congelar
verbCEFR B1
What does “congelar” mean in English?
to freeze
to freeze (put food in a freezer for preservation) — congelar la carne, congelar en porciones
Example sentences
Si haces demasiado caldo, puedes congelarlo en cubitos de hielo y añadirlos directamente a los guisos desde el congelador.
If you make too much stock, you can freeze it in ice cubes and add them directly to stews from the freezer.
He congelado las sobras en porciones individuales para que sea más cómodo descongelarlas durante la semana.
I have frozen the leftovers in individual portions so that it is easier to defrost them during the week.
How to use it
Congelar means 'to freeze' in the food-storage sense — putting food in the freezer to preserve it. It is a regular -ar verb. Key collocates: congelar carne/verduras/caldo, congelar en porciones (freeze in portions), el congelador (the freezer). Distinguish from helar, which describes freezing temperatures or weather, not deliberate food storage.
Common mistake
Congelar is the deliberate act of putting food in a freezer; helar is what happens naturally when temperatures drop (el lago se heló = the lake froze). Also: the freezer appliance is el congelador (not el freezer, which is a common anglicism in some Latin American dialects).