Batch cooking ideas please

newlywed

This is food standards agency comments

Can you refreeze prawns that have been defrosted?

It's better to avoid defrosting and refreezing prawns. When you defrost food, there's a chance that any harmful germs in it will grow and make you ill.

Prawns tend to go off quickly and don't last very long once they're defrosted. This is why it's important to follow any defrosting or storage instructions on the label.

When you buy prawns from a supermarket or fishmonger, they might have been frozen before, even if they aren't frozen when you buy them. Check the label or ask the person serving you, if you're not sure. You shouldn't freeze prawns that have already been defrosted.

You should defrost prawns in a sealed container at the bottom of the fridge. This is to stop any liquid that might come out of them spreading germs onto other food. Once they are defrosted you should use the prawns within two days. When you cook or reheat prawns, always make sure they're piping hot all the way through.

nesssie1702

Thriftlady - no I wouldn't be doing it with chicken casserole, but prawns in a fish pie, yes.

Redbedhead

I am planning on doing a bit of batch cooking over the Christmas berak while H is here to look after the baby.

We have got a bit lazy recently and tend to eat the same thing each week so I am looking for some new ideas so at least on those days we don't have much time, we don't always end up eating bolognaise or chilli!

So, please can you share with me your favourite recipes for batch cooking. Those that are suitable for a young child (nearly 10 months old) would be particularly great!

Thanks

Pink.

Hi Redbedhead,

There's an earlier thread with lots of ideas for batch cooking that should help so I've added your post to it to keep the suggestions together.

These threads might be useful too:

Once a month cooking

Once a month cooking (freezer cooking)

anyone tried once a month cooking?

What can you freeze

Snackie meals you can freeze, help please?

Nutritionally good meals for the Freezer?

Cooking for the freezer... Help!

Batch cooking tips

Pink

Redbedhead

Thanks pink winged - I did a quick search for a thread but must have had my eyes shut!

squishyclaire

I am going to start cooking meals for the freezer this month in preparation for the arrival of my first baby. I always do batch cooking to fill up the freezer but I have got a bit stuck in a rut with recipies which are good to freeze. I do casseroles and mince dishes mainly but does anyone have any good ideas. If we eat spag bol out of the freezer too much then my OH gets fed up and ends up buying a kebab thus wrecking my money saving. Any tips and ideas gladly received. I also wanted to know about freezing cooked potatoes and rice- this really cuts down on meal prep time if these are already done.

Olliebeak

I buy diced turkey thigh from Asda. I then substitute it for chicken in any chicken recipe.

It's great for curries, chillies, casseroles and can be cooked in a Slow Cooker, wok, casserole dish or a skillet pan.

One of my favourites is to use the skillet pan. 2 chopped onions 'sweated' in a small amount of sunflower oil with 1 teaspoon of chilli powder till transparent, add some finely chopped garlic and some chopped mixed peppers and cook for a bit longer and then add some roughly chopped mushrooms. I then remove all that from the pan and put to one side while 'sealing' the diced turkey (I cut it into smaller pieces first) then put the veggies back into the pan. Add a tin of chopped tomatoes and a couple of teaspoons of dried mixed herbs. I sometimes add a tin of 'mixed bean salad' to stretch the mixture a bit further. I then bring it all to the boil and then simmer for around 30 mins. Season to taste after simmering.

I serve this with pasta, rice, jacket potatoes - whatever takes our fancy (tho OH doesn't take too kindly to rice!). It's a lovely colourful dish and it also freezes very well IF you've got any left over.

givememoney

Sausage Caserole

serves 4 so I cook one batch eat half and freeze the rest

Pack of good quality sausages (6 to a pack) each cut in three
Couple of carrots chopped in chunks
Medium Onion sliced
14fl oz of chicken stock (I use Knorr)
15oz Tin mixed beans in water (rinsed)
2 teaspoons of mustard
1 teaspoon of dried parsley

Fry the sausages in a little oil till brown
Add the carrots and onion and fry for about another 4 mins
Add stock and beans
Stir then bring to the boil cover and simmer for 15 mins
Add mustard and parsley stir well and serve

Really tasty, serve with mashed potatoes and green veg or rice.

curly_cabbage

Any of your fav meals really but, use alittle common sense. I buy big pack of mince beef from costco and make:

chilli
bolognase
shepherd pie filler
burgers
meat balls in tom sauce

divide them into either single portions or family size portion and frezze. Then you get what ever you want from the frezzer and just cook what you want with it ie pasta, mash, rice ect.

I also make things for the childrens pack up like sasuage rolls, cookies, buns, scones (cheese & fruit) and frezze them too because if i left they would be eaten in no time this way there's alway good stuff for pack up.

Then you'll find your feet and be able to come up with alsorts of quick meals and snacks that are made to your taste and size and far cheaper and better for you.

Good luck

CC

Penelope_Penguin

squishyclaire wrote: »

I am going to start cooking meals for the freezer this month in preparation for the arrival of my first baby. I always do batch cooking to fill up the freezer but I have got a bit stuck in a rut with recipies which are good to freeze. I do casseroles and mince dishes mainly but does anyone have any good ideas. If we eat spag bol out of the freezer too much then my OH gets fed up and ends up buying a kebab thus wrecking my money saving. Any tips and ideas gladly received. I also wanted to know about freezing cooked potatoes and rice- this really cuts down on meal prep time if these are already done.

Hi there :beer: We have a long thread of batch cooking ideas. I'll add this thread so that you can have a browse

Try these, too:

Freezing potatoes

Can I freeze rice?

HTH, Penny. x