Cooked meals to freeze for lunches

chicacherrycola

Hello!

I have questions about batch cooking that I hope you lovely people can help me with.

I get really fed up of sandwiches and spending money on ready meals for lunches at work. I was wondering what recipes work well to be cooked and then frozen to be thawed and reheated another day.

For example if I cooked a shepherds pie and divided it up - would that freeze ok?

I had a bit of a google but it just came up with dishes that are frozen in an uncooked state to be shoved and cooked in the oven.

I hope you can inspire me or point me in the right direction!

Thanks

Nadine

-taff

Anything you see as frozen ready meals in a supermarket can be made and thawed in advance [and some that you don't]

Lasagne, chilli, curry, rice, mashed potatoes, soup, pizza, pies, stews, roast dinners, pretty much anything you like.
What do you fancy?

freyasmum

Savage garden took me back!

Yes, cottage pie, sausages and mash, curries with rice, pies. I freeze pretty much everything; something's do change texture, but not enough for me to not enjoy.

I don't mind pasta but some people don't like it reheated.

chicacherrycola

Ooh that’s reassuring - I like all of those things and more importantly can cook them :rotfl:

Wasn’t sure about freezing rice, I guess some things are trial and error to your own taste...

PasturesNew

If you can buy it frozen, with microwave instructions printed on the pack, you can make it and freeze it yourself - that's the basic answer.

You'll never see a salad sandwich frozen for sale ... so you can't make those and freeze them, for example.

Start by listing what ready meals you'd currently buy at lunchttime ... and make those as you clearly like them.

Brambling

chicacherrycola wrote: »

Wasn’t sure about freezing rice, I guess some things are trial and error to your own taste...

Just ensure you cool the rice down quickly after cooking and frozen asap. I freeze complete meals chilli or curry with rice, meatballs etc with pasta and casserole or cottage pie with vegetables, that way I can take it out the freezer the night before to defrost in the fridge and just pop in the microwave at work. Lasagna also freezes well

Saver0811

Home made Chilli:
Mince
Onions
Mixed Herbs
Chilli Flakes
Tinned Kidney Beans
Tinned chopped tomatoes
Lazy chopped Garlic



makes 5 portions, freeze 4, eat 1


Buttered Bread / instant mash for work





Cook 10 mins on cooker top, in oiled pan.

Wraithlady

If you're reluctant to freeze then reheat rice, there is always couscous - all that needs is seasoning at home (pinch of salt & pepper will do) and a kettle at the other end. 2 water to 1 couscous, pour hot water over and leave for 5-10 minutes