I gave up using containers years ago. We use vacuum seal bags and/or freezer ziplock bags instead. Lay them flat until mostly frozen and then they stack easily and take up much less room in the freezer. You can get 4-5 frozen quart bags in the space of one quart container. Also no freezer burn from air trapped in them like containers had and no tops popping off in the freezer.

Dave

Thanks Dave.

I'm with Dave on this one. I think ziplocks and post-it-notes are the best inventions ever.... well, next to a smart phone anyway.

Like Dave and Kate, I've switched to ziplock freezer bags. Remember, though, that there's a difference in the regular bags and the freezer bags, the freezer bags are thicker material. Like Dave, I portion the squash into bags (mine is mashed), squeeze all the air out of the bags and place them on a sheet pan in a flat layer. After they are frozen they stack right up and I can get a lot into a smaller space.

Good luck, I had a ton of squash this year and I'm still putting it in the freezer as it becomes compromised in storage. I think we've eaten squash twice a week for the last three months, and I still have piles of the stuff. I've made squash pie and put it in dinner rolls and made pound cake and muffins. Good thing the dog loves mashed squash...

Annie

I do use ziploc (freezer) bags for tomatoes, but I was afraid that because of the thickness of squash pulp (mashed), it would be a hassle getting it all out of the bags. Annie, have you had any trouble getting all of yours out of the bags? I reuse ziploc bags until they are dead, and then recycle them locally. I prefer the idea of a rigid container, to avoid all the hassle with cleaning the ziploc bags. But good rigid freezer containers are hard to find these days.

Annie..... my dog loves mashed squash too!

catherinet, I have found that I can break a square of frozen squash into quarters or halves, and remove it from the bags while still frozen, then just let it thaw in a container/bowl until I use it.

Keeps the bags intact, no mashed squash in the corners and it's just a whole lot easier to deal with.

Annie

Thanks annie! I can't believe I didn't think of that! Great idea!

catherinet, the only issue is if I put too much squash in a bag, then my "square" becomes too thick to break. I usually put two cups into a quart sized bag, that makes a squash that's thin enough that I can bust it up. I just broke up two squares tonight, tossed them into a Pyrex casserole dish and stuck them in the oven with a ham and some potatoes. Thawed out nicely, fit in the dish, and the entire meal was in the oven. Grandma used to tell me "never bake an orphan" and so my oven rarely has just a single item in there. LOL

Then again, if you're a lot younger and stronger than I am, load those bags up!

Annie

LOL annie........I'm probably much older than you, and my fingers are bent....so I'll not load my ziplocs up too much! Thanks for the "warning". :)

I usually use freezer Ziplocks or vacuum sealed bags for freezing everything because it saves so much space. By the way, (don't read if you are squeamish) when our GSD had stopped up anal glands and I took him to the vet, she said to mix about a tablespoon of pumpkin purée in his food every day to prevent it from happening again. Dogs love pumpkin and I've seen recipes for dog treats that use pumpkin.

Madonna