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Batch cooking ideas please

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  • I usually cook a large version of lasagne or shepherds pie etc and use this for a meal today, chill the rest then have that for another meal the next day or so. At the same time I make two or three mini-versions of the same meal in foil dishes but I freeze these without baking them. That way I can just pop one of these in the oven when I want it.

    For things like curry or bolognese I freeze it in the plastic dishes with lids (like you get from Poundland or Wilkos) that way it can just be microwaved from frozen.

    Hope that helps.
    :DYummy mummy, runner, baker and procrastinator :p
  • jackie_w
    jackie_w Posts: 1,077 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hi Folks,

    Well im running down my freezers/cupboards at long last. When they are empty, i plan to do a big shop, and this time im going to do a big batch of cooking and baking and freeze it. I think this would be best for me then im not running around like a headless chicken when I get home at night trying to cook everything from scratch.

    So far, ive thought of soup, chillie, spag bol, tomato sauce for pastas & pizza, pizza dough, cottage/shepherds pie, stew, beefburgers, sausage casserole, chicken casserole, mince veg & onions for pie chicken & veg curry.

    Is there anything else that anyone can think of that I can make for batch cooking, we like most things except fish. Also, with baking as well, determined to try to start my own baking, would love to do this in a big batch as well, but, im not too sure what is good for freezing.

    Any ideas, and also any tips for baking would be greatly appreciated.

    Jackie x
  • I think that your list about covers what I have in my freezer that's ready prepared, plus I have lasagnes and bags of beans that were dried, cooked and frozen in usable portions, oh and meatballs and assorted pasta bakes. I've currently been adding lots of apples and blackberries, stewed together and separately and also fresh in chunks!

    Baking I freeze includes traybakes, cut into portions, so lemon drizzle cake, choc chip cake, I also freeze muffins, apple braid (recipe on p1 of Grocery Challenge), naan breads, tortillas and chapattis.

    Sure there's more that others will suggest! I like to freeze things in individual portions and family sized ones, so people can help themselves if necessary or I can have a night off!
    GC Oct £387.69/£400, GC Nov £312.58/£400, GC Dec £111.87/£400
  • jackie_w wrote: »
    Hi Folks,

    Well im running down my freezers/cupboards at long last. When they are empty, i plan to do a big shop, and this time im going to do a big batch of cooking and baking and freeze it. I think this would be best for me then im not running around like a headless chicken when I get home at night trying to cook everything from scratch.

    So far, ive thought of soup, chillie, spag bol, tomato sauce for pastas & pizza, pizza dough, cottage/shepherds pie, stew, beefburgers, sausage casserole, chicken casserole, mince veg & onions for pie chicken & veg curry.

    Is there anything else that anyone can think of that I can make for batch cooking, we like most things except fish. Also, with baking as well, determined to try to start my own baking, would love to do this in a big batch as well, but, im not too sure what is good for freezing.

    Any ideas, and also any tips for baking would be greatly appreciated.

    Jackie x
    I batch bake and freeze all my bread. I like to have a selection wholemeal, granary, rye etc.
    I bake it cool it slice it then stick it in bags.
    That way I can leave the loaves in the chest freezer and stick a few slices of each in the FridgeFreezer ready for use. Slicing before I freeze means I waste nothing, I just take out what I need and it tastes fresh.

    Also I do a big pot of veggies and stick it in those Baco Snack pots and freeze it.
    I do a big pot of rice and do the same. And the same for couscous, which I season and put seeds/nuts in.

    These aren't used for proper meals just as mealsize snacks rather than reaching for junk.
    Keeping the veggies separate from the rice/couscous stops it going soggy.

    And a snack pot size veggie portion and rice portion will do two people. Then I just wack it in the micro as needed for a couple of minutes on high.
    *Make every day Caturday*
  • Pink.
    Pink. Posts: 17,650 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    For baking, most things freeze well. I often bake cakes and banana bread and freeze in individual slices so that I can just lift them out for lunchboxes. Bread, muffins, scones and fairy cakes also freeze well.

    These threads might give you some inspiration:

    Baking day...What to bake???

    What treats/goodies do you bake to save money?

    baking

    Freezing Victoria Sponge

    Pink
  • mon1o
    mon1o Posts: 749 Forumite
    Hi all! We are a family of 4 witha hubby who isnt keen on veg, a 3 year old who loves sausages and pasta, an 8 month old who will eat anything you put in front of him and me who is the same!

    Im looking to make and freeze meals as currently its takeaways and ready meals that we eat mainly. This has to change.

    Ive found recipes for chilli, salmon fishcakes and can make a lasagne. Im also going to buy some pizza bases and make some pizzas and freeze them (if you can?). Bolognese sauce is easy to do and i know i can freeze that and my mum in law is making me a couple of pies to freeze. Im gonna also attempt a fish pie.

    I would like to have a go at making burgers (my hubbys fave!) but dont know where to start. Anyone have an easy recipe for burgers? Also, a casserole?

    I know all this cant be cooked in a day lol so im going to spread it out over this week and hopefully it will save us money in the long run.

    Many thanks
    Monica x
  • Burgers-I buy good mince (not too lean) and just squash it together in my hands to get a burger shape, sometimes add salt or pepper, I don't add breadcrumbs or eggs or onions although I know others do-I just let the meat be the star :D. . grill or BBQ until medium rare (ONLY if you trust the source of your mince, otherwise serve well done!)

    Casseroles-I brown stewing or braising steak, remove from casserole, add onions/leeks and soften in some oil/butter. Tablespoon of flour cook off for a minute or two. Replace beef, add liquid (Guinness/ale/stock) some carrots mushrooms any other root type veg I fancy, usually a sprig of thyme and a bay leaf (oh and salt and pepper-although be careful with the salt if using stock cubes- I once ruined a whole Coq au Vin by using chicken stock cubes at the proportions written on the packet :(). Cover the pan, and bung in the oven for at least 2 hours usually. serve with baked spuds or mash and more veg. Yum Yum :) (can be really nice if you stir horseradish sauce through near the end) Its also how I make a pie filling, sometimes need to thicken it up more near the end with a roux or cornflour would work I reckon.

    i also freeze shepherds pie, moussaka everything really :D
  • Fish pie wise I LOVE this recipe but only have it occasionally(lots of cream and cheese :D) heavy cream is just double cream and I use a 300ml tub of it. I do freeze it, but I let the creamy sauce cool down before putting on top of the raw fish for the one I am going to freeze
  • Pink.
    Pink. Posts: 17,650 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hi mon 1o,

    This thread should help with the burgers: HM Burgers!

    This thread might give you some more ideas on cooking meals for the freezer:

    Batch cooking ideas please

    I'll add your thread to that one later to keep the replies together.

    Pink
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