Freezer Cooking on a Time Budget

I’ve always dreamed of planning one big day per month for freezer cooking. In fact, I entertained the idea for awhile but realistically, this just does not work for our family or for me.

Still, I love the idea of the convenience and truthfully, it can save you money. So I’ve revamped freezer cooking to fit my schedule, personality and needs. You can do the same.

Consider these ideas:

Pre-cook Meats

When you find a good deal on meat, stock up. Then set aside an hour or so to cook it all according to regular recipes you make. You can also choose to pre-cook it WHILE you’re making dinner on any given night.

It’s easy to keep an eye on browning ground beef or turkey while you throw together a regular meal.When it’s done, let it cool, then remove to the freezer container of your choice.

In the photos above, I divided ground beef into three different freezer bags. I added a can of Campbell’s Select Harvest Tomato Basil soup to one for Beef Taco Bake. I added salsa to one for Fiesta Bake. I left one plain to use in burritos for my husband’s lunch. You can go ahead and add your seasoning packets, like taco or chili seasoning, before freezing.

For chicken breast, place on a cookie sheet (I line it with non-stick foil), brush with olive oil and spices and bake at 350 degrees until done. Then chop or slice into strips and place in freezer container.

With ham, you don’t have to pre-cook, but I go ahead and chop it as desired so that cuts out one step when I get ready to prep dinner.

Pre-cook Dry Beans

Canned beans are expensive, compared to dry beans. I now cringe when I see the prices and then I smile because I know I will never pay that price again.

I buy dry kidney, pinto, black and navy beans  and cook them myself, then freeze for later use. They’re great for adding to casseroles, chili, taco salad, soup, you name it.  Beans make great fillers. Be creative.

There are six freezer bags of pinto beans in the photo above…

Use your crock pot and it makes this chore almost effortless. Simple pick your beans and rinse thoroughly. Place in the crock pot (no more than 1lb for a smaller crock pot and 2lbs for a larger one) and add water to about one inch under the rim. Add any seasonings at this point (including onions, meat pieces, etc).

I turn my crock pot on high for the first couple of hours and then turn it down to low until the beans are tender. Allow to cool and then place in freezer containers.

You can also use your crock pot to make Easy Homemade Baked Beans. A little more work (not much), but your budget will love you for it.

Double Your Recipes

If you have a stockpile of one type of meat or find a great sale, consider making double dinners once a week (or every night for one week if you’re feeling really ambitious). While preparing your standard meal for that night, make an extra and freeze for later. Be sure to cook ingredients before freezing.

This is a great idea for any type of Italian casseroles and also Mexican dishes . Be careful on dishes that call for fresh produce like zucchini, broccoli or asparagus. After thawing and then reheating, the veggies become mushy.

Roast a Turkey

And last but not least, don’t save turkey just for Thanksgiving!

Tagged as: Cooking, freezer cooking