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Can I Put Tupperware in the Freezer? (And 6 Other Ways to Store Food in the Freezer)

Can I Put Tupperware in the Freezer? (And 6 Other Ways to Store Food in the Freezer)

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So I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”. This implies that women clearly only care about the pretty things.

I call bunk on that. I mean, I love me some pretty things. Don’t get me wrong.

My engagement and wedding rings were and are a thing of beauty. My husband picked them out all by himself. It was quite impressive.

But, I digress. Back to the things that are REALLY a girl’s best friend. I honestly think this changes a bit as you get older.

I’m in my early thirties, and I have quite a few things that I consider my best friends. One in particular is.. Wait for it…

Tupperware!

Yeah, I’m old. I get it. But this wonderful product (and the ones made by different companies that aren’t the Tupperware brand) is so dang useful!

Leftovers, storage for large batches or premade meals, storage (period!), and even for some things around the house (like catching fruit flies!).

Lately, I’ve been trying to make extra large batches of our dinners, so we can have lunches, or even dinners, at a different date. Pull a portion out of the freezer, pop it in the microwave, and eat!

That brings up a crucial question that I’ve had to research myself. Can I put Tupperware (or its different-branded counterparts) in the freezer?

The answer is: sometimes. Let me explain.

When Can I Put Tupperware in the Freezer?

Snowflake Symbol on Bottom of Tupperware

With every type of plastic out there, there comes a low temperature that will cause some major issues. And by major issues, I mean that the plastic becomes brittle and can break or become pitted.

You could also run into some problems when you take out that delicious food and try to reheat it. If the plastic is cracked or pitted, you could have chemicals leaching into the food.

That being said, there are definitely Tupperware out there that are meant for the freezer. For the Tupperware brand specifically, there will be a snowflake on the bottom of the container that denotes that it is okay to freeze it.

I, personally, use the Rubbermaid containers with the easy find lids. These containers are stackable, making them easy to put in the cupboard, plus they are dishwasher, microwave, and freezer safe.

The plastic is nice and durable, very thick, and contains no BPA. Perfection.

While these are meant to go in the freezer, there are plenty of other food storage containers that really should not go in the freezer. If the plastic is very thin, a crack or some pitting is most likely in your future.

Try to avoid these thinner plastics if you want to put them in the freezer.

What Can I Use in the Freezer Instead of Tupperware?

Well, you have a few options. Tupperware, or freezer-safe food storage containers in general, is a great option.

But what if you don’t have any sitting around? 

1 – Freezer Zip Top Bags

Freezer Safe Ziplock Bag

Zip top bags are great for freezing a variety of things, including soups, chopped veggies, meats, freezer meals, etcetera. If you are planning on freezing chopped veggies, after you cut them, lay them out on a sheet pan and put them in the freezer.

After they are frozen, you can take them out and put them into one of the zip top bags. Freezing the veggies on a sheet pan first will help the veggies not stick together once they are in the zip top bag.

I once learned a very valuable lesson when I neglected that important step!

As far as freezer meals, you don’t even need to cook the ingredients ahead of time! Just freeze all of the ingredients together in a zip top bag, and when you’re ready, you can empty the contents into a crock pot or a pan to put in the oven.

2 – Aluminum Foil

Aluminum foil is a great item to use when you are freezing more solid foods. An example of this would be a lasagna that you want to save for later.

Before you assemble the lasagna, layer aluminum foil on the bottom of the pan, making sure you leave enough on the sides that you would be able to fold the sides over and cover the top. Once you put it all together, fold the extra foil over the top of the lasagna and then put the lasagna in the freezer.

Once it is frozen, you can wrap it again and toss it in a freezer zip top bag. It saves space in your freezer too!

3 – Metal or Glass Baking Pans

Glass Bakeware

You could also just skip the aluminum foil and leave the pan in the freezer. You’d be able to take it out and, after it is defrosted (you don’t want to go straight into the oven!), put it in the oven to warm it up.

4 – Aluminum Baking Pans

Aluminum baking pans are also a great option. You’ll want to get the disposable kind, as they can be difficult to clean. If you don’t feel like going the aluminum route with that lasagna, stop at the store and grab one of these babies!

5 – Glass Containers

Just like their plastic counterparts, you can use glass food storage containers to store food in the freezer. These also will have to be marked freezer safe, or they can be tempered glass.

You’ll still want to be careful, as glass containers can still break, regardless if they are freezer safe or not. You’ll want to give a lot of head room in the container after you put the food in.

Head room is just empty space at the top of the jar or container to give the food somewhere to go when it expands as it freezes.

6 – Vacuum Sealer

Food Vacuum Sealer

I don’t have one of these myself (though I am DYING to buy one), but my mom does, and she freezes EVERYTHING using the vacuum sealer.

A vacuum sealer uses special bags specially meant to be used with the sealer that are also able to be frozen. It essentially removes all of the air from these bags after the food is put in it, and then it seals the bag to keep it air tight.

This is beneficial as it while keeping the juices and deliciousness in your food, it also helps to guard against freezer burn!

Final Thoughts

Knowing whether you can freeze your Tupperware is important, especially if you are concerned about whether or not chemicals can leach into the food you are serving your family or friends. As long as you make sure that the food containers are freezer safe, you should not have problems.

Be sure to check your Tupperware periodically, regardless if it is freezer safe or not, to make sure cracking or pitting has not occurred. Keep your food safe and chemical free!

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