Want to freeze chili, spaghetti sauce or soup? Plastic “boxes” like Lock & Locks are great for staying sealed, but usually contain some air space (which is wasted space in a tiny freezer) and don’t always fit into the space available. Ziplocs would be great for making the most of the space but have a nasty tendency to pop open and create a mess.
Here’s a great tip from reader Allan Cobb. Here’s what he wrote me:
Ziplocs never really seal completely and they can actually open if compressed leading to spills or freezer burn. What I do to prevent that is to seal the top of the bag with duct tape.
I fill the bag, zip it shut, and then tear off a piece of duct tape a couple of inches longer than the top of the bag. I affix the tape to the top of the bag and fold the tape over to seal both sides. I have overlap at both ends to completely seal off the top of the bag.
To use the contents, I just cut the top of the bag off just below the zipper. It’s a one-time use system but it really seals the bags. I use this when I freeze extra chili, soup, gumbo, etc.
Upside down, not a drop leaks or spills!
I think it would also be good when freezing meat to avoid freezer burn. With a very small freezer, I never wanted to waste even the tiniest bit of space and so I’d always remove meat from the tray it came on and either vacuum seal it or put it in a Ziploc. And more than once, the Ziploc opened and I had freezer burn. This would have prevented that!
P.S. If you have a hard time filling bags by yourself, check out this helpful “extra set of hands” that reader Diane Dashevsky told me about!
Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Simplify meal prep on board with proven strategies for provisioning, maximizing fridge space, and cooking delicious meals aboard your boat.
Nancy Ellen Reuter says
Thank u!
Becky Sherman Johnson says
Great tip!Thank you. And I have one paralyzed hand so there will be “an extra set of hands” in my galley AND in my kitchen…:)
Susan Parker says
I love the ZipLoc Vacuum bags for freezing. You are able to suck all of the air out thus preventing spills and freezer burn. Sometimes I use a regular ZipLoc to wrap the food then put it in a vacuum bag. That way I can reuse the more expensive vacuum bag.
Darlene Price says
We only have an ICE box and use vacuum seal bags. I can provision for a week by keeping meats cold in the ice melt water. Oh, for a refrigerator!/freezer.
Debbie Bowen Crawford says
Great tip and you know you have it on the boat already.
The Boat Galley says
Absolutely!
Dave Skolnick (S/V Auspicious) says
No comparison to a Foodsaver vacuum sealer.
Amy (sv Binary) says
Oh to have the space for a Foodsaver.
Cindy says
Great idea! Thanks for sharing!
JAY says
when sealing a liquid in a “zip lock” or vacuum bag hang the bag over the edge of your counter or table to expel air. You can hand smooth most of the remaining air out before sealing. Then lie on table/counter to level contents before freezing/refrigerating.
Coleen Barger says
Another way to force air out is to mostly zip the bag and then gradually lower it (zipper up) into a bowl of water. As the bag sinks, air goes out the top. Just before the opening immerses, zip it shut.
Janet Burch says
Use a straw to remove air works almost like a vacuum sealer. Just put in one corner of bag, hold with fingers and suck out extra air. Works great for avocados to keep them from browning..
Ted Broom says
Maybe we’ve just been lucky, but never had a quality zip lock bag come open. However they can get expensive if you use a lot. I find that I can wash them out and use them again. A bag can be used several times just by cleaning it and letting it hang to dry. A couple drops of dish detergent warm water and wash cloth inside, swished around will clean most anything out. Not much different that washing dishes and reusing them. Also a good time to leak test them. Also have used the straw method for years to vacate air out of the bags. Just dont crush the crackers.
Ted
S/V Ten-Ten