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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think batch cooking is awful

366 replies

Newyear2025 · 01/01/2025 10:17

It takes forever to do and everything comes out tasting of freezer.

OP posts:
FabuIous · 01/01/2025 10:33

Cooking more of what you’re cooking anyway saves time. Spending a whole day ‘batch cooking’ maybe not so much.

Coraxon · 01/01/2025 10:33

Can I ask, how do you batch cook if you have a family to feed? Specifically heating up the food - is it just single portions in the microwave, or larger portions heated on the hob? Just until it's piping hot or is there some sort of standard temp/time you heat everything up for?

This is my only issue with batch cooking. I'd love to do it!

EveInEden · 01/01/2025 10:33

jeaux90 · 01/01/2025 10:22

It's a waste of life. Leftovers in the freezer, fine, batch cooking...nope.

From watching people, myself included, most people are wasting their Iives staring at phones.

I find batch cooking enjoyable. Enables us to do stuff in the evening.

GauntJudy · 01/01/2025 10:32

I agree OP, it just doesn't work for me. It seems like such a great idea, then I reheat one of my concoctions and it just doesn't taste right. I'm a vegetarian so maybe it's better suited to meaty dishes?

DappledThings · 01/01/2025 10:32

I have no idea what "tastes of freezer" means either. Anything I get out of the freezer tastes just as good as when it went in.

VodkaCola · 01/01/2025 10:31

Although thinking about it, there are some things that don't freeze well. I stopped freezing curries or stews containing chunks of potato as the texture goes a bit spongy. And some whole fruit goes mushy, like strawberries.

That said, it's easy to just use other ingredients when I know I'm going to freeze some.

I'm definitely on team batch cook! 😁

comingintomyown · 01/01/2025 10:31

Nothing like freezer surprise for dinner 😁

Splendud · 01/01/2025 10:30

It very much depends on what you batch cook! I just double quantities of what I'm cooking anyway. Made a fish pie last Sunday so made double quantities. I now have a healthy homemade meal in the freezer for a busy day in the future. Chilli, curry and casseroles all batch well. I find anything with peppers is disappointing after freezing so avoid that.

I also batch prep on Sundays and will get all the marinades, veg etc ready for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday meals. Thursday is something from the freezer so our busier days are easier food wise.

With both of us working FT in senior full on jobs it was what got us through the kids in school years.

SnakesAndArrows · 01/01/2025 10:30

Lobsterteapot · 01/01/2025 10:29

Sounds good, would you share the recipe please?

Show quote history

I would like to second this request. 😋

AsTheLightFades · 01/01/2025 10:30

No it doesn't and no it doesn't, unless you are doing something wrong.

Sherrystrull · 01/01/2025 10:30

jeaux90 · 01/01/2025 10:22

It's a waste of life. Leftovers in the freezer, fine, batch cooking...nope.

Completely agree.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 01/01/2025 10:29

jeaux90 · 01/01/2025 10:22

It's a waste of life. Leftovers in the freezer, fine, batch cooking...nope.

This makes zero sense. NOT batch cooking is ‘a waste of life’ - it’s so much more time-efficient than cooking from scratch each time you want something that freezes perfectly well and can be cooked in bulk.

Lobsterteapot · 01/01/2025 10:29

SamanthaColemanWNTNews · 01/01/2025 10:24

I made a vat of dhal yesterday. 21 boxes in the freezer. They are handy for when I cba. Microwave. Easy.

Sounds good, would you share the recipe please?

LadyKenya · 01/01/2025 10:29

jeaux90 · 01/01/2025 10:22

It's a waste of life. Leftovers in the freezer, fine, batch cooking...nope.

How ridiculous.

Lobsterteapot · 01/01/2025 10:28

I don’t batch cook but I always cook once and eat twice by doubling up the quantities.

Works well with curries, dahl, the meat bit of a cottage pie. IKEA have some brilliant storage containers that can go from freezer to oven/microwave that help.

Wintersgirl · 01/01/2025 10:27

Missing the point of the thread but what does freezer taste like?

MondayYogurt · 01/01/2025 10:27

Ha, I know exactly what you mean.

Sussurations · 01/01/2025 10:26

Depends on your schedule. I hate cooking in the evenings (DH usually does it) and when I cook I prefer to make a ton of something (dhal, ribollita, refried beans, pasta sauce - simple stuff that often improves a bit with keeping). I freeze it in clearly labelled and dated foil trays. Then when we have a busy day or he’s having dinner out or a meaty dinner I just get something out of the freezer in the morning.

SharpOpalNewt · 01/01/2025 10:26

Yes, I prefer daily cooking and have loads of meals which take half an hour to an hour to prepare and cook. I don't have a large freezer anyway so don't have space to cook in batches. And I would hate taking the valuable time out of my weekend to do it. And then just eating frozen meals all week doesn't have much appeal. I like cooking as a transition activity from work into the evening.

Wolfiefan · 01/01/2025 10:26

I have no idea what freezer tastes of. Is it full of old stuff or not clean? Do you not cover stuff (so it gets freezer burn) or leave it in there for too long?
Chilli is soooo much better when cooked in advance. I often batch cook because making a pile of curry or chilli is no harder than making a small batch.

Sunhatweather · 01/01/2025 10:26

I agree. I tried doing it several times but I find freezing changes the texture of things and it just doesn’t inspire my appetite in any way.

BrunchBarBandit · 01/01/2025 10:26

LadyChilli · 01/01/2025 10:22

I don't know what freezer tastes like but I find things like stews taste noticeably better after having been frozen.

Yes , this.

Also, Dhal tastes better after freezing too

Motheranddaughter · 01/01/2025 10:25

I often put portion of eg chilli in the freezer for nights when DH is out

VodkaCola · 01/01/2025 10:25

SamanthaColemanWNTNews · 01/01/2025 10:24

I made a vat of dhal yesterday. 21 boxes in the freezer. They are handy for when I cba. Microwave. Easy.

I love dhal. Which lentils do you use? I use red lentils or split peas, both are very nice.

tilypu · 01/01/2025 10:24

jeaux90 · 01/01/2025 10:22

It's a waste of life. Leftovers in the freezer, fine, batch cooking...nope.

But it takes little extra time to, say, double up on a recipe in order to have plenty to freeze.

How is that wasting life? It's a time saver...