Don't overcook food items that are intended for the freezer, and be particularly careful to slightly undercook pasta, rice, and vegetables.

Cool all foods completely by setting meals in the refrigerator for at least an hour before freezing.

Allow adequate time for your frozen foods to thaw before reheating. About 24 to 48 hours in the refrigerator will completely thaw most freezer items.

Store foods in any kind of airtight container, such as heavy-duty plastic containers or heavy-duty zip-top plastic bags. For dishes that go from freezer to oven, cover containers with heavy-duty aluminum foil.

Make certain all freezer containers are sealed completely and that you've removed excess air before sealing.

Don't forget to label (we use a permanent ink marker) with reheating instructions before freezing. This will streamline your preparation. Include the name of the meal, date frozen, number of servings, temperature and length of time it bakes, and any other necessary information. Include, for example, these instructions for the Pork Ragout: "Prepare pasta and grate cheese while ragout is reheating." You can add any personal notes such as marking extra stars for your favorites.