1. The truth is, just about any foods can be frozen, except those in cans and eggs in shells. As usual, certain foods freeze better than others. For example, raw meat freezes better than cooked meat because it contains more moisture.
2. Check the freezer to make sure you can trust. it should be able to maintain a constant 0 degrees F to freeze your food safely.
3. Although freezing at 0 F can stun many microbes such as bacteria, yeasts, molds (and may even kill some parasites such as Trichina), home-frozen foods should still be thoroughly cooked after thawing so as to prevent illness..
4. Freeze food quickly when it is most fresh. It generally tastes better after thawing. Rule of thumb: foods that are 2 inches thick should ideally be frozen within 2 hours. If thicker, you can have a bit more time.  Freezing rapidly also prevents those nasty large water crystals from forming.
5. Freezing does not reduce the nutrients in foods. So don’t worry about that.
6. To retain the freshness of vegetables after freezing, try blanching them in boiling water or microwave them, then quickly chill them before freezing.
7. Believe it or not, freezer-burned foods actually cannot kill you, or even hurt you. However, to reduce freezer burn, freeze food in vacuum packaging or remove as much air as possible before putting food in the freezer.
8. Remember the 3 safe ways for thawing: in refrigerator, in cold water or in microwave.
9. Frozen foods such as meat, poultry or casseroles take about 1 ½ times longer to cook.
10. Re-freezing is safe, but remember these rules. Foods left in the refrigerator can be refrozen in 3 to 4 days. On the other hand, if the foods are left outside the refrigerator, you will need to refreeze them within 2 hours, or 1 hour if the room’s temperature reaches above 90F.

Making home-made frozen meals can save time and money, especially after you return from a long vacation. So, boys and girls, remember these simple facts to make smart and safe frozen chow for you and your family whether you are on vacation or not.

As for me, I am on my way to have some fun time travelling myself.

Kitchen notes:
As you are preparing for your vacation, re-visit these recipes. They should freeze well.

1. Irish stew with Guinness
2. Pepper, Sausage and Rice
3. Kung Pao Meat Loaf
4. Hurry Curry Carrot Soup
5. Chinese Beef Stew Cooked in Plastic Bag
6. Beer Beef Brisket Roast in Plastic Bag

Resource note:

To find out more about USDA’s guidelines for freezing foods, check out Freezing and Food Safety