Hello everyone! It sure is nice to see you back for another addition of Tuesday Tips. I hope you are enjoying my tid bits of information and hopefully you are finding them as useful as I do. If this is your first time here, first of all Welcome! I’m glad you joined us today. If you would like to see who we are and what we are about, Please check out the START HERE page. Lots of great info to get you started. Tuesday Tips is something we have been working on to give you a little advice and show you how we do things around our home to make life just a little easier.
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We have been focusing on saving/earning money, so I would like to expand on our Menu Planning topic just a little and help you get started with the how to’s of Freezer Cooking. Before I begin I just want to clarify that this extreme method is still new to me as well (a few months now), but I have been reading and taking notes on how to get it started and keep it going. That is what I want share with you today.
Let’s start with the WHY.
WHY should you start Freezer Cooking?
I could ramble on about this topic for an eternity! I have seen so much of a difference since I started Freezer Cooking. The way we plan our meals, or better yet when we DON’T plan our meals. Menu Planning is a wonderful tool. But let’s face it, Life Happens and we all get busy and lose track of time. Especially this time of year with school, sports and of course the Holidays.
Less Stress! When you have meals ready to go and prepared ahead of time just sitting in your freezer and you are pushed for time one weeknight, you don’t have to worry about how or what will be on the table. Just pop your already made homemade meal out of the freezer and into the oven/crockpot and your good to go. No Stress!
The kids’ schedules seem to get busier as they get older around my house. We are always on the go or have something scheduled after school or early evenings. When you begin Freezer Cooking you Save Time. Precious time you may need to drive to that football game that is an hour away from home. Your meals are ready to go. No prepping, chopping, baking or flambeing (I just like that word, I’ve never actually DONE that!) needed.
The biggest and probably my favorite reason to start Freezer cooking is to Save Money! When you shop on a budget, and around the sales each week, you can double or triple your menu plan for that week when the price is right. Make one for now and freeze 1 or 2 for later. Why pay twice as much for chicken next week, when you can get it at a great deal this week and have your meals made and ready to go when you want them.
There you have it, my Top 3 Reasons WHY you should start Freezer Cooking!
“It sounds like a lot of work. I don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen” Is the biggest excuse I have heard for NOT prepping meals for the freezer.
My response to that? Then don’t!
Start with what you have and with what you are making right now. Last week I made Baked Zitti. Instead of making one BIG pan for the guys, I made 2 medium size pans. We had one for dinner that night, and the second I wrapped and popped right into the freezer. It took NO extra time and another meal was complete and ready to go from the freezer to the oven.
Just double what you are making for dinner. Almost everything can be frozen cooked, or pre cooked. You’re already prepping/making dinner anyway a few extra portions are easy to add in.
If you want to plan your meals for weeks in advance, take it to the next level.
- Get together your Menu Plan.
- Shop for all of your ingredients.
- Do all the Prep work over the course of a day or maybe 2.
- Package all of your meals with a label and the date.
- Your ready to go.
Yes, this will take time and it will be a lot of work on the day(s) you do it. But think of the time you will save yourself on the days to come when the main component of your meal is already prepped, prepared and ready to cook. It sounds like a lot of work and I’m not going to lie, it is. But it will be totally worth it in the end. You will see.
Do you have any helpful tips on Freezer Cooking? Are you just starting out like me? Let’s do this together! We can succeed 🙂
Here are a few links that helped me get started. Recipes and planning ideas on how and when to get your meals together. You will find everything from dinner ideas to breakfast ideas. Even snacks! How cool is that?
The Beginners Guide to Freezer Cooking – Organize Yourself Skinny.com
40 Meals in 4 Hours- Crockpot Freezer Cooking – Who Needs a Cape.com
11 Easy Freezer Meals – My Craftily Ever After.com
43 Freezer Friendly Recipes + Tips – A Cedar Spoon
Getting Started Freezer Cooking Tips & Tricks – Must Have Mom.com
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I especially like freezing dishes like baked ziti and eggplant parm…those taste esp delicious thawed. Great tip thanks for sharing!
I like this idea too. Husband always wants me to make a double batch, only he wants it the next day and the next day. Now, I’ll say No and freeze the rest for later.
LOL Im trying so hard to get into this habbit. Having 2 growing boys and a hungry hubby makes it so hard. They think it’s theirs for the taking! But I’m determined to stock up for this winter!