When it comes to prepping for a stress-free Christmas, these freezer hacks can make all the difference. I’m all about doing as much as I can in advance so I can actually relax and enjoy the holidays, and my freezer is one of my best friends at this time of year. With proper planning, you can turn your freezer into a treasure trove that will save the day multiple times as Christmas draws near, not to mention on the big day itself! Check out my favourite freezer hacks that can help you make quick work of holiday meals.

1. Get organised

Your freezer will be working overtime this holiday season if you take advantage of the other freezer hacks I’m about to share, so start by getting your freezer organised. Toss anything that looks debatable, and make sure you know exactly what’s in there. If you have something particularly big taking up space, see if you can plan to eat it this week.  Make sure you have space to freeze what’s necessary.

Also – don’t forget to get some freezer/Ziplock bags bags (check what size you need) and labels or markers ready for the food you’ll be prepping. The great thing about freezer bags is that food may be frozen flat in them and then stacked, which can free up quite a lot of space in your freezer compared to using rigid containers. I also love freezer bags because they’re the best container to freeze in to avoid freezer burn.

2. Make your sauces now

What can I freeze now for a stress-free Christmas lunch? You can go ahead and make your marinades, sauces and gravies for the upcoming festivities now and freeze them. These won’t take up much space and can save you considerable time – or just make things less chaotic when you’re cooking the main meal and all the burners are occupied. 

While tradition dictates that you wait until you’ve roasted the turkey or whatever meat you’re serving on the big day before you can make your gravy, you can take the drippings and juices from the roasts you make these days and use them to get ahead of the game. For example, you could roast a chicken in your slow cooker this weekend, then shred and freeze it for meal prep and use the drippings to make some gravy for Christmas and pop it in the freezer!

3. Freeze multipurpose single ingredients

There are so many multipurpose single ingredients you can freeze now to make quick work of meals this month, not to mention your Christmas meal itself. Having these meal components at the ready means that you will free up some time to be able to go at a slower pace this Christmas, which is what we all crave, right?

Shredded chicken is a great starting point for lots of meals, and it takes up less space in your freezer than freezing whole breasts.  Same goes for cooked taco meat, as well as a classic Bolognese sauce.

4. Make your cookie dough well in advance

While cookies are very freezable, you may hesitate to make them too far in advance because baking them is such a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy. But there’s nothing stopping you from making the dough now and freezing it. After all, shaping and decorating cookies is the fun part! 

Not only will you be able to cross a time-consuming task off your list, but you also won’t have to clean the mixer and multiple bowls so you’ll have more time to relax and enjoy the experience.

5. Think about your menu

If you look at your Christmas menu, you will likely find other steps you can take right now to save time on December 25 (or any other meal you’re organising). Are your brussels sprouts with shallots and bacon the star of the show every year? Cook the bacon and shallots in some butter now and freeze, then you can simply mix them in with the sprouts at the last minute. 

And there are lots of Christmas desserts you can make and freeze in advance, from Christmas puddings and cakes to banana and pumpkin bread.

6. Make sure you have some meals ready for hectic days

Are you really going to feel like going home and making dinner after your daughter’s Christmas piano recital runs 45 minutes late on a school night? Of course not. But are you really going to want to drop 40 euros on takeaway when you’ve just spent hundreds on Christmas presents? I didn’t think so. 

I always try to keep some freezer-friendly meals on hand for days like these, but I find I need more at this time of year, so take stock of what you have and put together some quick and easy dinners now that you can freeze for days like these, like beef stew, tikka masala or meatballs.

Take what you can from this, my friend, because these freezing tricks will make all the difference and allow you to have a stress-free Christmas!

Are you hosting a party this Christmas and need help with the appetisers?

Take a look at my ‘Easy Holiday Season Appetiser Winners’…this is your ticket to hosting without the stress. It includes the most easy but delicious recipes; but it’s more than that – it’s your guide to a stress-free party hosting experience. Go here to check it out!