If hot, home-cooked food were to appear on our tables at mealtimes with minimal effort, not many of us would take the trouble of cooking daily.
With some planning and your freezer, tasty, home-cooked food is possible at your fingertips whenever you want it. Try freezer meal prep and say goodbye to costly takeouts or rushing against the clock to prepare food during mealtimes.
In this blog, we’ll explore freezer meal prep and share tips on using your freezer to enjoy healthy, home-cooked meals every day without spending hours in the kitchen.
Table of Contents
What Is Freezer Meal Prep?
Freezer meal prep refers to cooking more than is immediately needed in food preparation and storing it in the freezer, whereas with regular meal prep, food is typically stored in the refrigerator.
It is considered a better alternative to regular meal prep since you can store a greater variety of cooked meals for longer.
There are many models of upright freezers on the market that can be used for food storage. The ingredients for your cooking will also be made in bulk and stored in the freezer for quick preparation at mealtime.
Advantages of a Freezer Meal Prep
Here are the major advantages of using your freezer for meal prep:
Reduce Food Wastage
- Freezer meal preps are an excellent method to minimise food waste.
- You freeze the food you would have thrown away otherwise and extend the life of leftovers.
Save Costs
- With freezer meal preps, you save the money you spend on the food you might have thrown away.
- Since you purchase groceries in bulk for meal prep, you get them at a lower cost and reduce your monthly expenditure.
- You can consume a meal you have prepared and frozen instead of ordering takeaways when you are tired or busy.
Save Time
- Freezer meal prep allows you to spend less time cooking daily and is a boon for people with busy personal or work schedules.
- Plan your weekly meals and cook and freeze them over the weekend. Save cooking time on weekdays by heating and eating your favourite meals.
Tips and Tricks for Freezer Meal Prep
If you are new to meal prepping, planning and cooking several meals to freeze at once may be overwhelming. We have put together some tips and tricks to make your meal prep successful.
- Start Small: Freeze small quantities of food initially and gradually increase the quantities you prepare.
- Separate Ingredients: While preparing fruits and vegetables for smoothies and other plant-based dishes, it is always advisable to store them separately to preserve their taste.
- Cool Before Freezing: In the preparation of liquids, place them at room temperature before proceeding with the freezing operation inside freezer bags.
- Warm Up Properly: Reheating must be done in the same manner as originally prepared. For instance, if you baked it, heat it through in the oven.
- Thaw Safely: To keep the texture and taste of the prepared foods at their best, thaw frozen items in the fridge overnight.
Summing Up
Freezer meal prep is a simple, effective way to enjoy home-cooked food without the daily effort. It helps you eat healthier, spend less, and minimise food waste. Plus, you’re always in control of what goes into your meals, no preservatives or hidden sugars.
So, if you’re looking to simplify your weekly routine and eat well, it’s time to put your freezer to work.
