Non-disposable freezer storrage options?

Does anyone have ideas for freezer storage that are non-disposable (like zip-lock bags) but don't take up too much space? I need to fill a small freezer with homemade dog food and I hate using gallon plastic bags, but I can't find any other options. Ideas?

lloreen
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10 Comments

Stephanie G.
Stephanie G. May 18, 2018
Looks like you're covered on answers for storage...I'm interested in your dog food recipe. I have made homemade dog chicken stew for my German Shepherd... it's so much food prep! I truly commend you for the effort. Would you share your recipe?
 
ktr
ktr May 18, 2018
I have square plastic containers similar to these that I use in the freezer. I like using square containers so there is less wasted space between them. Mine also nest inside each other for easy storage and stack nicely in the freezer. https://www.amazon.com/Arrow-Products-04365-Freezer-Container/dp/B0036VO59M
 
Smaug
Smaug May 18, 2018
Probably won't work with dog food, but Ziploc freezer bags can be used many times. They usually eventually split on the sides up near the zipper.
 
arcane54
arcane54 May 18, 2018
You can also freeze in canning jars. They’re not quite as space-efficient as ziplocks, by they’re reusable!
 
Alyssa
Alyssa May 17, 2018
I save peanut butter jars and freeze everything from soup to sauce to breadcrumbs in them.
 
louisez
louisez May 17, 2018
You can find reusable silicone bags on Amazon. They're like zip-lock bags. I'm not sure about sizes.
 
702551
702551 May 16, 2018
At delicatessens and grocery stores in my area (SF Bay Area), the plastic pint containers are used rather frequently:

https://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Deli-Storage-Containers-Airtight/dp/B01HBUHY4Q/

The ones pictured are pint sized, but they are available in 1-quart capacity.

What I have been using at home for the past 20+ years are the square versions similar to these:

https://www.amazon.com/Arrow-Freeze-Store-Containers-Refrigerate/dp/B075SLPS7C/

both in 1-pint and 1.5-pint sizes. I don't know the brand name, I buy them at the local hardware store and replace them every five years or so. I use the square ones since they are a bit more space efficient.

My guess is that larger capacity sizes are available, from the same company or one of their competitors.

Another option: at least in my area, there's a consumer plastic products company called Glad:

https://www.glad.com

They market a wide variety of reusable plastic containers. I don't know if they are available in your area but they are easy to find in SF Bay Area grocery stores, hardware stores, drug stores, etc.

Best of luck.
 
702551
702551 May 16, 2018
Another option to consider is a brand of plastic product called Tupperware.

This is a seventy year old brand that pioneered the concept of direct marketing using what was called a "Tupperware party." I believe there are still Tupperware parties; the direct marketing concept has spread to many other product categories such as cosmetics and personal care items.

I remember my neighbors holding these parties when I was growing up in the Seventies.

I don't know if these direct marketing events are held in your area but that is another option.
 
702551
702551 May 16, 2018
Ah, I keep recalling other options.

There's another brand called Rubbermaid. It is well represented in many stores in the SF Bay Area. It is also sold in a chain of hardware stores called Home Depot which I believe has a wider distribution area than our regional grocery and hardware stores.

This Home Depot chain also sells similar items from competitors:

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Kitchen-Kitchen-Storage-Organization-Food-Storage-Food-Storage-Containers/N-5yc1vZas2j/Ntk-Extended/Ntt-plastic+container?Ntx=mode+matchpartialmax&NCNI-5

Again, I hope this helps you find suitable products for your usage case.

Best of luck.
 
Smaug
Smaug May 18, 2018
The Glad containers are a good buy, but the tops do become very brittle in the freezer; I seem to recall they did something funny-maybe deforming, don't remember- in the microwave, too.
 
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