Make a Big Batch of Sauce and Freeze in Portions

The Problem

Making sauce from scratch takes 30-60 minutes. Jarred sauces cost $4-6 and taste mediocre.

The Hack

Make a triple or quadruple batch of your favorite sauce — marinara, curry, enchilada, stir-fry. Cool completely. Ladle into freezer bags or containers in 2-cup portions. Freeze flat.

Why It Works

A frozen sauce block thaws in the microwave in 3-4 minutes or in a hot pan in 5. Having homemade sauce ready turns a 15-minute protein + starch into a complete restaurant-quality dinner.

Pro Tips

• 2 cups of sauce is perfect for one meal for 2 people or one pasta dish
• Label every bag with sauce type and date
• Marinara, butter chicken, and chili verde all freeze perfectly
• Store bags flat — they stack like books and thaw faster