I Tried the Seriously Satisfying Brick-Stacking Food Storage Method – It Doubled My Freezer Space and Cut Weeknight Meal Stress
Bank a batch of last-minute meals you can get on the table in 10 minutes without wasting space in your freezer
I love batchcooking for its efficiency, but it all too often proves challenging to store, be it due to half-empty food containers zapping freezer space, or defrosting big portions that lead to waste. That’s now all in the past since I tried the viral block stacking storage method, which involves freezing very neat rectangles of food in non-toxic bags.
Alongside my silicone Souper Cubes, available at Amazon, which have transformed the ease with which I freeze accurately-sized portions, I have a freezer shelf now stocked from top to bottom with easy 'builder' meals for me, my husband, and my child without bulky containers.
Article continues belowWhat Is the Brick Stacking Food Storage Method?
By freezing my rice and other batch cooks such as curries and stews into perfectly crisp rectangular blocks, not only are portion sizes as they should be to avoid later, but they also stack easily in the freezer and save space that bulky food containers would otherwise take up.
It’s simple. Freeze your food into neat, easy-to-stack portions, then bundle together and build your meals so you have everything you need in one simple bag, or a stack of pick and mix options.
Now, instead of having lots of half-empty food containers wasting space in your freezer, you can make maximum use of your shelves, drawers, and door space.
Since my Souper silicone molds are reusable and dishwasher safe, I can easily freeze a batch overnight, decant into a non-toxic freezer bag, and freeze the next batch in the morning.
As I am disabled and in chronic pain, I have to work smarter, not harder, in the kitchen to avoid injury and flares, but this method is useful for all busy households. Avoiding food waste also helps you be more sustainable at home.
I Tried It At Home for a Month
I gave it a go for my Persian batch-cooked meals, and my perfectly shaped blocks meant no more half-empty food containers and eyeballed portion sizes.
For easy weeknight dinners, these blocks have become a lifesaver when I am exhausted, I have forgotten to set something out to defrost the night before, or simply, my child doesn't want whatever I have planned. With this easy freezer-storage method, I can whip together a perfectly proportioned home-cooked meal with zero waste.
Due to the modest block sizes, I have found that they thaw easily and quickly with my microwave's defrost setting, taking us from freezer to dinner table in around 10 minutes.
It also delightfully means that my freezer is now highly organized, which has proven to be the biggest benefit of all. Previously, I was squeezing in food containers amidst all the other items packed out in my appliance, and sometimes having to eat the same meal a few nights in a row if I was out of space to freeze a batch.
With this block-freezing method, the even rectangles stack together neatly without any of the freezer shelf being wasted on food containers.
Verdict: 10/10. It’s become a go-to kitchen storage idea in my home, and I highly recommend it. It's also made mid-week meals, so incredibly easy and stress-free.
How to Try It and Free Up Freezer Space
This method is so space-saving and neat, as the same amount of food that I was freezing, pictured, would have required three or four food containers and some of that would have been wasted to air in the box.
You’ll need silicone molds for the freezer, and having used them myself, I am a complete convert to Souper Cubes, available at Amazon. They are very thick and versatile, and can be used in the oven and dishwasher (without the BPA-free plastic lids, though, as those are not oven safe).
Pour your food into the slots, and freeze. I do this overnight. Then in the morning, if I still have more of my batch in the fridge to freeze, I decant and repeat.
Put the frozen blocks into reusable and dishwasher-safe, food-safe silicone bags, or in BPA-free Ziploc bags, both available at Walmart. I keep like with like, and that way I can keep track of my stock.
You can also store various blocks together to make up a meal, such as a curry block and a rice portion into one bag, so it's ready to pull out of the freezer and reheat with zero thought needed.
Don't forget, you can apply this method to batch prepping items such as garlic puree, or if you open a jar of tomato puree but don't need it all.
What to Shop
Having suitable and useful non-toxic kitchen utensils and tools on hand to facilitate your batch cooking will save you space, time, and keep your meals free of harmful ‘forever chemicals’ that can leech into your ingredients during use or storage.
Coupled with one of the best non-toxic air fryers and one of the best slow cookers, you’ll be set for the ultimate cooking experience with minimal toxin risk.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
I have this multi-pack set that includes trays with different block portion sizes so you can freeze whatever you need with ease. Thick silicone with steel rims makes for easy loading, while the BPA-free lids keep freezer smells out. Dishwasher safe.
Silicone means no toxic chemicals to contend with. These have attached lids, so you're not wasting time finding matching sets. It collapses down when not in use to save space. Store a selection of your food blocks together for a full meal that's ready to defrost and reheat in the microwave.
These silicone freezer bags are dishwasher safe and reusable hundreds of times. The stand-up design makes it easier to load with already-frozen blocks from your Souper Cubes. I also freeze blocks of tomato puree, minced garlic, or ginger for easier cooking.
Avoid mess on the outside of your bags by transferring portions of food from your slow cooker to silicone bags with this handy rack. It holds the bag open for you so you can ladle or pour a batch cook in with ease.
If you're new to batch cooking or considering meal prepping, this book is packed with tasty starter meals you can prep easily and freeze.
I love my ceramic and stainless steel Crock-Pot slow cooker for daily and batch cooking. It'll easily cook 10-12 portions at full capacity. The ceramic pot cooks evenly and quickly. Set to low for roughly six-hour cooks, and high for four-hour cooks.
I am always looking for ways to make daily cooking easier, and these are the kitchen appliance tips I lean on daily as a busy working mom.
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