One of the things I enjoy doing the most on weekends is preparing and freezing meals for the weeks ahead. I can usually find time on a Saturday or Sunday morning to enjoy a cup of coffee while I go through some of my favourite recipe books, make my shopping list and head out to the grocery store.
I try to prepare meals that are healthy and that don’t require a ton of work because that’s the last thing you want when you’re cooking in big batches. I aim for recipes like chilis, stews, casseroles and soups; meals that are great for lunch or dinner and that freeze well.
I avoid using pasta, cheeses or cream based sauces because they don’t freeze well. Pasta tends to get mushy when thawed and reheated, the texture of cheese changes when it’s thawed and cream based sauce loses its velvety texture.
A tip, though, if you are thinking about freezing these items: Cook pasta to the point where it’s just about to hit the al dente point – just a minute or two before you’d consider it done – and continue from there. That way, it can cook just a little more when you’re heating it up and it won’t get too mushy.
Also, if you’re using a cream-based sauce or a creamy soup, add less cream or milk than the recipe requires. This way, you can add fresh cream or milk when you’re reheating it and you won’t necessarily dilute the flavour.
So what do you need to get started?
1. Buy high quality containers or freezer bags to avoid freezer burn. Tin pans that come with lids are great for dishes like lasagna.
2. A permanent marker – You’ll know how long a meal has been sitting in your freezer if it is labelled with a date.
3. If you don’t own a slow cooker, it’s a great investment for batch cooking, but a good size casserole dish, dutch oven or cooking pot should do the trick.
4. If you’re going to make a big batch of food, make sure it’s something you and your family REALLY want to eat.
5. Check your freezer for space. This may be a good time to get rid of any expired or freezer-burned food.
6. Make a grocery list and stick to it as much as you possibly can – impulse buys can be a hardship on both your wallet and your waistline.
7. Thaw your food overnight by placing it in your refrigerator – never defrost anything in your sink or on your countertop. Also, some meals can quickly be thawed in a microwave.
Preparing meals in advance for you and your family is not only a huge time saver, but a great way to save money. You’ll be less likely to order take-out, which can get expensive, especially if it becomes a weekly ritual. Plus, preparing meals at home means you know what is going into your food and you have more control over what ingredients you are using, like salt or sugar.
Here are some great freezer friendly recipes from our website.
Easy BBQ Chicken & Bean Burgers
