How to freeze ricotta cheese?

Can you freeze celery? Storing: Leftovers with cooked meat or chicken can be stored in the freezer for 2 to 6 months. Egg-containing casseroles are best eaten within 2 to 3 months. For a more comprehensive list of cold food storage, check out this list put together by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. In some cases, your frozen food items can be used straight from the freezer. Those frozen bananas and berries can go straight into a smoothie or shake. In other cases, though, you’ll need to plan ahead and properly defrost and thaw food before working with it—especially when it comes to working with raw meat.

Assemble casseroles in freezer-safe and ovenproof dishes (glass and ceramic dishes tend to work best) and seal with several layers of plastic wrap and foil, or with an airtight lid to keep out as much air as possible. For the best defrosting results, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight, then cook in the oven. Of course, if you forget to thaw and want to bake from frozen, make sure you freeze your casseroles in freezer-to-ovenproof baking dishes (such as foil, as most glass or ceramic dishes will crack). Don’t forget to remove any plastic wrap on your casseroles before baking (yes, I’ve done that!).

Sour Cream – This one changes consistency, so it’s best to bake or cook with when thawed. It probably won’t make the best topping for your tacos, but it would taste delicious in a casserole! Ricotta Cheese – Be mindful that this also changes consistency. However, there are so many ways to use ricotta cheese after it’s thawed! Lasagna roll ups, anyone? Cream Cheese – This is one that can change consistency. But if you thaw it slow and steady in the fridge, you’ll get the best result! Try to plan ahead when you want to use frozen cream cheese. Cheese, Sliced or Shredded – It’s always great to have cheese on hand! While you can freeze a whole block of cheese, we wouldn’t suggest doing that since it’s hard to use once you thaw it. Slice or shred it before you freeze to make it more convenient for meal prep. Discover extra details at How to Freeze Celery.

Do: Pack Your Freezer Full This isn’t a food-safety tip, but your electricity bill will look better, says Wu. Using as much freezer space as possible increases your efficiency, she says — it takes more energy to keep the space at below-freezing temperatures with just a few items in there. Don’t: Use Whatever Plastic Bags Are Handy Usually, plastic zip-top bags designed for freezing may cost more than regular plastic bags, but it’s worth the investment because “freezer bags” are not a gimmick, explains Pendleton, South Carolina–based Kimberly Baker, PhD, RD, food systems and safety program director at Clemson University. “When packaging that’s not designed for the freezer is used, the food will lose quality more quickly,” she says. That’s because more air can get into the package, which can lead to freezer burn.