14 Meals That Freeze Well

Having a well-stocked freezer is always a good idea. You can have prepared meals at the ready for busy nights, or whip out a dish when you don't have time to make the trek to the grocery store. Portioned sauces also come in handy, in case you're craving a comforting bowl of pasta — just defrost on demand and dig in.

Luckily, there are several meals that happen to freeze particularly well, from lasagna and tomato sauce to stews and chilis. We like to have a few in our back pocket for all of the scenarios above and more — besides, if you have leftovers, it's easy to save them and make sure they don't go to waste. Check out some of our favorite freezable meals with the recipes below, supplemented with tips from our test kitchen.

A note about food safety

If you're cooking something and plan to freeze it, cool it quickly to room temperature — you can do this using an ice water bath or by putting the food in a shallow container, so it spreads out and cools faster. (Metal is particularly good for conducting hot and cold temperatures.) Then, cover and freeze the dish. Don't put hot food right in the refrigerator or freezer. If you do, the temperature will lower. The danger zone for food is 40°–140°F, the range in which bacteria grows.

If you're planning on freezing a lot of food at once, chill it in the refrigerator first so the temperature in the freezer doesn't rise. For thawing food, make sure it thaws evenly and keep it below 40°F or above 140°F. You can thaw slowly in the fridge or quickly under cold running water.