Ground beef: divide it up

When it comes to ground beef, buy several family-size packages at a time. The last thing you want to do is toss eight pounds of beef in the freezer as it is, even with the help of the trusty microwave. It is ridiculously hard to get a large block of meat thawed. I usually cook ground beef as soon as I get it home, or form it uncooked into hamburgers or make meatballs or meatloaf that go into the freezer

• Extra Tip: Freeze meatloaf right in the pan in which you’ll bake it. I like using a Bundt pan because the hole in the middle allows the meatloaf to cook more quickly.

NextPork: Slice smaller portions