Flash freezing is a simple, but powerful way to store food and reduce waste! It's perfect for home cooks who want to preserve the freshness of ingredients or prep meals ahead of time. Sound like you? Then you're in the right place!
Our straightforward guide to flash freezing explains what flash freezing is, why it's useful, and how to flash freeze food step-by-step. Let's get started!

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What is flash freezing?
Flash freezing refers to the process of quickly freezing individual pieces of food. This is done by spreading the food out on a baking sheet, then adding it to the freezer until the food is frozen solid. Once frozen, the food is transferred to airtight, freezer-safe containers such as freezer bags for long-term storage.
Why flash freeze?
Unlike tossing everything into one container without freezing it separately beforehand, flash freezing ensures individual pieces of food don't stick together. This makes it easy to grab just the amount you need, whether it's a few strips of bacon for a BLT sandwich or a handful of homemade french fries to serve on the side of a burger. (You can even flash freeze burger patties and have a whole grab-and-go meal!)
Bacon is our favorite example for what food to flash freeze. We always flash freeze bacon as soon as we bring it home from the grocery store - it's a great way to preserve its freshness and only ever use the exact amount you need!
Benefits of Flash Freezing Food
It's convenient.
Flash freezing allows you to freeze food in individual portions, making meal prep faster and easier than ever.
It reduces waste.
Food takes much longer to spoil in the freezer than it does in the refrigerator - months, rather than days or weeks. You can freeze everything from fresh produce to leftover cooked meals, making it an amazing option for reducing food waste.
It preserves freshness.
Flash freezing locks in the flavor, texture, and nutrients of ingredients by freezing food quickly. The food is directly exposed to the cold air of the freezer when on the baking sheet, meaning it freezes quickly and easily.
It will save you money.
Yes, we mean it! Buy ingredients in bulk, then flash freeze. You can use them over time without worrying about spoilage. This is our favorite reason for flash freezing. We're always grabbing ingredients like chicken thighs or pork chops on sale and freezing them this way to use whenever we want. You can even air fry most of these ingredients from frozen (see our air fryer frozen food guides for examples).

How to Flash Freeze Food at Home
Despite what a massive difference it makes, flash freezing is beyond easy to do at home. Here's how to flash freeze food step-by-step.
Prepping and Flash Freezing
- Prep the food. Wash and dry as needed; most foods won't need washing before freezing, but you will want to rinse fresh produce like berries and pat them dry.
- Portion it out. Divide large items into individual portions. For example, if you're freezing chicken breasts, make sure to separate them. Cut vegetables into slices, or shape cookie dough into individual balls.
- Spread it out on a baking sheet in a single layer. Make sure none of the pieces are touching; this will prevent anything from sticking together when it freezes.
- Freeze it! Place the baking sheet in the freezer. Let the food freeze for 2-3 hours, or until it's frozen solid.
Pro Tip: Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper for easy cleanup.
Storing Flash Frozen Food
- Transfer to airtight freezer-safe containers. You can use any freezer-safe, airtight container, including freezer bags. Place the food into the freezer-safe containers after flash freezing.
- Remove the air. If you're using freezer bags, make sure to squeeze out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
- Label the package. Using a marker, label the container with the name of the food, the portion size, and the date it was frozen. This will help you keep track of how long you've had the food in the freezer. Most foods last 3-4 months in the freezer; some last up to 6 months.
- Seal and store. Seal the container tightly and place it back in the freezer to store.
Pro Tip: Avoid wrapping foods with acidic ingredients, like tomatoes or lemon juice, in aluminum foil. Acidic foods can react with the foil. Use plastic wrap instead.
How long can food be kept in the freezer?
The amount of time food stays fresh in the freezer depends on the type of food, but there are some general guidelines you can follow if you aren't certain.
Cooked Foods
- Baked goods like cookies, muffins, and quick breads generally last about 3 months in the freezer.
- Cheesecake slices, however, last about 2 weeks.
- Cooked meats like chicken breasts, meatloaf slices, and pork chops last about 3 months in the freezer.
Raw Foods
- Fresh Berries, such as blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, or raspberries, last about 1 year when frozen and are perfect for flash freezing to have on hand when you want to make a smoothie. Make sure to rinse and dry them very well before freezing.
- Fish and shellfish last about 3 months when frozen raw.
- Steaks, pork chops, and chicken pieces that are still raw last about 3 to 6 months when frozen.
- Unbaked bread dough or raw cookie dough balls will last about 3 months when frozen.
For the best taste and texture, use frozen food within these timeframes. While food stored at 0°F is safe indefinitely, it may lose quality over time.

How to Flash Freeze Vegetables
Flash freezing vegetables at home is a simple way to preserve their freshness, flavor, and texture for longer storage in the freezer. Here’s how you can do it step by step:
- Choose Fresh Vegetables
- Select fresh, ripe vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, or green beans without blemishes or signs of spoilage. The fresher the vegetables, the better the quality when frozen.
- Wash and Prep
- Thoroughly wash your vegetables under cold running water to remove dirt and debris.
- Peel, chop, or slice them into the sizes you prefer for cooking later. See our guide on How to Cut Cauliflower.
- Blanch the Vegetables
- Why? Blanching stops enzyme activity, which can cause vegetables to lose color, flavor, and texture over time in the freezer.
- Boil water in a large pot. Add the vegetables and cook for a short time (usually 1-3 minutes, depending on the vegetable).
- Immediately transfer the vegetables to an ice water bath to cool quickly and stop the cooking process. Let them sit in the ice water for the same amount of time they were boiled.
- Dry Thoroughly
- Drain the vegetables and pat them dry with a clean towel or paper towels. Excess moisture can lead to ice crystals forming during freezing.
- Arrange on a Baking Sheet
- Spread the vegetables in a single layer on a baking sheet. Make sure they aren’t touching to prevent clumping together.
- Freeze Quickly
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 2-4 hours, or until the vegetables are completely frozen. This is the “flash freezing” step.
- Transfer to Freezer Bags or Containers
- Once frozen, transfer the vegetables to airtight freezer bags or containers. Remove as much air as possible before sealing to prevent freezer burn.
- Label the bags with the vegetable name and freezing date.
- Store Properly
- Place the sealed bags or containers in the freezer. Most flash-frozen vegetables can last 8-12 months if stored properly.
This method keeps vegetables separated, so you can easily grab just the amount you need without thawing the whole batch!

Learning How to Flash Freeze
Learning how to flash freeze will save you time, money, and effort. Whether you're prepping your food in advance, storing leftovers, or preserving fresh ingredients like produce and raw meat, flash freezing will help you make the most of both your freezer space and time spent in the kitchen.
Now that you know how to flash freeze food at home, give it a try! Our biggest tips? Keep your freezer organized by labeling everything clearly, and you will enjoy perfectly portioned, ready-to-use ingredients whenever you need them. It's the number one ingredient to making meal prep magic!
Tips on Flash Freezing
We flash freeze basically everything. In our video, we feature flash freezing potato slices for homemade french fries, but this same flash freezing process can be used for many things. Watch the video and let us know if you have any questions in the comments below or in the comment section of the video.
Foods to Try Flash Freezing at Home
- Meatballs are also great to prep and flash freeze to have on hand.
- Oatmeal Cookies
- Boneless Chicken Breasts and Bone-in Chicken Breasts
- Flash freeze Breaded Chicken Breasts to have ready for air fried chicken for dinner or a crispy chicken sandwich. These are also great when used to make a quick chicken parm dinner!
- Money Saving Tip: Buy Chicken Thighs in bulk and flash freeze. Store in zip top freezer bags and air fry from frozen just what you need for dinner. It's my go-to dinner on nights I don’t have anything planned.
- Bacon
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