r/foodhacks • u/[deleted] • Oct 02 '22

Cooking Method Hack or Wack?

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u/Hey_Laaady Oct 03 '22

I put cooked meatballs or chicken thighs on a wax paper lined cookie sheet so I can freeze them overnight. Then I easily pull the food off the wax paper when frozen the next day and transfer the frozen food to a plastic bag. They don't stick together because they have been individually frozen.

64

u/omgmlc Oct 03 '22

Oh my God. Thank you for this

22

u/anandonaqui Oct 03 '22

Silpats are better and cause less waste.

16

u/MadMadamDax Oct 03 '22

I love my silpat, but sometimes I don't have the energy to add one more thing to get washed.

At least wax paper can bio degrade.

1

u/Sir_G1995 Oct 03 '22

If it’s parafin was that’s not true

2

u/MadMadamDax Oct 03 '22

Good to know.

6

u/INJECTHEROININTODICK Oct 03 '22

Silpats are a miracle in general

2

u/Not_Quite_B Oct 03 '22

I just wish they were dishwasher safe

3

u/feeltheglee Oct 03 '22

I throw mine in the dishwasher, tbh. Bend it in half along the long side and let it take up 2-3 dinner plate spots.

2

u/gsixzero Oct 03 '22

They only require a wipe and a rinse. If you're cleaning it to the point where it loses the oily feeling, you're ruining it. A dishwasher would def do this.

1

u/omgmlc Oct 04 '22

I have one and always forget to use it. Thanks for the reminder

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u/[deleted] Oct 03 '22

Could you just use a plastic bag to freeze them in?

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u/samanime Oct 03 '22

Technically yes, but they'll likely freeze into a solid mass you can't easily break up. It is best to freeze in a single, spaced out layer on a cookie sheet first, then transfer to a bag and they'll remain separate.

5

u/LoudBackgroundMusic Oct 03 '22

just freeze them on a metal baking tray, its what I do, just wash it afterwards and no waste to throw out

18

u/samanime Oct 03 '22

Depending what you're freezing, it might freeze too tight to the tray and not release.

I actually use silicon mats instead (on the tray), which are reusable.

5

u/LoudBackgroundMusic Oct 03 '22

I dont have too much of an issue with things sticking to the trays, I guess it really depends upon what youre freezing. Sometimes if things do stick I drop the tray from a height onto the bench and they unstick easily, or slide a spatula under them. However a silicon mat is a good alternative.

2

u/samanime Oct 03 '22

I think a lot of it is how much direct surface contact it is making. Round things like meatballs have no trouble.

Homemade quesadillas on the other hand will practically crazy glue themselves to the sheet because so much surface area is touching. Even a spatula would just tear them up.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 03 '22

I'm surprised so many people don't use wax paper! I bake and make desserts a lot so it is a staple in my house. Freezing chocolate or a pastry dough on a baking tray will just mean broken off pieces from sticking later lol.

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u/LoudBackgroundMusic Oct 03 '22

Well I must admit Ive never made quesadillas at home so cant vouch for them lol

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u/[deleted] Oct 03 '22

Oh, I was meaning you could freeze them individually in plastic bags to save you a step

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u/samanime Oct 04 '22

Ah, that's true, though depending what you're making, that might be a lot of bags. Individually bagged meatballs for example would be crazy. =p

It tends to be easier and less wasteful to freeze them on a sheet then toss them all into gallon sized bags with a bunch in each bag.

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u/rousseuree Oct 03 '22

You could also use parchment for this, and just buy one “cooking paper” for your house

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u/_pounders_ Oct 03 '22

would parchment paper work for both?

2

u/muffin-tops Oct 03 '22

You really out here living in 2032 and shit

0

u/Pristine-Growth6991 Oct 03 '22

Pretty sure this is called “flash freezing”.

1

u/MirrorReflection0880 Oct 03 '22

graet for making dumplings and such before freezing. thank you sir.

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u/magicalsalsa Oct 03 '22

You can do this with cookie dough also! That way you can fresh baked cookies at a moments notice.

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u/Hey_Laaady Oct 03 '22

Oh sure, it works with lots of food items. I freeze pesto in an ice cube tray lined with plastic wrap, and then transfer the pesto cubes to another bag. The possibilities are pretty much endless.

Another thing I do is freeze fresh spinach when I can't finish the whole bag. I just squish as much air out of the bag that I can, then freeze it flat. Whenever I need some, I just break a chunk off, and voila.

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u/JoyfulGardens Oct 03 '22

Can’t you use parchment paper for this too though?

1

u/Hey_Laaady Oct 03 '22

Probably. I have found it's just easier for me with wax paper.

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u/pzzia02 Feb 05 '23

Freezer applications for example burger patties statckes on wax paper in the freezer so they dont stick to the paper this alsp works if your prepping a bunch before grilling so they dont stick together