Freezer Meals

[LoreD]

I've watched a lot of the meal prep videos, and it seemed like an all day operation shopping, prepping, cooking, and then freezing.

The new trend is just putting the raw ingredients in a freezer bag in the freezer, thawing it overnight, dumping it in a crockpot with water, broth, coconut milk, etc, and leaving it to cook all day.

I hadn't done the meal preps before because it seemed like a lot of work, but this seemed doable.

Since the meals were for six people, I split the recipe into two bags. It was so easy that I did 4 frozen meals this morning. I have to run over to the store to pick up a few items so I can do 3 more this afternoon. Since each of the recipes is 6 portions. I should be set up for about a month. I cooked one recipe yesterday, and it was pretty tasty.

She has a free online cookbook with 10 recipes. For any more recipes you have to pay. I didn't.

 

[silva]

I don't get how this is better than just cooking it right off! I watched the first two and IMO she's adding more trouble. Now she needs freezer space and has to wash all those bags.
I get making things in bulk and freezing-but putting the components in a freezer bag?

 

[Lou]

I don't get how this is better than just cooking it right off! I watched the first two and IMO she's adding more trouble. Now she needs freezer space and has to wash all those bags.
I get making things in bulk and freezing-but putting the components in a freezer bag

No, I get it.
When I bulk prepare everything goes in the crock pot or IP and then I portion out the meals and freeze them.
this technique should require less space because you haven't added all the liquids to the freezer bag.
When I store and freeze meals it's in Tupperware. Tupperware does stack nicely in the freezer but I'm thinking that freezer bags would take less space
when I bulk prepare I put the meals in Tupperware and then reheat them as I need them. this might be a little better cause the meals aren't being reheated.
I've sent for the cookbook and looking forward to tying some of these.

 

[LoreD]

I had thought about doing the meal prepping, and it seemed like a lot of work. Most of the videos showed doing this giant prep of ingredients, spending a lot of time cooking, and then putting all of it in containers. It seemed like an all day project.

I made the Lentil Dal recipe in about 10 minutes. I chopped onion, potatoes, garlic, ginger, dumped it in the bag, added dried lentils and spices, put a label with instructions to add diced tomatoes, coconut milk, and water, put in the freezer, and I was done. I can just pull the bag out, let it thaw overnight, dump it in a crockpot, add the liquids, and dinner is ready.

Also, I noticed some of the sites had recommended adding the concentrated broth, or granules, to the recipes, rather than the boxed vegetable broth. I just would add a tablespoon of powder, or concentrate, and then just add water, instead of broth, when I cook it.

I ran into this video that stated that all boxed broths were simply reconstituted powdered broth. Even the veggie broths were made from the same powdered broth that you can buy in the store.

 

[Lou]

I ran into this video that stated that all boxed broths were simply reconstituted powdered broth. Even the veggie broths were made from the same powdered broth that you can buy in the store.

I make my own broth a lot. but besides not aways having it when I need it. I regularly freeze it and then I may forget to that it out before I need it.

I also keep a few jars of that bouillon in my cupboard. ( I buy it when it's on sale). there is usually on opened one in the frig for when I need it.

 

[Lou]

I just realized that I don't have room in my freezer for 6 - one gallon freezer bags. but maybe I can make an effort to make some room.
Meanwhile I'm thinking of going with just one of her recipes for now.
Also I might skip the freezing step and just cook it right away.
After cooking I'll still have to freeze most of it (just one person family here).

Still I like the concept/strategy.

 

[LoreD]

I just realized that I don't have room in my freezer for 6 - one gallon freezer bags. but maybe I can make an effort to make some room.
Meanwhile I'm thinking of going with just one of her recipes for now.
Also I might skip the freezing step and just cook it right away.
After cooking I'll still have to freeze most of it (just one person family here).

Still I like the concept/strategy.

She recommended that you take two bags and split the recipe between them. I did this with my bags. Each of my bags has 1/2 of the recipe in it. If the full recipe said add 1 can coconut milk and 3 cups broth; I would write in the instructions add 1/2 can coconut milk and 1.5 cups broth on each of the bags.

I have been looking through my cookbooks, and found quite a few recipes that could be easily adapted to the concept. I just will take out the liquid and I think it will work quite well, especially with Indian recipes.

I usually don't have a problem with keeping the liquids, and spices, in my pantry. Diced tomatoes, broth, coconut milk, etc. are pretty much always in my pantry. It is the other stuff. I will be all ready to make my wild rice soup, and realize that I hadn't replaced those bags of frozen spinach. Or I forgot to pick up some meatless meatballs for my Italian Wedding Soup. I will look in my pantry and realize that I am out of chickpeas. I will be all ready to cook, have all my ingredients prepped , and realize I am out of tomato paste.

It really puts a crimp in my cooking. If I have a bag with all the ingredients, and I just have to add some broth; I am more like!y to cook it up, rather than becoming frustrated by lacking an ingredient, and then making some chik'n nuggets and tater tots.

 

[Lou]

as far as recipes go...

I found lots of recipes for "vegan freezer meals" on YouTube and just a little googling.
I didnt' even have to search YouTube. Now that I have looked at a "freezer meal" video on YouTube, YouTube started recommending them to me.

On YouTube there is.....
NicoleEatsPlants,
The Conscientious Eater,
Hannah McNeely,
RainbowPlantLife.

-https://www.emilieeats.com/20-freezer-friendly-meal-prep-recipes/
-https://nutriciously.com/vegan-freezer-meals/
-https://kellyjonesnutrition.com/plant-based-freezer-meals-for-active-families/
-https://minimalistbaker.com/freezer-friendly-plant-based-dinner-recipes/


huh, I hadn't realized that this is a trend.
Oh, wait. It's nothing new. some of these YouTubes are 5 years old.
I feel we are very late to the party.

 

[LoreD]

as far as recipes go...

I found lots of recipes for "vegan freezer meals" on YouTube and just a little googling.
I didnt' even have to search YouTube. Now that I have looked at a "freezer meal" video on YouTube, YouTube started recommending them to me.

On YouTube there is.....
NicoleEatsPlants,
The Conscientious Eater,
Hannah McNeely,
RainbowPlantLife.

-https://www.emilieeats.com/20-freezer-friendly-meal-prep-recipes/
-https://nutriciously.com/vegan-freezer-meals/
-https://kellyjonesnutrition.com/plant-based-freezer-meals-for-active-families/
-https://minimalistbaker.com/freezer-friendly-plant-based-dinner-recipes/


huh, I hadn't realized that this is a trend.
Oh, wait. It's nothing new. some of these YouTubes are 5 years old.
I feel we are very late to the party.

Yes, I am like a lot of old people. Most of the trends have passed a long time ago before I catch on to it.

 

[LoreD]

as far as recipes go...

I found lots of recipes for "vegan freezer meals" on YouTube and just a little googling.
I didnt' even have to search YouTube. Now that I have looked at a "freezer meal" video on YouTube, YouTube started recommending them to me.

On YouTube there is.....
NicoleEatsPlants,
The Conscientious Eater,
Hannah McNeely,
RainbowPlantLife.

-https://www.emilieeats.com/20-freezer-friendly-meal-prep-recipes/
-https://nutriciously.com/vegan-freezer-meals/
-https://kellyjonesnutrition.com/plant-based-freezer-meals-for-active-families/
-https://minimalistbaker.com/freezer-friendly-plant-based-dinner-recipes/


huh, I hadn't realized that this is a trend.
Oh, wait. It's nothing new. some of these YouTubes are 5 years old.
I feel we are very late to the party.

I have been trying this for a bit, and it is really helpful in saving on waste. Some sweet potatoes had been starting to look a little iffy in the fridge. I googled Sweet Potato Freezer meals, and made 2 half recipes of sweet potato chili, 2 half recipes of spicy sweet potato stew. That is enough for about a weeks worth of prepped meals. It took about 10 minutes.