In many ways, the freezer is the closet thing we've got to a time machine. It can stop bread from going moldy. It can make summer blueberries last until fall. It can take tonight's leftovers and transform them into next month's Tuesday dinner when you don't have time to cook. But how do we get the most from this magical appliance? What are the big dos and don'ts? In Modern Freezer Meals, Ali Rosen shares a slew of freezer-friendly, flavor-forward recipes—Ricotta Gnocchi! Breakfast Sandwiches! Brownie Thins!—and in the excerpt below, she answers some FAQs to lead you toward freezer bliss.
Can I refrigerate before I freeze?
Absolutely! You want to make sure you are freezing things only when they are room temperature or cold, because the faster food freezes the more intact it stays. Just make sure to know what is surrounding your food. If you put something super-hot into the fridge next to milk and eggs, you might heat those up, so just try not to put anything too hot in the fridge.