111 Foods That Freeze Surprisingly Well (and 8 that don’t!)

100+ foods that freeze well! Here are the best things to keep in your freezer, PLUS which foods cannot be frozen.

We’ve all been there…

You get to 5:00 PM, and still have no idea what to make for dinner.

Your pantry is full of dust bunnies, and your freezer has a bag of frozen peas and some old, icy chicken breasts.

At least you think that’s what that is. 🤔

The antidote to this dinnertime quandary is to KEEP your pantry and freezer stocked.

Having plenty of food on hand will:

• Keep you from overspending on takeout
• Prevent last-minute trips to the grocery store (when you’re tired and hungry)
• Save you money, because you can stock up on sale-priced items

So even if you don’t take the time to thoroughly plan your meals…

…you’ll still have plenty of options to make for dinner.

(But if you do want to start meal planning, the Ultimate Meal Planning Guide will certainly help!)

In this post, we’ll dive into a complete list of foods you can freeze, so you know exactly what frozen food to buy.

👉 Check out what pantry essentials to keep on hand in this post.

 

This post may contain affiliate links. You can view my full disclosure policy here.

💡 Quick-tip: To completely avoid freezer burn, I highly recommend getting a vacuum sealer. It keeps foods fresh for years! Here’s exactly how I use my Foodsaver to save TONS of money and time.

The Best Foods to Freeze

Pre-cooked foods

To make meals come together SUPER easily, you can pre-cook a variety of foods that freeze and reheat well.

They can be added into a wide variety of dinners, or eaten as stand-alone meals.

Foods that freeze and reheat well:

1. Shredded chicken

2. Ground beef, turkey, or sausage

3. Roasted vegetables

4. Baked goods

5. Soups and stews

6. Cooker rice or pasta

7. Mashed potatoes

Bread, Baked Goods, and Baking Supplies

Baked goods freeze surprisingly well. I’ve never noticed a texture or taste difference from freezing any of these items.

When you see buns, rolls, bread loaves, bagels, or tortillas on clearance, buy as many as you can!

Baked goods that freeze well:

8. Cookies, cookie bars, or cookie dough

9. Brownies

10. Muffins or quick bread

11. Cake or cupcakes

12. Cheesecake

13. Pumpkin or pecan pie

14. Girl Scout Cookies : )

15. Frosting or icing

16. Pancakes, waffles, or French toast

17. Loaves of bread

18. Tortillas (corn and flour)

19. Bagels

20. English muffins

21. Biscuits

22. Packaged (or homemade) buns, rolls, pita bread, or Naan bread

23. Pizza dough (baked or unbaked)

24. Chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or peanut butter chips

25. Marshmallows

26. Shredded coconut

27. Evaporated or sweetened condensed milk

28. Flour

29. Sugar – Put it in a container, don’t freeze in the bag.

30. Baking soda

31. Breadcrumbs

32. Cereal or granola

33. Nuts

34. Candy

Fruit 

Fruit can tend to get soggy after freezing, but works really well for baked goods, pancakes, oatmeal, or smoothies.

Fruit that freezes well:

35. Berries – hulled strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries

36. Grapes (off the stem)

37. Cherries

38. Bananas

39. Whole lemons

40. Pineapple

41. Peaches

42. Chunks of melon (except watermelon)

43. Apples – They will be brown, but are great for desserts and baked goods.

💡 Quick tip: Meal prep ‘smoothie bags’ with individual portions of fruit (and your other favorite smoothie ingredients) in baggies, so you can quickly grab one from the freezer, and whip one up for breakfast or a snack.

Vegetables and legumes

Since veggies spoil so quickly, it’s super useful to keep your favorites stocked in the freezer.

You can use frozen vegetables and legumes in soups, stews, casseroles and so much more.

Vegetables that freeze well:

44. Bell peppers and chili peppers – Dice or slice to use in recipes later.

45. Chopped or diced onions

46. Zucchini (chop or dice first) – I like to shred it to use in zucchini bread.

47. Broccoli

48. Cauliflower

49. Carrots – Chop to use in recipes.

50. Green beans

51. Corn on the cob

52. Celery – Chop to use in recipes.

53. Spinach

54. Sweet or Russet potatoes – It’s best to parboil potatoes first, and slice or dice before freezing.

55. Okra

56. Peas

57. Already cooked or roasted veggies

58. Pumpkin puree

59. Cooked beans

60. Refried beans

61. Cooked legumes

62. Seeds

Some veggies work best if you blanch them first. This article has lots of specific tips and tricks on how to prep just about every food before freezing.

Dairy products

To make your dairy products last indefinitely, stick them in the freezer to use later.

It’s especially useful if you find a good sale to stock up on, or if you like to grocery shop as infrequently as possible.

Dairy products that freeze well:

63. Milk – You may want to leave room in the container for it to expand.

64. Yogurt

65. Shredded cheese

66. Sliced cheese

67. Blocks of cheese 

68. Cream cheese – tubs or blocks

69. Cottage cheese

70. Feta cheese

71. Ricotta cheese

72. Butter – tubs or sticks

73. Buttermilk

74. Homemade whipped cream

75. Raw egg whites

Meat

Meat freezes SUPER well, especially if you have a Foodsaver. (It’ll actually stay freezer-burn free for up to 3 years!)

Meat that freezes well:

76. Ground beef, chicken, turkey, or sausage (raw or cooked)

77. Chicken breasts, thighs, and other pieces

78. Whole turkey or chicken

79. Ham

80. Roasts

81. Pork loin

82. Deli meat or lunchmeat

83. Meatballs (raw or cooked)

84. Burger patties

85. Cooked or raw bacon

86. Fish, shrimp, crab, lobster, or scallops

87. Ham, chicken, or turkey bones to use for stock later

88. Hot dogs, kielbasa, or smoked sausage

89. Breakfast sausage, Italian sausage, and chorizo

Condiments

Unopened, many condiments have a very long shelf-life. But here are some condiments you can freeze if you’ve already opened them, and for homemade versions.

Condiments you can freeze:

90. Jelly, jam, and fruit preserves

91. Broth or stock

92. Pasta sauce

93. Pesto (without parmesan)

94. Citrus zest or juice

95. Tomato paste

96. Herbs – Freeze them in oil or a bit of water to use when cooking. 

Entire meals

Making your own freezer meals is the ultimate convenience. It’ll be a total lifesaver on busy or tired nights.

It’s just as easy to make two casseroles, lasagna, or batches of chili as it is to make one, so try doubling the recipe, and stick one in the freezer.

You can also freeze individual portions to create DIY TV dinners or easy lunches. It’s the perfect thing to do with leftovers!

Here are some foods you can freeze after cooking:

97. Dinner casseroles

98. Breakfast casseroles

99. Lasagna

100. Enchiladas or burritos

101. Pasta bakes

102. Quiche

103. Soups and stews

104. Chili

105. Calzones

106. Breakfast sandwiches or burritos

107. Pb&j sandwiches (Use this handy-dandy device to make your own ‘uncrustables!’)

108. Ingredients for meals, such as cooked taco meat or sloppy joes

109. Veggie burgers or bean burgers

110. Whole pizza or pizza slices – Just wrap the pizza box in plastic wrap (it warms up great in the oven!)

111. Baby food

Related reading: 

• The BEST Freezer Meal Supplies (to make the process much easier!)
• Cheap & Easy Freezer Meals: 31 Healthy Make-Ahead Dinners on a Budget

What foods cannot be frozen?

As you can see there are SO many foods that freeze well.

But there are some foods that just can’t be frozen because they would drastically change taste, texture, or quality.

8 Foods that DON’T freeze well:

• Mayo or mayo based dishes, such as egg salad, potato salad, coleslaw
• Lettuce
• Cabbage
• Cucumber
• Watermelon
• Sour cream
• Salad dressing
• Egg yolks and hard-boiled eggs

Ready to try some of these freezer friendly foods?

Hopefully this list of foods you can and cannot freeze has given you lots of inspiration for what frozen food to buy, and meals you can freeze and reheat for quick meals.

I like to keep an inventory of what’s in the freezer, so I can make a quick meal plan for the week based on what’s already in the house.

(You can grab Freezer and Pantry Inventory sheets inside the Ultimate Meal Planning Guide!)

For more meal prep and planning ideas, be sure to check out:

• The Best Way to Organize Your Chest Freezer (to find things easily!)
• Frugal Meal Planning – Everything You Need to Know to Eat on a Budget
• How to Meal Prep for the Week: 10 Healthy & Super Easy Ideas