13 Genius Tips to Make The Most Out Of Your Freezer

Your freezer isn’t just a place to stash forgotten leftovers; it’s a powerful tool that can streamline meal prep, cut down on food waste, and make weeknight dinners a breeze. With a little planning, a set of Anyday dishes, and the right techniques, your freezer + your microwave is the ultimate kitchen duo.. Whether you're batch-cooking to do your future self a favor, portioning out individual meals, or simply trying to preserve the life of your fresh ingredients, these genius tips will help you maximize space, efficiency, and flavor.

Let’s dive into 13 smart ways to make your freezer work harder (and smarter) for you:

Get the tools

To make the most out of your freezer and microwave, the right tools are essential! Anyday dishes and Anytime Freezer Trays are designed to work together to simplify the way you cook at home. Use Anyday’s non-toxic glass dishes to cook real, from-scratch meals in the microwave in minutes, and our silicone freezer trays to kickstart those meals with pre-cooked and portioned ingredients. Our trays are made of sturdy, food-grade silicone and lie flat (and stack!) in the freezer for efficient organization. Store fresh soups, sauces, grains, and more in individual portions, and pair with fresh meat or seafood for a complete meal. Together, these tools help you create fresh, delicious meals effortlessly and minimize waste in the process.

Want more information on how to properly freeze and reheat food using Anyday? Learn more here.

Smart ways to make the most out of your freezer

1. Keep ready-to-go breakfasts on hand

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why does it feel impossible to prioritize? Rely on your freezer to store prepared oatmeal, breakfast sandwiches, bacon burritos, and more. When you’re running out the door, simply reheat one of those easy, pre-prepped options the microwave using an Anyday dish. Even when you’re short on time, the microwave can help ensure that you get a nourishing start to your day.

Get the recipes: Egg Bites, Breakfast Sandwich, Breakfast Burritos, Oatmeal, Steel Cut Oats, How to Freeze and Reheat Oatmeal

2. Spark dinner inspiration with frozen, from-scratch sauces

When it comes to mealtime shortcuts, don’t overlook the power of frozen sauces. Batch-cook your favorite sauces, then freeze them in Anytime Freezer Trays for easy, single-serving portions. Add the frozen sauce directly to the Anyday dish when cooking rice, pasta, or proteins for a delicious, flavorful dish that is way better than any pre-packaged version!

Get the recipes: Tomato Sauce, Bechamel, Bolognese, Brown Butter, Thai Curry Sauce

3. Make easy side dishes with frozen grains

With your Anytime Freezer Trays, you can batch-cook, portion, and freeze grains like rice, couscous, and quinoa to reheat in minutes without sacrificing texture or flavor. Frozen homemade grains are not only healthier and preservative-free, but also a budget-friendly alternative to pre-packaged options (and not to mention plastic-free!). Stir cooked grains into soup to bulk them up, pair with chicken breast or salmon for an easy, balanced meal, or use them to jumpstart a quick and flavorful side dish when you don’t have the time or energy to babysit rice on the stovetop.

Get the recipes: How to Freeze and Reheat Rice, How to Freeze and Reheat Oatmeal, Rice, Couscous, Barley, Brown Rice or Quinoa

More freezer hacks to make meals faster and easier:

1. Make-ahead freezer meals: Prepare casseroles, lasagna, or other dishes in advance, freeze in Anyday dishes, and cook in the microwave or oven (yes, our dishes are oven-safe!) when you need a quick dinner. For more reheating instructions, check out our blog.
2. Easy smoothie boosters: Instead of letting a big bag of fresh spinach wilt in the fridge, blend it with water and freeze in Anytime Freezer Trays. Next time you make a smoothie, drop in a portion and blend for an easy way to get your greens in! This zero-waste hack also works with leftover pumpkin puree, cold coffee, and overripe bananas or avocado.
3. Perfect portions: Freeze soups, sauces, or stock in Anytime Freezer Trays for easy portion control. Pop out a cube or two as needed.
4. Herb-infused oil cubes: Chop fresh herbs, place in an Anytime Freezer Tray, cover with olive oil, and freeze. Use a cube to add flavor when cooking. (You can use this same technique to make compound butter cubes.)
5. Freezer-to-microwave soups: Make a big batch of soup, freeze in Anytime Freezer Trays, and then reheat individual portions directly in the microwave.
6. Freeze fresh stock and wine: Use Anytime Freezer Trays to store leftover wine, stock, or bone broth. Pop out a portion to add flavor to sauces, soups, or pasta as you cook.
7. Fresh-baked cookies, anytime: Scoop cookie dough into 2-tablespoon Anytime Freezer Trays and freeze. Next time the craving strikes, you’ll have a individual cookie dough balls ready to bake in the toaster oven or air fryer.
8. Ready-to-go sauces: Freeze pasta sauce, pesto, or marinades in small portions. Microwave a cube or two to add to your meal prep.
9. Easy omelette kits: Prep chopped veggies, cheese, and cooked bacon in 1/2 cup Anytime Freezer Trays. When ready to eat, add a portion to some scrambled eggs and microwave for a quick frittata.
10. Rescue tomato paste: Save money and reduce waste by freezing leftover tomato paste in 2-tablespoon portions. Open a can from both ends (for zero-waste!), slide the paste out, and portion it into your Anytime Freezer Tray. Once frozen, you’ll have ready-to-use tomato paste on hand whenever a recipe calls for it.

From make-ahead meals to quick weeknight dinners, the combination of your freezer and microwave unlocks endless possibilities. Start planning, get organized, and transform the way you cook—one frozen cube at a time.