Making meals to freeze - help!

babyblooz

If you like home-made puds, you can make up a big batch of sponge cake in a roasting tin. I sometimes put cooked plums at the bottom (from my own plum tree so very money saving) or apple from windfalls that I see out and about, gooseberries from my friend at work or rhubard etc. etc.

Sometimes a little bit of pud can be just what the doctor ordered, especially on cold days like these, and I freeze mine in washed out margerine tubs.

Reduced price cartons of milk can be made into rice pud in the slow cooker, but this never makes it as far as the freezer at our house.

meritaten

I prefer to fully cook the meal then freeze. this way if I need to cook from frozen I know that everything will be fully cooked and I wont have 'raw' bits.

Lilyplonk

I'm another who 'cooks then freezes'.

My regular meals are Oxtail Stew, Lamb Casseroles, Scouse, Chilli Mince, Chicken Curry, Chicken Casserole, Turkey Casserole, Savoury Mince (the basis for many other dishes), Bolognese, Sweet Chilli Turkey Sausage Casserole, Sweet Chilli Turkey, Sausage Casserole and Shank Stew.

Many of these have dumplings added which happen to freeze very well indeed.

All get frozen in either individual portions in takeaway cartons or two person portions in larger margarine tubs. Both are good for stacking in the freezer.

maman

Mainly to save space in the freezer, I cook a big SC full of Bolognese sauce then freeze that in 2 portion boxes. Then I can take out a box and either just have with pasta or a jacket potato. If I want lasagne or a shepherds pie I make extra when I'm having cauliflower cheese (I prefer cheese sauce with lasagne) or sausage and mash. Then I assemble them and keep in the fridge for the next night.

Lleucu

Really pleased to see this thread - have just started batch cooking for my mother.

I would add quiche (cook 20 minutes to set and then freeze or cook and then slice up and wrap in foil portions). I have also successfully done chicken korma, chicken biriani and lamb pilaff, all cooked fully and frozen. Lasagna and other bechamel based dishes sometimes work, but the milk based sauce can split whilst frozen.

I am experimenting with various dishes. Foil takeway dishes No 2 are easy but I am also trying Mason Cash bakers, these are very good value http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002WUWIA6/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. and are good for small portions.

Lleucu

PS Husband said that the Mason Cash bakers looked like cat bowls!!