[sauce]iStock * Freezing foods can be a great way to save time. * Some foods freeze better than others. * Freezing bread dough can be helpful. * Sauce also freezes well. * Visit INSIDER's homepage for more. Unless you happen to live with a large group of people, all of whom share your food-related tastes, you're probably familiar with the need to freeze your leftovers. However, this seemingly-simple tactic doesn't always work out as you'd hope, due to freezer inconsistencies, the water content of different dishes, and variations in defrosting times. The truth of the matter is that certain dishes thrive in the freezer, while others suffer flavor depletion and textural changes. To help give you a better sense of which dishes fit the crucial freezer criteria, we asked a group of 10 pro chefs to offer up their favorite freezable dishes, and here's what they told us. YOU MAY NOT EXPECT A FULLY-FROSTED LAYER CAKE TO BE A NATURAL FIT FOR THE FREEZER...BUT YOU’D BE WRONG. Maxene Huiyu/Shutterstock Plenty of bakers use the freezer to preserve doughs and frostings before assembly ... but can a totally-frosted layer cake really maintain its shape, flavor, and texture after freezing? According to pastry chef and blogger Jessie Sheehan, it absolutely can. "Folks do not realize that you can make and frost an entire layer cake — think chocolate with vanilla buttercream or red velvet with cinnamon cream cheese frosting — and stick it in the freezer for up to a month! Flavor or texture is not compromised and I recommend that you freeze the cake unwrapped, and once frozen, wrap in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil — this helps it from absorbing the smells of the freezer, etc. When you are ready to eat it, remove the plastic wrap and foil and let it defrost on the counter, and voila! A perfect (and special) dessert is ready for you!" Sheehan told INSIDER. CURRY’S BOLD FLAVORS ALLOW IT TO WITHSTAND FREEZING WITH APLOMB, AS LONG AS YOU DEFROST IT PROPERLY. Wikimedia Commons/Seena.g Thanks to their complex flavor profile, curried dishes hold up well to freezing, chef and founder of Digest The Passion Chris Martin told INSIDER. "The ideal dish if you're freezing and thawing is curry. It's great because its hearty flavor stands up well to the freezing process [and it] fits well in your freezer as you can mold it into any shape once it's packed," Martin explained. If you're looking for an optimal freezing method that will best preserve your curry's flavor without costing you excessive time and effort, Martin has a few suggestions: "[If you have a] freezer-safe bag, it's much better than using a container that allows air. If you're looking for a quick thaw, put the bag in a pot and leave cold water (NOT hot water) running into the pot. It's best to weigh down the bag and leave the water running. The circulation will help it thaw faster." BREADS AND MUFFINS CAN HANDLE FREEZING LIKE CHAMPIONS. Erin Brodwin / Business Insider Should you find yourself in the throes of a baking fugue and don't know where to store your surfeit of breads, muffins, and pastries, the good news is that these oven-forged treats count among the most freezer-friendly foods out there. "Cakes, breads, and muffins can be frozen very successfully," said Philadelphia-based baker and blogger Eileen Gray of Baking Sense. "If you want to bake ahead [of time], freezing your breads or cakes is much better than refrigerating. The refrigerator accelerates staling because the cool temperature causes the starch in the item to recrystallize, and in the process, moisture is released. The freezer stops the process and keeps your cake or bread perfectly fresh. "I recommend double-wrapping the items in plastic and then a layer of foil. Defrost at room temperature in the plastic wrap. [To get] a crusty bread, a few minutes in a warm oven will revive the texture." SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDER SEE ALSO: * The best dessert to order at 17 of America's most popular chain restaurants * 10 of the most filling foods you can eat on a low-carb diet * 12 things you didn't know you could make with Greek yogurt
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