Questions on train forums I wouldn't think of asking.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

My grandmother used to use tin foil followed by plastic wrap (zip lock bags were about 20 years in the future). Foil alone and plastic wrap alone didn't work but the combo did. It seemed to slow down the ice crystal formation.

Yes, but today's zip lock freezer bags are all one really needs except for very long term.

[HONDO74]

This is what I use. Premium plastic wrap with slide cutter. I get this at Walmart.
Great Value Slide Cutter Plastic Wrap, Clear, 300 sq ft
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Value- ... /175840656

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihaRlAEg0is

After wrapping the ham in the plastic wrap, then put it in the sandwich bags. They also have some extra large sandwich bags

[rogruth]

The topic of this forum would be better asked on a forum other than MTJ because you can get answers to anything here.

[chuck]

Rufus said

Yes, but today's zip lock freezer bags are all one really needs except for very long term.

Yes, about 2-3 months for the freezer bags, about a year for the vacuum seal zip locks.

We used to have a "DeepFreeze" chest freezer when I was growing up. It was about 7 degrees in the coldest part. When the family moved from Queens to Rockland, we took it with us. It lasted about another 10 years in Rockland before it gave up the ghost. There were some frozen peaches and plums at the bottom that were 20 years old and still in decent shape when they were fished out. No freezer burn, some slight discoloration. They were from the two fruit trees in the back yard.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Rufus said

Yes, but today's zip lock freezer bags are all one really needs except for very long term.

Yes, about 2-3 months for the freezer bags, about a year for the vacuum seal zip locks.

We get 4-6 months out of the heavy duty bags. The older thin ones are not very good.

We used to have a "DeepFreeze" chest freezer when I was growing up. It was about 7 degrees in the coldest part. When the family moved from Queens to Rockland, we took it with us. It lasted about another 10 years in Rockland before it gave up the ghost. There were some frozen peaches and plums at the bottom that were 20 years old and still in decent shape when they were fished out. No freezer burn, some slight discoloration. They were from the two fruit trees in the back yard.

Once upon a time you could get a really good freezer - my mother kept on full that was out in the garage; it came with me and lasted another 20 years. It's replacement lasted about 7 years and now I'm on yet another one. Had it full of veg from last year's garden.

[Roy]

Tip to get maximum storage life from any zip-lock bag:

- Place your food into the zip-lock bag and zip the seal, leaving about an inch open.
- Fill a large container with water.
- Slowly lower the bag of food into the water, until only the corner you left open is above the water.
- Seal the open corner of the zip-lock bag, and remove the bag from the water. Allow the bag to dry off completely before placing it in the freezer.

Source: https://www.cnet.com/how-to/use-this-hack-to-store-foods-without-a-vacuum-sealer/

[robert.]

Might be easier to cook the ham with green eggs.
Chuck how did those peaches taste?

[chuck]

They tasted like peaches. The plums were a little off but not as bad as some commercial stuff I've had that was allegedly much fresher .

Not bad for 20 years in the DeepFreeze. Colors were a little off.

That freezer was insane. Ice cream never showed signs of freezer burn or crystallization. Same for meat. You could stock up on a loss leader sale (e.g. whole chickens) and not have to buy any until the next big sale (say 2 months later). You did have to do some prep work, aka repackage, use freezer paper separators, etc. but it meant the grocery shopping for the week was perishables like fresh vegetables/fruit or cans/dry goods. Helped on the budget and the arms carrying the sacks. We didn't use much canned stuff, maybe baked beans and Campbells soups. Between the DeepFreeze and the pressure cooker we ate healthy and well. BTW back in those time (early to mid sixties) milk was handled by "milk stores" like Garden State Farms. The bottles were heavy glass and there was a deposit on it. The HDPE jugs were about ten years in the future. GSF handled other dairy items as well and made some delicious ice cream. In grade school we went on a field trip to one of the processing plants to see them bottle milk, make cottage cheese and butter. Northern Jersey had a pretty extensive dairy industry before the land became "too valuable" (and taxable) to farm.

[rogruth]

I think that "too valuable" land happened many places.
We have housing developments that bring high prices
in areas that were swamp and were never expected to
be of commercial value in any way.

[Mitch]

We have 4 freezers and 1 refrigerator running in our basement at all times. With the wife's cookie business, and the need to store the large plastic boxes, we need the space. Two are uprights, and the other two are chests. The very best one of the bunch was given to me by a guy I worked with. I couldn't resist the offer: "Get it out of my garage"! It's about a 35 year old Frigidare with the lid beaten up and dented from stackin' car parts on it, but it works great.
A month ago, our kitchen refrigerator shit the bed on the refer side only, (freezer still worked good), and since it was a Maytag yard sale special from about 4 years ago, the old girl decided to get a new one. With 10% off on a Lowe's card, and an additional 10% off with my military card, $1300 and some dollars cash, and my truck, she came home with a new Samsung side by side with freezer in the bottom. This past weekend, the freezer quit. Lost the chicken, the ice cream, and quite a few other things. Called up Lowes. New one coming next Wednesday, and they'll be the ones gettin' this one through the door, 'cause we worked our asses off to get the first one in.

[Roy]

I bought my Estate (Whirlpool made) refrigerator/freezer from Best Buy when I moved here twenty seven years ago. It was the least expensive full-size, self-defrosting unit I could find, at $300. It's run all this time like a champ, with no problems. In fact, it's even quieter now, than when it was new.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Called up Lowes. New one coming next Wednesday, and they'll be the ones gettin' this one through the door, 'cause we worked our asses off to get the first one in.

That's the way to do it. Have someone else move the old one out and bring the new one in!

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Might be easier to cook the ham with green eggs..

Yeah, better than eggs cooked with green ham, huh.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Which do you prefer, for health and taste:
ham
Chicken
Turkey
Tuna
Salami
Hotdog(s)
Fish
Roast beef
Pork roast
Pork chop(s)
Steak
Fast food, such as hamburgers
and/or Arby's beef sandwich
Lamb

[Roy]

You're focusing on protein foods. Good corned beef. Eggs. Roquefort and some other blue cheeses. Skim milk. Refried beans.