Sooner or later, on a whim, I made a decision it was time to attempt my hand at frozen meals. I assumed that if I might study to order the remaining of the day, it was time to simplify time for supper. It occurred innocently sufficient – I used to be making hen & dressed for dinner and realized that he had carried out an excessive amount of for us for one meal. I assumed “why not put half in the freezer?” I had made it earlier than with lasagna so I knew it will imply the meals would maintain a pan hostage for a few weeks so I made a decision to hit the greenback retailer and purchase some foil pans to put the second batch of dressing on. so I might have a meal ready with out dropping a pan.
journey to the greenback retailer led me to discover 15 differing kinds of pans which obtained my wheels rolling… I used to be ready to purchase a few (I believe I purchased $10 worth of 3/$1) and fill up of meals of all differing kinds. I went out with my pans, went straight to the grocery retailer, purchased a bunch of issues I knew I might usually cook dinner with (like hen breast, burgers, veggies, and many others.) after which went dwelling and began a marathon of 4 hour kitchen that ended up with 28 meals in my freezer.
Once I was carried out, I discussed it on fb and there have been a lot of questions on what I made, requests for recipes, and even recommendation on what I made. so I assumed I would write a submit to share with you the way I made 28 frozen meals in about 4 hours.
Earlier than I begin, I am going to inform you that this submit goes to be lengthy… very lengthy. I might have simply damaged this into a dozen smaller posts, however that is a DIY weblog, not a frozen meals weblog, so I assumed my common readers (not frozen meals lovers) would persist with me for one submit: if i began posting all this individually you may suppose i used to be loopy and cease studying. please do not come again tomorrow and we’ll discuss lighting or stitching or one thing, okay? and in addition, please know that I’m not a skilled cook dinner: I’m a southern mother who raised 4 kids they usually grew up consuming this meals. I caught to fundamental recipes we have eaten for years so I knew what my household would truly eat. and after I initially wrote this submit 5 years in the past, I nonetheless had youngsters at dwelling. however now we’re empty nesters and i’ve even found out how to do it for simply two folks.
*this submit incorporates affiliate hyperlinks on your comfort*
let’s begin with my ideas for frozen meals:
1) Ensure that your kitchen is clear earlier than you begin freezing your meals. You don’t need to have to clear up after which cook dinner, since you’ll be doing the dishes whereas cooking at a quick price. price of fireplace. not less than I used to be. I simply have a few pots and pans, a few mixing bowls, a couple of whisks, and many others. I haven’t got a totally stocked kitchen sufficiently big for an military. I frequently feed 4 folks, so my kitchen displays our wants.
2) Take into consideration what you need to fill up on. I do know we eat a lot of hen meals, some burgers, and a lot of casserole meals. You can begin with what’s in your pantry and construct from there. it is a wonderful means to make probably the most of what you will have. mainly, you method frozen meals the identical approach you’d any meal plan.
3) Clear out your freezer. I solely have the freezer on my side-by-side fridge. I’ve had a couple completely different freezers in the previous, however they had been by no means used correctly, so I obtained rid of them. I gave my freezer a deep clear and located that after it was all clear, I not solely had sufficient room for all these frozen meals, however I even had a spare shelf to fill with my favourite ice cream (which I completely did). /p>
4) Fill up on freezer baggage and foil pans. These 3/$1 pans come in all sizes and styles. I purchased ones that maintain about 2 kilos of meals, as a result of 4 folks divided by 2 kilos is 8 ounces every. that is sufficient for the primary course for us. purchase good plastic baggage (I like to recommend ziploc) each gallon and quart.
5) Put on comfy sneakers. I did it barefoot and my toes had been killing me after 4 hours.
6) Ask for assist, in the event you can. I want I might have carried out it on a Sunday when my daughters had been dwelling to assist wash the dishes, open cans, and many others. I did most of the work. once they had been at college, however in the final hour I had assist and it made my life a lot simpler.
7) keep in mind this isn’t a fairy story. midway via you are going to begin considering “why the hell did I believe this was a good concept?!?” Nicely not less than I did. while you’re up to your elbows in marinara and stews, placing frozen meals into pans again and again, you are going to query the entire mess. it is worth it. effectively, it was for me anyway.
8) sharpies are your folks. you possibly can mark every meal with the title and date, so when you have some badly frozen meals mendacity round in your freezer 2 years later (which might or would not occur right here), then you do not have to marvel when it was made or what the heck is in that dish. Plus, with the caps on, they will all look the identical. shake it, honey.
9) Put together in batches. Want onions for 4 frozen meal recipes? minimize it suddenly to make your life simpler. poach all of your hen in a pot (which may also provide you with a first rate broth). brown your complete burger after which divide it up for the completely different meals. when you have to do a lot, do all of it collectively.
10) Free pep discuss. I believe that is all my ideas, however I needed to add yet one more to say in the event you really need to do that frozen meal factor, you possibly can. as soon as once more, i’ve a fundamental set of pots and pans plus a massive pot, a couple of mixing bowls (one massive, one medium), some picket spoons, and a few whisks. plus ten is a good stopping level, which my ocd mind appreciates.
how to retailer frozen meals
Listed below are the issues I like to recommend for storage:
spherical & rectangular pans (which serve 4 folks in every pan) work nice for frozen meals. of course if you would like to use smaller sizes you should use smaller pans and meals will unfold out much more.
ziploc in each quart and gallon nowadays, since we’re empty nesters now, we usually use smaller containers (I am going to get extra in frozen meals for 2 in a second). For chili, sauces, and many others., we typically use a quart freezer bag with 2 cups of any recipe. it makes meals go for much longer.
what I’ve discovered is to make certain you get good high quality storage containers. the higher the baggage, the longer freezer meals can keep frozen with out sacrificing the standard of the proof & meals texture.
In case your freezer has sufficient space for storing, I like to recommend utilizing baskets to arrange them so you possibly can simply see what’s inside and do not lose issues in the again of the freezer. I additionally advocate utilizing a calendar to plan your freezer meals so you will not find yourself with a ton of one variety on the finish.
how to label frozen meals
Earlier than you retailer your meals in the freezer, you need to make certain they’re correctly labeled. this contains:
- what are frozen meals (instance: lasagna)
- date of manufacture (so you are not guessing a few weeks later)
- reheating directions
- any particular notes (instance: vegetable lasagna vs. meat lasagna)
- beef marinara recipe 3 kilos floor beef, cooked and strained
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 massive cans crushed tomatoes
- 1 12 oz. can of tomato paste
- 1 big jar (double that dimension) good store-bought marinara
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- salt to style (1 1/2 tablespoons or so)
- pepper to style (3/4 tablespoon)
- beef marinara
- ricotta cheese (bigger tub)
- 1 massive egg
- 1/2 tablespoon floor black pepper
- 1 cup grated Parmesan
- no bake lasagna noodles (2 packing containers all my very own)
- 2 kilos floor beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cans of sizzling beans
- 1 can rotel tomatoes
- 1 can diced tomatoes (14-ounce can)
- 2 packets chili seasoning
- 1/2 tablespoon salt
- 2 cups of water
- 2 kilos floor beef (once more, mine was pre-cooked)
- 1 onion, very finely chopped
- six cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- for the crust:
- 5 cups self-raising flour
- 3/4 cup bitter cream
- 1 egg
- 1 cup (kind of) of water
- 3 shredded cooked hen breasts
- 2 packing containers pasta (I used penne), cooked and drained
- 2 cans Campbell’s Cheddar Cheese Soup
- 2 cups hen broth (I used the broth from cooking the hen)
- 2 baggage of frozen broccoli
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 hen breasts, cooked and shredded
- 8 cups of cooked rice
- 2 cans rotel tomatoes
- 2 packets of taco seasoning
- 2 cans complete kernel corn, drained
- 2 cans black beans (undrained)
- 1 small can black olives, drained
- 6 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 shredded cooked hen breasts
- 5 cups of cooked rice
- 2 cans of condensed cream of hen soup
- 1 cup hen broth
- 2 baggage of frozen peas and carrots (I used combined, however you can use a bag of every)
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1/2 tablespoon black pepper
- 3 cups French onions
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- a massive pan of cornbread (use your individual favourite recipe) cooked and crumbled
- 2 cans cream of hen
- 1 can hen broth
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped & sautéed in butter
- 2 tablespoons floor sage
- 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
- 3/4 tablespoon floor black pepper
- 2 cups shredded cooked hen
How lengthy can frozen meals final?
Actually, that relies on the meals. We have by no means had them final greater than 6 months so I do know those that final that lengthy are all the time good for us. However, in accordance to the USDA, most substances have security pointers that state completely different instances. Listed below are some of their pointers (taken from foodsafety.gov):
Beef could be frozen for 3-4 months.
Hen can keep frozen for 9-12 months.
soups/stews can keep frozen for 2-3 months.
cooked meat/poultry could be frozen for two to 6 months.
so, in accordance to them, there’s a lot of selection. so truthfully, it is laborious to give a really correct reply to the query of how lengthy frozen meals can preserve. I attempt to facet with the precautionary error and keep in the 3-6 month vary. although truthfully they by no means appear to final for much longer than the rules. Simply play it secure, okay?
how to reheat frozen meals
how to make frozen meals for 2 folks
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I began by placing 5 packages of hen breasts (15 items whole) in a pot of water, to boil all of them for the meals I wanted. I used the largest pot I had and boiled all of them.
Whereas the hen was cooking, I used one other pot and started browning 12 kilos of floor beef (in a smaller pot). as soon as all the bottom beef was cooked, I drained it and added 1/4 of it. into the pot to make my marinara.
freezer recipes
To the bottom beef, add the garlic and onions and cook dinner till the onions are mushy. add the remaining of the substances and cook dinner for 45 minutes or so over medium warmth, till the flavors mix.
++ if you don’t need a bunch of frozen recipes however need a large affect, begin right here. you should use this sauce for dozens of meals!
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I used the marinara to make 5 small lasagnas in 2.5 pound foil pans.
frozen meals made with beef
straightforward lasagna (one of my household’s favourite frozen meal recipes!)
(makes 5 frozen meals)
shredded mozzarella cheese (the bagged variety works completely for me) – laborious to say how a lot, however I used about 10 cups whole
In a small bowl, combine collectively the ricotta, egg, pepper, and Parmesan cheese till effectively mixed.
Within the backside of the pan, spoon sufficient sauce to flippantly coat the underside of the pan in a skinny layer. Utilizing a small spoon or tablespoon, add tablespoons of the ricotta combination (I put 5 drops on every layer, one in every nook and one in the center). add extra marinara over and across the ricotta, sprinkle on a skinny layer of mozzarella, then add one other layer of noodles. make three layers, topping off the ultimate layer of noodles with sauce and a good layer of mozzarella cheese and canopy with a cardboard lid. let cool earlier than placing in the freezer.
when prepared to cook dinner, take away lid, cowl with foil and bake 35 minutes at 375 levels, take away foil and cook dinner 10 extra minutes or till lid is flippantly browned and bubbly.
add a salad and a few garlic bread and you have got a meal in simply a couple of minutes.
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after making my lasagna, I put the remaining of the marinara in gallon dimension ziploc baggage, two cups in every, then squeezed out any air and froze them in the freezer. after I need to make spaghetti, I cook dinner the noodles, warmth the sauce, add a salad and a few bread and that is it.
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straightforward chili recipe
(makes 2-3 frozen meals)
Place the browned floor beef in a skillet with the onions and cook dinner till the onions are mushy. add all different substances (together with the juice from the tomatoes) and cook dinner for Half-hour or so till the flavors mix.
it is laborious to measure, however I used two-gallon baggage to put 1/3 of the combination in every, after which divided the remaining into a couple of smaller quart baggage for chili canines or chili chips and cheese (issues the place chili just isn’t the primary meals.)
++ That is one other one of these frozen recipes which can be good for learners and can be utilized in so some ways!
*****
straightforward cheeseburger casserole
(makes 3 frozen meals)
for protection:
In a skillet, cook dinner the bottom beef over medium excessive warmth till the onion is mushy. let cool.
make the crust first by combining the flour, egg, bitter cream, and sufficient water to convey it collectively into a thick however spreadable consistency.
spray the pans (I used three spherical pans) and unfold a layer of batter into every. sprinkle the cooled meat combination over the dough, then prime every with about 2 cups of the cheddar cheese. lid with lid to cook dinner, bake at 350 levels for 25-Half-hour, till cheese is flippantly browned and bubbly.
for a variation, you can put some marinara in the dough and have a cheeseburger pizza casserole. typically we use marinara for dipping, it is the right snack!
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for the remaining of the bottom beef, I divided it into a couple quart ziploc baggage for sloppy joes or tacos.
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frozen meals made with hen
Now let’s work on the hen recipes. I shredded all of the hen and used it in a number of of the recipes under. after they had been all carried out, I put the remaining of the shredded hen in quart dimension ziploc baggage and froze them to make hen tacos, BBQ hen sandwiches, and many others.
Broccoli Cheddar Hen Pasta Bake Recipe
(makes 3 frozen meals)
Mix all substances besides shredded cheddar in a bowl, divide amongst three trays, prime with cheddar. when prepared to cook dinner, bake at 350 levels for 30-40 minutes, till heat and bubbly. Since I get carbs, veggies, and protein in one dish, I often add one other veggie and a few garlic bread and that is it. yummy!
*****
tex mex hen casserole
(makes 4 frozen meals)
Combine all substances in a bowl, besides the cheese. divide into 4 ramekins, then prime every with the cheddar cheese and canopy with a cardboard cowl. to cook dinner, take away cardboard piece and bake at 350 till heated via and cheese is melted (all substances are already cooked, simply a matter of heating via). I serve with bitter cream and salsa on prime and tortilla chips on the facet.
Fundamental Frozen Hen Casserole Meal Recipe
(makes 3 frozen meals)
in a small bowl, mix cheese and onions, reserve (for topping)
In a massive bowl, mix the remaining of the substances, then separate into ramekins. prime every with 1/3 of the topping combine and freeze. when prepared to cook dinner, bake at 350 till heated via and cheese is melted (it is all cooked in the casserole now).
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edited to add:
hen & dress
(makes 3 frozen meals)
*you may also add a couple stalks of celery, however we do not prefer it, so my dressing would not have it.*
Combine all of the substances collectively, put them in molds and freeze them. when prepared to cook dinner, bake at 350 levels for about an hour. make certain you will have chilly cranberry sauce and fundamental hen sauce to go together with it, as a result of that is what a good southerner would do ????
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my whole stockpile of frozen meals recipes:
5 lasagnas
2 baggage of premade marinara (for spaghetti)
2 baggage of chili (plus 2 extra small baggage for chili canines/nachos)
3 cheeseburger casseroles
3 Cheddar and Broccoli Hen Pasta Pies
4 Tex Mex hen casseroles
3 fundamental hen stews
2 baggage floor beef (prepared for sloppy joes, and many others.)
3 baggage shredded hen breast (prepared for tacos, and many others.)
in addition to the unique hen & dressing that began all of it
grand whole: 28 meals (plus two small baggage of chili)
Are frozen meals worth it?
effectively, truthfully, that is for you to determine. for me it is wonderful. in the event you get going you possibly can actually produce a lot of frozen recipes very simply. I spent an hour on the grocery retailer (and I spent $300 to produce all these meals, plus all my different necessities for 2 weeks, so possibly $200 went to this), and I spent 4 hours cooking to get all these frozen meals.
can we eat this each night time? there are issues my household likes that take little or no time to make and actually need to be made recent (like potato soup). these meals will most likely final us two months whole, in the event you take out a couple nights a month to eat recent meals in between, and many others. however these 4 hours mainly give me an straightforward meal each different night time for 2 months. completely worth it! I do not know if I might drive my household to eat lasagna 5 instances in a month. however consuming frozen meals 5 instances in two months is fairly real looking. so these frozen recipes come in useful!
Now that I do know what’s for dinner, I believe I am going to sew one thing… or paint a chair… or rearrange the furnishings. no matter it’s, one thing far more in my consolation zone than making frozen recipes!
