Freezer bags or containers: which is better?

Both work. The right choice depends on the food and the size of your freezer. Most people end up using both.

When are freezer bags better?

For soups, chili, curry and sauces.
When space is tight. Flat bags take a fraction of the room.
When you want food to thaw quickly, because they are thin.

The method is to fill the bag, press the air out, seal it and lay it flat on a tray. Once frozen solid, the bags stand upright like files.

The drawbacks are that they are harder to reuse and can leak if not sealed well. Double-check the seal and freeze them on a tray the first time.

When are rigid containers better?

For assembled meals, such as rice bowls and casseroles.
For food you will reheat in the same dish.
For anything fragile that a bag would squash.

They stack neatly and last for years, but they use more space.

Is glass safe in the freezer?

Glass made for food storage usually is. Leave room at the top, because liquid expands and can crack a full container. Avoid sudden temperature changes: do not take glass straight from the freezer to a hot oven unless the label says you can. Thaw it in the fridge first.

What about plastic?

Check the label says freezer-safe. Thin takeaway tubs can turn brittle and crack. See glass or plastic containers.

Are reusable silicone bags worth it?

They are a middle option. They cost more at first, wash well and last a long time. They are harder to get fully dry and slightly bulkier than disposable bags.

What sizes do you need?

Quart bags, for single portions of soup or curry.
Gallon bags, for burritos, pancakes and meatballs.
3-cup containers, for full meals.

More detail is in what size containers you need.

Which works for which recipe?

Bags: black bean soup, turkey chili, chickpea curry, lentil bolognese.
Containers: chicken tikka with rice and peas, chicken enchilada bake.
Wrapped, then bagged: breakfast burritos and baked oatmeal squares.

How should you label them?

Write the name and date before you fill a bag. It is much easier than writing on a full one. See how to label meal prep.

What should you buy first?

A box of quart freezer bags and a marker pen. That is enough to start, and it costs very little.

Where to go next

Air is the enemy either way. See how to prevent freezer burn.