There are a lot of lists in the blogosphere with must-have items for freezer cooking.  While many of the items are certainly quite helpful (a slow-cooker, for example), others (like a FoodSaver) are easy to do without.

Four of my top 5 tools are tools I have even used for the 20+ years since I started freezer cooking.  If it ain’t broke…

What are my favorite freezer storage tools?

Foil pans make it so that all your casserole pans aren’t stuck in your freezer when you need them for dinner. They can go straight into the oven, hold a half-batch of brownie batter (yum!), and wash up easily for reuse.

My favorite pans are the 5×7 pans from Weber Grill.  1-1 1/2 pounds of shredded barbecue or shredded taco meat fit perfectly in these pans.  (Buying the trays of meat that you heat in the oven inspired me to track down these pans.) These 5″ round pans are a great size for individual pot-pies, quiche, etc.

Freezer bags and aluminum foil are the standard storage method for good reason. Reliable, well-sized, and ease of use make them a perfect tool.

Any bag that didn’t have raw meat in it and isn’t extra messy, I do wash so I can get more than one use out of them. And, here, I do find name-brands to be superior.  Check your warehouse club, I find them to have the best prices.  (I’m interested in trying out these reusable bags.)

Okay, wide-mouth jars I’d really label as optional but, after using them for more than a decade, I can’t imagine my freezer without them.  (I did go more than 10 years without using them, though.)  You want to make sure to buy the ones with a straight neck on them, not the ones that curve in.

I love them for soup, broth, tomatoes…and individually-sized frozen margaritas & daiquiris!  (Yes, those are a standard part of my freezer cooking every summer!!)

What other tools do I use?

A good permanent marker.  I love Sharpies because I love the variety of colors. Pick your favorite. (Dry/wet-erase markers aren’t a great alternative.)

Freezer tape is my favorite way to label foods.  Labeling directly on freezer bags is good but sometimes the ink rubs off.  Ditto on aluminum foil.  I’ve never had that happen with this tape.  Don’t make my mistake, though!  It looked just like masking tape, so I thought I could use that since I already had it.  The masking tape hardened up and fell off my food!!

And that’s it!

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What should you make to freeze next?

• Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos
• Stir-Fry Kits
• Freezer Lunch Ideas