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Homemade Freezer Meals

Discussion in 'Food Talk' started by BabyTaco, Jan 13, 2015.

  1. Jan 13, 2015 at 5:54 PM
    #1
    BabyTaco

    BabyTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    So, I finally got sick of wasting food because it went bad. I stumbled across an article about freezing PB&J's which blew my mind. I almost always have a quarter loaf of bread that goes stale and by freezing them the bread stays good until I get around to it. Tonight I decided to make burritos. I ate 2 and had 5 huge burritos left over to freeze.

    Any one else do this? I only prepare meals for myself and most recipes and food items are sized for a family. Plus I save a ton of time since I don't have to cook and clean up every night. Just once when I prepare the food.

    Post up your freezer meals or ideas you think might work well. I am going to make a bulk chicken alfredo tomorrow and create small meals out of it. I think I could get a weekly meal plan and just do all my meals on sunday. It would help a lot once college starts again.
     
  2. Jan 13, 2015 at 9:07 PM
    #2
    t4r4life

    t4r4life poptard and protein farts

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    do you usually heat them up in a microwave or oven?
     
  3. Jan 14, 2015 at 6:52 AM
    #3
    Fiend13

    Fiend13 Well-Known Member

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    One that I do often is Lasagna. All you need is a box of lasagna noodles (they have no boil noodles and ones that you boil, your preference), small container of ricotta cheese with 1 egg mixed in it to fluff it up, 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese, 1lb chop meat (brown it), large bottle of spaghetti sauce. After the meat is browned add it to the sauce. Put sauce on the bottom of a pan, put noodles on top of sauce, spread ricotta cheese on noodles, sprinkle mozzarella cheese and cover with meat sauce. Continue layering as much as you can, cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees, remove foil and bake for 15 minutes. Eat what you want and then freeze the rest. My wife and I usually get 2 dinners each out of it and sometimes enough for one our lunches.
     
    theredofshaw likes this.
  4. Jan 14, 2015 at 7:06 AM
    #4
    Cohbsteq

    Cohbsteq Hood Rat

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    Pretty much stock with some crap welded to it.
    ive always done chilli, i do alot of bottled tomatoes every year for various meals, so i blend that up put some kidney beans, garbonzo, whatever i have in the cupboard, then usually will make some ground turkey, ill just out alittle garlic in the mix and cook it on the crock pot while im at work, that stuff freezes awesome i put it in a few Tupperware containers and just warm it up at work/wherever always a good meal.
     
  5. Jan 14, 2015 at 7:25 AM
    #5
    Cohbsteq

    Cohbsteq Hood Rat

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    Pretty much stock with some crap welded to it.
    ^^ this one is good aswell, ive done this
     
  6. Jan 14, 2015 at 7:36 AM
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    BabyTaco

    BabyTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Sweet! Didn't even think about burgers! I'll do that on one of our oddly warm winter days
     
  7. Jan 14, 2015 at 7:39 AM
    #7
    BabyTaco

    BabyTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    PB&Js I just let thaw or they are really good toasted when cold. Other things just depend on how much time I have and where I am at. The school has microwaves all over so ya. Today for lunch I'll do a burrito in the stove.
     
  8. Jan 14, 2015 at 7:40 AM
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    woodygg

    woodygg Well-Known Member

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    always freeze your bread if you can't eat it fast enough... wrapped in a paper towel and a quick nuke and it's good as new (well, almost). bread goes bad faster in the fridge....

    I make a lot of homemade soups (and chili) and freeze them for meals as i'm trying to eat healthier - not to mention they're convenient. moved to doing it in glass containers only... a lot of recent info on horrible chemicals / hormones / etc. in plastic, even the bpa free plastic.
     
  9. Jan 14, 2015 at 7:49 AM
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    BabyTaco

    BabyTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I use Pyrex containers...I just need some more. A little pricey though and the truck comes first :p
     
  10. Jan 14, 2015 at 7:51 AM
    #10
    Guerrilla

    Guerrilla L(.)(.)K@G(.)(.)Dz

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    Stuff
  11. Jan 14, 2015 at 8:00 AM
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    aficianado

    aficianado Well-Known Member

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    back to bone stock.
    so this is about leftovers?

    i keep all those plastic cup you get when you take leftover away from the better restaurants. they are awesome for leftover at home. i also use them to give food to my elderly neighbors, since they dont have to bring me back the container.
     
  12. Jan 14, 2015 at 8:58 AM
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    BabyTaco

    BabyTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Uh sorta. More so making meals in advance rather than I had a serving of spaghetti left over so I put it in the fridge and had it two nights later.

    Also, I plan on trying a few of these slow cooker meals. You prepare them in bulk, freeze, then take them out the night before to thaw and toss it in the slow cooker before you goto work.

    http://whoneedsacape.com/2012/11/crockpot-freezer-cooking/
     
  13. Jan 14, 2015 at 9:14 AM
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    Boerseun

    Boerseun Well-Known Member

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    I make some food in advance for the week almost every week-end. I fire up the grill and make two types of chicken (bbq flavor and lemon pepper for instance just so it's not the same thing every night), do some pork chops or loin, maybe some brats etc. Freeze them and have dinner for at least 3 or 4 nights of the week halfway done. Veggies are easy enough to cook the night of the meal; just 5 minutes while the meat is heating up, so I don't make those in advance, but you can if you want the whole meal done.
     
  14. Jan 14, 2015 at 11:06 AM
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    423 TACO

    423 TACO Well-Known Member

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  15. Jan 14, 2015 at 11:12 AM
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    BabyTaco

    BabyTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    So I use mason jars as cups because you can buy a bunch of em for cheap. Then it hit me that I could use them to store and freeze :rolleyes:. So I plan on storing my pasta in them. Should be a good size for a meal.
     
  16. Jan 14, 2015 at 11:20 AM
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    Aw9d

    Aw9d That one guy

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    Same here with Chili. I'll make a few gallons of it, freeze it and its good for about 3-4 months before it begins to get freezer burn.
     
  17. Jan 14, 2015 at 11:20 AM
    #17
    BabyTaco

    BabyTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Pasta is my go to meal. You can actually cook the portion you need and the sauce stays good long enough for me to use it all. I also only takes about 30 minutes to prepare and eat chicken Alfredo. It will be nice to just cook a bunch up all at once and be done for a bit though.
     
  18. Jan 14, 2015 at 11:24 AM
    #18
    BabyTaco

    BabyTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Also, just put a burrito in the stove :). Took it out this morning when I got back from the gym. It's still frozen so probably 20 -25 minutes till I feast! Then figuring out what to make tonight. I was going to do chicken alfredo but I might try something new.
     
  19. Jan 14, 2015 at 11:25 AM
    #19
    Noelie84

    Noelie84 What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

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    They make them in a 'freezer safe' variety now so you can store foods with a lot of liquid like soups too. I'm slowly converting all of my modern canning jars over to the freezable variety.
     
  20. Jan 14, 2015 at 11:25 AM
    #20
    BabyTaco

    BabyTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    My dad put black olives in his when I was visting over break. I thought it was odd but I LOVE black olives and their flavor really added to it. Ill have to toss in some peas and carrots as well.
     

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