Can You Freeze Factor Meals & Keep the Taste 2025? 

Many prepared meal delivery services ship their entrees frozen, but not Factor. Factor meals have the best quality and taste if kept in the refrigerator. They arrive chilled, and if you put them in the fridge as soon as the delivery arrives, they’ll last for 7 days.

However, you might need more than a week to get through your order. If this is the case, you can freeze meals to extend their shelf life. I reached out to Factor’s customer support to confirm that this is fine.

One of our reviewers tried this for themselves as they were away after one of their orders arrived. Below, I’ll walk you through how to best preserve the taste when keeping meals in the freezer.

Factor Meals: Refrigerating vs. Freezing

Here’s an overview of what you’ll get when storing Factor recipes in the fridge or the freezer.

	Refrigerating	Freezing
Freshness	Food is fresh in the days post-delivery	Freshness may remain if you freeze food before its end date
Taste	Meals are at their tastiest	May affect the taste, depending on the meal and if frozen properly
Overall quality	It’s at its highest until the Best by date	May affect the quality, depending on the meal and if frozen properly
Longevity	Food lasts 7 days or so	Food may last for months if stored properly

We regularly test Factor to keep our reviews up to date, and our reviewers have tried Factor meals from fresh and from frozen.

While the brand intends its meals to be eaten fresh (and this is how meals will arrive), there may be instances where you need to prolong the shelf life for longer than 7 days. For example:

• You forgot to skip an order and won’t be in to eat all your meals.

• You wanted to make the most of a new customer coupon (like this one: Up to $130 off + Free Breakfast for 1 Year ), so made the largest order.

• You want to make larger orders for a lower price-per-meal, but this means you’ll need to freeze some of the meals you won’t get around to eating.

How to Freeze Factor Entrees

Factor doesn’t endorse freezing its meals, as it can affect their quality. But there are things you can do to give your frozen meals the best chance of retaining their taste and texture. 

• Freeze meals as soon as possible before their “Enjoy by” date, preferably as soon as you receive delivery.

• Be strategic with which meals to freeze. If you’re only freezing some of your order, or are choosing meals specifically to freeze, you can plan ahead. For example, meals with seafood, mushrooms, creamy sauces, and veg with a high water content may be more affected by freezing. Chicken and pork dishes tend to freeze best.

• Allow time to defrost. Ideally, in the fridge, 24 hours before eating. 

• Don’t wait too long to eat them. If you've frozen Factor meals properly, it's best to consume them within 2 months for the best taste and texture.

For better food quality, avoid defrosting meals at room temperature because of the possibility of spoilage. If time is of the essence, defrost the meal in the microwave using the defrost function. Otherwise, take food out of the freezer the night before and defrost it in the refrigerator.

Tips for Freezing Food

Now you know how to freeze and defrost Factor meals. I’ve also pulled together the following general recommendations to protect your health and food quality: 

• Store food in airtight containers or freezer bags. For optimal preservation, use a vacuum sealer. This method prevents freezer burn by eliminating moisture and air from the food.

• Remove excess air from airbags before sealing to preserve freshness.

• Arrange the meals flat for faster freezing and to prevent the food from sticking together.

• Be careful not to overload the freezer with items. If that happens, the efficiency of the freezer may decrease over time. So, plan your freezer space accordingly.

• Opt for BPA-free containers. Many containers have Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical that could seep into food.

• Verify that containers are suitable for freezer use. Those unsuitable for low temperatures may crack or even break. Freezer-safe options include those made from plastic, stainless steel, and glass.

• Choose transparent containers. If you put food in opaque containers, you’ll have to open them to identify the food, which inevitably leads to air penetration.

Bottom Line

So, although Factor doesn't recommend freezing meals, it also doesn't forbid it explicitly. And while both the company site's FAQ and customer service representatives emphasize that it's better to refrigerate than freeze meals, you can still put them in the freezer and enjoy them afterward.

If you’re specifically looking for a service where meals are supposed to be stored in the freezer, take a look at our best frozen meal delivery services. Among them, you'll find prepared meal and meal kit delivery services that my colleagues and I highly recommend.

FAQ

Can Factor meals be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze Factor meals. The company recommends refrigerating food over freezing it through its customer support representatives and FAQ section. But, you can still freeze meals to prolong their shelf life.  

How long do Factor meals last in the fridge?

Most Factor meals can last 7 days or so in the refrigerator. Check the Best by date when your box arrives for the details. If you don't plan to eat the delivered meals by the expiration date, freeze them as soon as possible to extend their longevity.

How do you thaw frozen meal prep meals?

You can defrost food safely in the refrigerator, in the microwave, or in cold water. If you have time, transfer frozen food to the refrigerator to keep it at a steady, safe temperature under 40F overnight. If pressed for time, cook food directly from its frozen state or in the microwave if your meals are already prepared. Just make sure to activate the defrost function.