Wednesday, March 07, 2007

WFMW: Twist 'n Loc Containers

While this isn't necessarily a "Kitchen Organization Tip," it does make my life a little bit easier.

Usually, once a month, I will make a large batch of either homemade Meat Sauce, or a large batch of my homemade Bolognese Sauce (both a bit different). I will then freeze it in portions large enough for a meal. I have tried several different containers, and the one I find the easiest to work with is the Twist 'n Loc Containers by Ziploc.

They come in two sizes - 2 cup and 4 cup, and have measurement lines on the side of the containers for exact portion size. They stack nicely inside of themselves, and can be used in the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher. The 4 cup size is just tall enough to hold enough sauce for an entire meal, and fit nicely in the freezer. Plus, I love the twist on lids, as they are easy to get on and off, and make a tight seal. They really hold liquid very well.

Once I've made up my sauce, I ladle it into the containers, let it sit until it cools, screw the lids on and place it in the freezer ... and sometimes I just put the lids on the hot food and put it straight into the freezer.

Then, when I have one of those nights where I'm tired and don't feel like fixing what's on my menu, I just grab one of these containers, pop it into the microwave to thaw, heat it up, and toss it with some pasta. I can also use it for lasagna, stuffed shells, manicotti, and various casseroles.

Works for me! Now, hop on over to Shannon's Rocks In My Dryer for other useful Works For Me Wednesday Tips!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I haven't seen these before. I will have to check them out. Thanks!

Shalee said...

Perfect timing GiBee. I'm in need of new containers. I'll look for these when I go.

Rae said...

I need these! Thanks for the recommendation! =)

An Ordinary Mom said...

I will have to look for these next time I go to the store! Thanks for sharing your ideas.

By the way, you have a beautiful blog. I love the title of it and I am glad the Lord blessed you with a little boy. I have battled infertility as well and I am eternally grateful for the two little tykes I now have.

Overwhelmed! said...

We make a big ol' pot of Oronzo's Italian Marinara sauce and the put it in Ziploc containers for freezing as well. I don't think I've seen the Twist 'n Loc containers. I'll have to give them a try. Having pre-made sauce in the freezer to use throughout the month is WONDERFUL! We use this sauce for pasta, as a pizza base, and for other dishes as well. :)

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek at my WFMW stainless-steel ball whisks post. I sure appreciate it!

As for the tines of these whisks, they're flexible, but not flimsy. Does that make sense?

Mom2fur said...

I didn't know these came in a four cup size! I have to look for those. I'm feeding 8 people here and the little containers aren't big enough for make-ahead things. Thanks for mentioning these!

Sandy said...

You and I have very similar ways of cooking! And freezing! My favorite is to roast tomatoes from my garden, then puree and freeze the sauce... sometimes with meat, sometimes not. You can check out the recipe on my Oct. 2006 post.
And I use zip-lock bags :)
Happy Day!

Unknown said...

I've never seen this product before either but then I'm usually rushing through the grocery store. (I always feel like I'm on a military mission in there)
Another great idea!