Batch cooking - how long will they keep for?

krustylouise

Hi all,

I know there's a batch cooking thread with fabulous ideas and recipes, which I would love I try. I am a very cautious cook and not very confident at the safety side of things. I enjoy cooking, my food is usually good, but chicken I ensure is practically cremated, I never freeze anything like meat etc, for fear of not defrosting it safely etc. So basically I was just wondering if I was to make lasagne, bolognese, shepherds pie etc, what would I freeze them in? And how log would they be ok frozen for?

Thanks in advance - you lot are amazing and inspire me daily! X

Steve059

I use those plastic food tubs, like the ones takeaways use. My personal "rule of thumb" for meals like this is 3 months. However, they don't suddenly become deadly poisonous at midnight on day 91.

krustylouise

Thanks for the reply, Steve. I'll invest in a permanent marker to write on them

Steve059

krustylouise wrote: »

<snip> I'll invest in a permanent marker to write on them

"Freezer roulette" is much more fun.

krustylouise

Haha I like that idea. Pasta with......stewed apple! Lol. Thank you for cheering me up whilst I'm off wok with an upset tummy

lushlifesaver

I generally go with the 'up to 3 months' rule too - if they last that long!

I freeze mine in plastic containers (from take aways/fresh soups etc) or in those foil dishes you can buy (also a la take aways) I pay 99p for packs of 10 or 12 in home bargains

betterlife

i either freeze them in the pyrex dish i cook it in (i have big family) or the disposable tin dishes with card lid, that way i can put it straight in the over once defrosted, and with me its in freezer until i remember lol, x

krustylouise

Thank you LLS. I will bear that in mind, I always worried that if the containers weren't air tight they would spoil the food

krustylouise

How would you go about defrosting too? Just leave in the fridge for 24hours?

krustylouise

betterlife wrote: »

i either freeze them in the pyrex dish i cook it in (i have big family) or the disposable tin dishes with card lid, that way i can put it straight in the over once defrosted, and with me its in freezer until i remember lol, x

Haha see that's what I do, I freeze, with the best of intentions, then forget about it and when I find it again I realise they've been in there for what I consider to be too long and then I end up throwing it away for fear of being ill off it.

lushlifesaver

krustylouise wrote: »

Thank you LLS. I will bear that in mind, I always worried that if the containers weren't air tight they would spoil the food

I'm not so worried about this but I do only really batch cook for myself (tend to cook fresh when bf is at home then freeze the surplus for when he's away otherwise I eat shockingly poor choices!) I just pop the portions in to foil dishes, write on the cardboard lid what it is, and sometimes the date made and freeze.

To defrost I either lift out in to the fridge the night before if I remember or if I forget until I'm just leaving for work I pop it in a big bowl on the kitchen side to defrost whilst I'm out Never had a problem or made myself ill yet