Freezer cooking is when you prepare meals ahead of time and place them in the freezer for future use. It is so nice to have a freezer full of homemade food ready to heat! Since I am not home to make dinner most nights before my boys have to head to sports, hubby is responsible for feeding them. Since hubby is not a cook, freezer cooking is how we get by.
Freezer cooking takes some organization. Here are some tips to prepare for a freezer cooking day.
Gather Recipes
The first step is to gather the recipes you want to make. I usually make baked meatballs, baked chicken nuggets, spaghetti sauce, chili and enchiladas. These are all things my family enjoys! My boys aren’t big on casseroles, so I haven’t done a lot of casserole freezer meals.
Roundup the Ingredients
Once the recipes are gathered, it’s time to roundup the ingredients. Check your freezer, refrigerator and pantry before heading to the store. Also check your spices. Make a list of what you need from the store.
Defrost the Meat
Most of our meat is in our large freezer since we buy local meat when possible. So one of the most important things for me to remember to do is to defrost the meat! I pull the meat out of the freezer the day before I plan my freezer cooking day. I place the frozen meat in a large pan inside the refrigerator just in case one of the bags leaks.
Clean the Kitchen
Before you start your freezer cooking day, clean your kitchen! Yes, it is going to get messy. But it is best to start with a clean kitchen with all of your dishes done that you will need.
Prep the Station
I like to prep my kitchen area before I start to make my life easier. Make sure you have a trash can readily available to throw away packaging. Have plenty of kitchen towels ready for drying hands or cleaning up messes. Getting a cutting board out with a sharp knife. Have measuring cups and spoons accessible. If you are using a lot of the same spices, pull them out of the cupboard. I try to get as much ready as possible to make it run smoothly.
Have a Plan for Packaging the Meals
Are you going to use your own pans and casserole dishes to freeze your meals? Or are you going to use freezer bags or a FoodSaver? Determine how you are going to package everything before you start.
Once you are organized, you are ready to get started with freezer cooking! Ready, set go!
Latest posts by Renae Chiovaro (see all)
- Last Minute Batgirl Costume - October 22, 2016
- Agnes & Dora: Comfortable & Affordable Clothing - September 19, 2016
- Life is a Highway - September 17, 2016
