Cooking for the Freezer..

Catzpaws

How about soups? I also do lots of curries (can you make this but not really spicy?) and stuff with lentils. Frozen veggie mince/beef mince in bolognese sauce is a lifesaver for me as very flexible - can transform to a chilli con carne, shephards pie (using mash that's been made already then frozen), spag bol, different casserole type meals (with random veg and bits that I throw in). It's fab.

There's a thread on freezer building blocks that's got a wealth of info in it - but couldn't find it using the search... sorry.

thriftlady_2

Meal building blocks for the freezer herebut it's more components for putting together meals rather than ready-cooked meals.

Mely

exlibris wrote: »

I currently make shepherds pie (with chicken) Lasagna (Veg ) and fish pies in bulk to freeze as a meal. I do add fresh or frozen veg to the meal to make sure we get our quota of veg.
We don't eat red meat and are not keen on spicy food like chili.

Does anyone have any ideas for dishes that can be taken out of the freezer, put in the fridge to thaw and then heat in the microwave please?

I would like to start bulk freezing meals too. What do you use to put the meals in when there in the freezer, tupperwear or freezer bags?

ScoobieGirl

Mely wrote: »

I would like to start bulk freezing meals too. What do you use to put the meals in when there in the freezer, tupperwear or freezer bags?

I freeze in a square tupperware container and then empty it into a freezer bag. That way i don't end up with odd shaped bags and I didn't have to buy too many containers.

beautiful_ravens

Mely wrote: »

I would like to start bulk freezing meals too. What do you use to put the meals in when there in the freezer, tupperwear or freezer bags?

I use something wide with a large surface area - like those icecream tubs which are see through - so its just a bit less melting time than a tall pot. However, I have used the cut off bottom of a 6 pint milk bottle which works well. Whatever it ends up in, it needs to be bagged or have a lid for protection once frozen.
If I was freezing cooked rice, I'd bag it. Freezer bags can get frozen and stuck into the stuff inside, so I dont use them for 'runny' stuff.

dgregory

Yes agree with large surface area - easier to store and quicker to defrost.

I always found after going to the effort of making veggie type dishes - eg chick pea casserole or curry that portions of these froze well and could be out the freezer and on the table within ten minutes with a microwave.

peep peep . . . . ping!

Snowy_Owl

My staples for the freezer are: bolognaise, chilli (you make it to the strength you like), pie fillings, soup, and veggie or meat stews. I use freezer bags and always make up individual portion sizes. With a bit of practice you will get to know how much is roughly a portion for you. When defrosting for me and the fiance, I take out three portions as he always eats twice as much as me!

Snowy

annie123

chicken or prawn korma
potato and leek soup
fish cakes

KarrieBee

ScoobieGirl wrote: »

I freeze in a square tupperware container and then empty it into a freezer bag. That way i don't end up with odd shaped bags and I didn't have to buy too many containers.

Scoobie that is a great idea.:A I was planning to buy more containers but now I don't have to

Thanks!

rach

fish pie is a good one for the freezer. I tend to make a few at a time and freeze some