Life can get a bit full-on, can’t it? Between work, kids, and everything else, finding the time (or energy) to cook every night can sometimes be hard. That’s where batch cooking and freezer meals can be an absolute lifesaver. Learn how to batch cook & freeze meals by doing a bit of prep ahead of time so you’ve got tasty dinners ready to go when you need them.
If you’re curious but not sure where to start, don’t worry. I’ll walk you through the basics, share a few tips, and hopefully make it all feel a bit less daunting!
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🤔 What Is Batch Cooking?
Batch cooking is exactly what it sounds like: cooking big portions of food all at once, then saving some for later. It’s like putting in the effort now, so future you can take it easy!
Why Is It Good To Batch Cook?
- ✔️ It Saves Time: When life gets hectic, you’ll have homemade meals ready to go.
- ✔️ It Cuts Food Waste: No more forgotten vegetables turning to mush in the fridge.
- ✔️ It’s Budget-Friendly: Cooking in bulk means you can buy ingredients in larger, cheaper quantities.
- ✔️ It Helps With The Mental Load: Knowing dinner’s sorted can take a massive load off your mind.
🧊 The Freezer
Your freezer isn’t just for frozen chips and ice cream – it can be the key to making mealtimes easier.
Why You Should Love Your Freezer!
- ✔️ Fresher For Longer: Meals can last months when frozen properly.
- ✔️ Variety When You Need It: Fancy a curry on Tuesday and a shepherd’s pie on Thursday? No problem if you’ve batch-cooked and frozen some!
- ✔️ Last-Minute Dinners: No need for a takeaway when you’ve got a stash of ready-to-go meals.
🥣 Getting Started with Batch Cooking
- ✔️ Plan Your Meals. Decide what you want to batch cook for the week or month. Think one- pot family favourites, staples like bolognese & chilli and freezer-friendly recipes.
- ✔️ Stock Up On Containers. Grab some good-quality freezer bags or airtight boxes to store the cooked food in. I love these glass Tupperware & these freezer bags.
- ✔️ Pick a cooking day. Set aside a few hours to cook in bulk – stick on some music or a podcast to make it fun.
- ✔️ Label everything. Otherwise, you’ll forget what’s what! Use sticky labels and a marker to label containers with the name of the meal and the date you froze it.
💭 Ideas For Freezer-Friendly Meals
Not everything freezes well, but loads of meals do. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Soups and stews. Think hearty soups, beef casserole, or chilli con carne.
- Pasta sauces. A classic Bolognese or tomato based sauce is perfect.
- Curries. Most curries like this chicken & pepper curry freeze beautifully – just leave out any fresh herbs until you reheat.
- Casseroles and traybakes. Shepherd’s pie, lasagne, or mac and cheese.
- Pre-Marinate Meats. Freeze raw meat with a marinade so it’s ready to cook once defrosted.
💡 Tips For Freezing And Reheating
Use these tips to make sure your freezer meals stay fresh and tasty.
- ✔️ Cool: Let the food cool completely before freezing to avoid ice crystals forming.
- ✔️ Portion: Freeze meals into individual portions, so you only defrost what you need.
- ✔️ Seal: Use airtight containers or freezer bags to avoid freezer burn.
- ✔️ Reheat: Always make sure the food is piping hot all the way through when reheating.
🥣 How Batch Cooking Makes Meal Planning Easier
Batch cooking and meal planning work so well together. Here’s why:
- ✔️ It Saves Time During The Week: When you’ve got meals prepped and in the freezer, dinner’s ready in minutes – no faffing about after a busy day.
- ✔️ It Keeps You On Track: Having meals sorted means you’re less likely to reach for a takeaway.
- ✔️ It Gives You Flexibility: If your plans change, you can easily swap meals around or grab something different from the freezer without throwing off the whole week’s plan.
💡 Tips For Batch Cooking
Are you cooking for a family? Here’s how to make batch cooking work for everyone:
- ✔️ Get The Kids Involved: Depending on their age, let them help cook, scoop portions or stick labels on containers.
- ✔️ Cater To Everyone: If people have different tastes, freeze sauces separately to make life easier. For example, freeze a mild version for someone who doesn’t like spice or keep cheese out of the main batch and add it later for those who want it. This way, everyone’s happy without extra hassle.
- ✔️ Keep An Inventory: Write down what’s in your freezer, stick it on the fridge & cross meals out as you use them – so you know what you have without having to go digging in the freezer!
What’s your favourite batch cooking recipe or freezer tip? Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear! 😊
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