bags ¾ of the way full.
  3.  Seal the bag up most of the way and then squeeze out as much air as possible. Seal the bag the rest of the way.
  4.  Label and date the bag, and lay it flat on a baking sheet before placing it in the freezer (the baking sheet ensures that your freezer bag is on an evenly flat surface).
  5.  Once frozen, remove the baking sheet and pile or stack the bags up.

If you want to flat freeze and store raw ground meat, grab a rolling pin and use it to flatten the meat in the storage bag. Be sure to push the meat all the way to the edges to avoid excess air in the bag.

For more freezing recommendations, be sure to follow our 10 safe freezing commandments: