help me: food shopping too much - freezable meals

annie-c

I would use a microwave, personally. I don't like them for cooking, but for re-heating they are OK. If you want you can use a saucepan on the stove or the oven. What is important is to make sure the food is piping hot before serving, to ensure that bacteria are killed.

Gaia

I echo what annie-c says. You can also leave it in the fridge overnight to thaw. Also, NEVER refreeze food once it has thawed, unless you cook it again to ensure that all bacteria are killed.

panlane

I'm going to just pitch in and endorse two books, both of which are in the same series and were bought in charity shops: "The Bachelor's grub guide" and "The Student's grub guide" both by Alaister Williams

As someone who couldn't cook but has had to live on their own for the last four years, I heartily recommend them. They offer no-nonsense cooking advice, e.g. cook this three minutes, then bung other ingredients in and simmer for 20min. Great place to start.

TKMaxx is pretty good for cheap cookware.

I save most of my money on cooking 1) buying the "value" ranges (certain goods are rubbish though), 2) buying frozen goods rather than fresh, esp. meat and veg, 3) buying booze abroad, and 4) trawling my local supermarket at just past 8pm when most of the discounted goods appear (freeze them for the future). Processed foods should be avoided because of the price tags mentioned by others, but also bear in mind all the trans fats - "hydrogenated vegetable oil" (I'm no health freak but those things are really really bad news).

panlane

Oh, and here's another: don't believe use-by or best-by dates. Sure some things follow them but most don't. The month matters more than the day. And if you freeze them I reckon the year matters more than the month. Of course, there is a limit. For instance, attempting the carton of UHT milk 6months past its date and the carton of orange juice 12months past, both unfrozen, was, in hindsight, o'erleapingly ambitious. But I stood then and I stand still. Good practice for a nuclear winter.

goonlord

When cooking in the evening, as well as putting extra portions in the freezer, I also put a smaller portion into a plastic tub for lunch at work the next day. Just whizz it through the microwave in the office kitchen (although I know it's not good for you to be microwaving stuff).

Paige

Hi Ollym

Just a quick useful tip. If you go to your local £1 shop you can buy 10 foil trays with lids on. These are great for freezing individual portions and then reheating them in the oven or transferring the contents into a microwave dish to heat.

lynzpower

ONce your meal has defrosted, you can warm it through in a saucepan on a medium heat, as you would a tin of soup or beans. for those who dont have a microwave.

lizzie12_2

I also tend to cook "extra" when doing sunday dinners.... plate up the meat and veg for me . Oh does not eat veg so that gets pureed for suops or to add to mince dishes which oh eats then!!!!
Cook fresh potatoes and reheat the dinner on a plate while pots are cooking.

wendy_ann1983

theres some great tips on here, thanks for all the lentil bits.

I've also discovered cous cous, i tried it hot once before but have just realised it tastes just as good cold, I cook up a load, add some peppers, onions, carrot, tomato puree and herbs, have with my evening meal and put the rest in the fridge for lunch the next day, yummy and quite filling.

catlou

Hi all

I find sainsburys tinned pulses great they have every variety of bean you can think of and green lentils too, they are also canned in water so far healthier than those with salt added.

Every time I go there they are 3 for a £1 which obviously is not as cheap as dried pulses but far quicker/easier. Great store cupboard items too as they are dated forever!

They can be added to loads of the meals mentioned above.

Hope that helps someone.