So, Mike and I came home from Eat Write Retreat with a renewed enthusiasm for this blog and food in general. And an empty refrigerator. Since we’re due to go away for another week in a few days, and yet again just a couple of days after returning from that one, fridge restocking has not been terribly high on the to-do list. Laundry. Laundry and cat food are way high up on the to-do list. Just ask the cats.
Needless to say, meal preparation and my creativity are being severely challenged, and rummaging through the freezer and pantry are becoming a way of life. I’m actually thankful for that “raft” of boneless, skinless chicken breasts that I picked up at the “big box store”, awhile back. And while we’re on the subject, I had a “light bulb moment” back when I bought that chicken, and I thought I’d pass it along. In fact, you may have picked up on this one a long time ago, but hey, I’m a slow learner.
Anyway, you know those “separator sheets” they’ve been pushing on TV, lately? They’re aiming those ads directly at those of us who head out to the big box stores and buy things in quantity, then have to freeze portions. I came up with my own solution: sandwich bags. I have boxes and boxes of sandwich bags that I hardly ever use. This, however, proved to be a great solution when dividing up the giant package of chicken breasts:
Turn the bag inside out, over your hand
Using the bag like a glove, grab a piece of chicken
Roll the bag top back up so it’s right-side out again, squeeze out excess air, and seal the top
After you’ve bagged them all, just drop them into a gallon-sized zip-top freezer bag, seal, and you’re done! Your hands stay clean and un-chickeny, you’ve got an extra layer of protection from freezer burn, and it takes up way less space in the freezer. Now, you can just thaw out what you need and everything stays clean and self-contained. Since I’m mostly cooking for two people, 2 pieces of chicken are all I generally need to take out at any one time, and I don’t have to wrestle with Clump O’ Chicken!
Obviously, this will also work with nearly anything you buy multiples of, such as small steaks, chops, bone-in chicken… If it fits into a sandwich bag, you’re golden!
That picture at the top of the page? Oh. I didn’t tell you. This is a two-parter. Come back tomorrow for the delicious conclusion to: A Chicken’s Tale. 😉
Brilliant, as always … 🙂 I also happen to have a roll of that butcher’s freezer paper that I use for this. (I have no clue why I have freezer paper … it’s just in my drawer.) Otherwise, I’ve had too many times where chicken/steak/whatever gets freezer burn and it’s ANNOYING. 🙂
I used to use butcher’s freezer paper for this purpose, too, but now I’m lazy. I want to see what’s in there, and I got tired of gift wrapping every piece. 😀 This takes way less time, too!