Freezer cooking is a meal preparation method in which a person prepares multiple meals at once and freezes them for later consumption. All that’s required is a large freezer, plenty of storage containers, and the willingness to spend most of a day cooking and packaging food for freezing every now and then. Although a deep freeze is ideal, a refrigerator-freezer combination can also be used. In the long run, freezer cooking can save time and money by reducing the amount of time spent in the kitchen on a daily basis and using common ingredients to avoid wasting anything.
Cooking once a month is probably the most popular method of freezer cooking, though some people prefer to start by cooking only one or two weeks’ worth of meals until they get the hang of it. The most common method is to plan all of the meals, go grocery shopping, and then cook on a specific day. Shopping for groceries can take up to a day; many people who are interested in the cost-cutting benefits of freezer cooking visit several stores to find the best prices on all of the necessary ingredients. Friends or family members may join forces on cooking days to share meals and cooking responsibilities. This can be enjoyable for everyone while also increasing the variety of meals available.
Meal planning is critical, and there are numerous tools available to assist you. Freezer cooking is covered in books, websites, e-mail lists, and online forums. The majority of these websites provide meal plans and recipes, as well as freezing and cooking advice. There are even online services that create personalized meal plans based on their users’ dietary needs or other preferences, such as kid-friendly or budget-friendly meals.
Casseroles, soups, and stews all feature prominently in freezer cooking, as many of these dishes can be made with the same basic ingredients. Some recipes call for freezing a portion of the dish and then adding fresh ingredients before cooking. Because potatoes do not freeze as well as other foods, they are frequently added to a frozen soup or stew during the cooking process.
Freezing is usually done in plastic zip-top freezer bags designed specifically for that purpose. Depending on the recipe, other types of containers may be used. Freezing can be done in plastic or glass containers or with aluminum foil. Freezing the food in the dish it will be cooked in can be beneficial if the cook has a large enough freezer. Frozen meals can then be cooked and served after being defrosted (usually 24 hours before eating).