I use lots of freezer paper. But not in the kitchen... It is one of the coolest quilting/sewing notions available. You can make patterns with it and its plastic side really sticks to fabric when you iron it.

Guess this isn't exactly what you wanted to know??

Probably. Same principle that others use with plastic wrap before bag. I don't know which is better. I learned to use freezer paper from my mother. I think it really cuts down freezer burn as well as ice build up (i.e., doesn't build condensation). I don't know if that's because it's paper (plastic inside) or if it's because there's less air than a bag (alone).

They sell special tape but we've always used masking tape. And a china marker for writing on it. And no bag. Just the paper. My mother always uses EZFoil pans underneath the food, which go right in the oven, and then are reused.

Cut the paper a little bigger than what you're wrapping. Cut some tape first, and stick it to the edge of the counter. Bring the ends together and fold over about an inch together, then roll down, folding over, until it's flat tight. There shouldn't be so much paper as to make a lump; maybe three or four rolls over. If you have too much paper, cut it down first. Tape into place. Smooth down the top at each end and fold the corners up and across, forming a point. Fold that up or down, tight, and tape into place. Label.

It's very old fashioned.

The advice I got here when I was asking about individual portions was to freeze them in small containers or spaced on a baking sheet, then removed from containers/sheet, wrap with plastic and vacuum seal in a vacuum bag with something like Food Saver. Very fancy. Will probably pay for itself in the long run. But I haven't gotten that far yet...

Freezer paper is also great for making stencils, and you can iron it, temporarily, onto paper or fabric to stiffen it, or to draw on cutting patterns so you can cut out. Or iron onto your mesh if you're silk screening. Freezer paper is great stuff. :)

Fabric can be printed with an inkjet printer if it is first mounted on freezer paper. See the link.

Jim

Here is a link that might be useful: Printing on Fabric

The use of freezer paper for larger, mostly square or rectangular cuts of meat is one of the best uses, as plllog described in the wrapping process. But I also keep freezer paper on hand for my quilting and sewing projects. I iron it to fabric squares when writing out a label to go on my quilts. The paper stabilizes the fabric so you can write more easily on it w/o it shifting. Then the paper pulls right off before you sew the label onto the quilt.

Teresa

I use it mainly as a large disposable work surface. For example if I'm setting up an assembly line to make a big batch of Rouladen I'll lay out a long sheet. Helps with cleanup.

What cooksnsews, Jim and Teresa said........ :-)

My butcher double wraps my beef in it.
Otherwise, I don't really use it in the kitchen.

Deanna

I don't own any....but I guess I better put it on the list!
Linda C

Nope, I never use it. Carl, my friendly neighborhood meat packer who processes my beef and pork, uses a shrink wrap clear plastic now.

Back in the olden days, all beef from the processor came wrapped in freezer paper with the information regarding cut stamped on in blue ink. Meat was usually freezer burned way before we could use it all.

Now Carl does the plastic shrink wrap, all air tight and I have a brisket in the freezer from last year's beef that is still nicely red/burgundy with no sign of ice in the package.

I don't quilt, so I never buy freezer paper, but things would probably keep better if you wrapped them first then put them in ziplocks for the freezer. I'd sure have to be diligent about marking packages with contents because then I couldn't see what's in there, like I do with the shrink wrapped stuff...

Annie

I have freezer paper but don't use it that often. I do use it when I'm wrapping up crab legs to freeze, and then I put them in plastic as well.

I think freeer paper is too expensive to use for fabric patterns. I use rolls of cheap tracing paper for fabric patterns, and I tend to draw most of my patterns free-hand. I've been making patterns for so long that it is somewhat second nature for me, although I do check dimensions after I've drawn them. For furniture patterns, I generally use AutoCAD, as I need for them to be very precise.

Lars

I use it the way foodonastump does. Especially for when I'm prepping chicken, turkey, beef or pork. It beats having to scrub down all the surfaces in my kitchen.

Thank you all for the information. I guess I will find out how effective freezer paper is in preventing meat from getting freezer burn.

Isn't that interesting how more people use freezer paper to do crafts these days. Although I could use it in crafts but I rather keeping it for its original purpose. I probably will try using freezer paper and bag at the same time. Since the bags are reusable it won't hurt to double wrap the meat for a longer freeze time.

Thanks again!

Al