Your New Kitchen Helper

Make dinner easy with a little planning—and some help from your freezer. Using your freezer adds flexibility to your meal planning. When you’re making tonight’s dinner, add a little more pasta or brown an extra pound of beef. You can freeze the leftover ingredients and save yourself a step on a hectic weeknight. Here are some ideas to get you started.

	How to Freeze	How to Use	Suggested Recipes
Pasta	Toss 1 pound of cooked pasta with 1 to 2 teaspoons of oil to prevent sticking. Store desired amount in a resealable plastic freezer bag or food storage container with lid. Freeze for up to 2 months.	Put pasta in microwave-safe dish or container. Cover and microwave on High (100%) for 1 to 2 minutes per 2 cups of pasta, or until hot.	Spaghetti & Turkey Meatballs
Rice	Store desired amount of cooked rice in resealable plastic freezer bags or a food storage container with lid. Freeze for up to 6 months.	Put rice in microwave-safe dish or container. Add 1 tablespoon water for each cup of rice. Cover and microwave on HIGH (100%) for 1 to 2 minutes, or until rice is hot.	Quick Turkey Saute
Ground Beef	Brown ground beef (you can add seasonings or onions for flavor). Cool slightly. Place desired amount of cooked ground beef in a freezer bag or food storage container with lid. (Most recipes use about 2 cups.) Freeze for up to 6 months.	Put ground beef in the refrigerator the night before use. Reheat in microwave or incorporate into recipe, omitting the browning step. Suggested uses: Add to spaghetti sauce, use in casseroles or in tacos.	Taco Calzones
Fresh Herbs	Fresh herbs can be chopped and kept frozen in small freezer-proof bags for up to 6 months.	Herbs will retain their flavor, but will wilt and discolor after freezing, so use them only in cooked dishes.	Tortellini Garlic Tomato Soup