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Interesting batch cooking ideas

17 replies

mynameiscalypso · 02/09/2021 15:36

I really need to get a bit more organised (especially about food) so going to try and batch cook my way to order instead of chaos. In theory, I love the idea of batch cooking but I get so bored of the normal recipes (Bolognese / curry / chilli etc) and then I never really feel like eating them. Does anyone have anything exciting that they batch cook? I don't eat fish/seafood but other than that, am open to anything really. Bonus points if they convince a picky toddler to consume a vegetable!

OP posts:
Cathie102 · 02/09/2021 16:00

Following with interest as about to go off on maternity leave and want to do some batch cooking myself.

AlrightThereSkippy · 02/09/2021 16:02

What do you like to eat op?

I have really fussy eaters in my house and we sometimes do pulled pork in the slow cooker. It goes a really long way so is quite frugal. I do it with wraps and various toppings. No veg in it though, sadly. But we do have it with salad which mine do deign to eat sometimes Grin

SnarkyBag · 02/09/2021 16:06

I’ve found enchiladas freeze and reheat quite well. I also cut up and par boil potatoes in a variety of forms. Quick to defrost and put in the oven.
Sweet potatoes cook and freeze well I often use them in a quick katsu curry.

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Clutterbugsmum · 02/09/2021 16:07

Instead of doing Bolognese, chilli Etc, I just batch cook mince, onion and garlic so I can make it into whatever I fancy the day I'm cooking it.

I also roast beef, pork joint and slice it up and freeze in batches for a quick dinners by reheating in gravy.

You can marinade chicken either thighs or breast before freezing.

Mrsdoubtfireswig · 02/09/2021 16:10

We do the usual bolognese, chilli etc. It also do pulled pork, campfire stew, chorizo and bean stew, sausage casserole plus lots of soups. Not that adventurous but means we have a variety of things to eat from the freezer a couple of times a week

Clutterbugsmum · 02/09/2021 16:11

Bonus points if they convince a picky toddler to consume a vegetable!

Bacon, I find cooking cabbage, peas with a little onion, bacon and chicken stock I find my fussy son who not keen on green vegetables will eat them.

Seagullslanding · 02/09/2021 16:29

i've been batch cooking today,
i've just found this Dahl recipe, you make the basic dahl and feeze it. When you want to eat it you can add prawns or chicken.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/one-pot-prawn-lentil-curry

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 02/09/2021 17:05

I do fish pie quite often...make a huge pile of mash, boil the eggs, make a vat of thick bechamel sauce and let them all cool
Cut up your fish, then I shake a single layer of peas (frozen) into the dish, add raw fish chunks and quartered eggs, some peeled prawns if you have them, put a nice layer of sauce over, then add the mash and freeze
I have those glass freezer to oven dishes with the snappy lids and they are just brilliant for stuff like this.
You can defrost and cook or just do from frozen.

I also freeze left over mash to use for cottage pies or cheesey mash, it does want to be reheated in the oven though or it's peculiar, like instant mash, but it comes up a treat in the oven!

Often do a job lot of chicken for Hunter's chicken...cut the chicken breasts almost in half so they open like a book....add some cheese, close up chicken and wrap around a couple of bits of streaky bacon. I lay them on a tray to freeze and then box or bag them once solid. I lift them out to defrost, and either use jar sauce or make my own...usually serve this with cheesey mash from the freezer too. You can use chicken thighs, but you'd need a couple of big ones per person, so it's faffier

Make bolognaise, have with spaghetti, use remainder for a lasagne, get it all made in a dish and leave it in the freezer for next week. Another thing I used to do was if the bolognaise was too runny then save the gravy, leave a little of the mince in it, and make beefaroni, mix in macaroni with the gravy, cut up some mozzarella and poke it in, thick cheese sauce layer on top and serve with garlic bread.

Sausage rolls too or a big giant one, I make them but only cook the ones we are eating that night, freeze the others uncooked. If you squish the meat out of sausages, add S&P, some herbs, a grated apple and some parmesan they are really tasty. A spoonful of chutney never hurts either!

It's about cooking/prepping once to get as many different meals as possible rather than making enough of something to last you till doomsday.

mynameiscalypso · 02/09/2021 18:42

Thank you all - some really good advice. I think the idea of having prepped ingredients or constituent parts of a meal in the freezer - rather a whole meal - is way more appealing and is the way to go. I will definitely be trying some of these ideas!

OP posts:
Outfoxedbyrabbits · 02/09/2021 18:47

When we do pulled pork we add in lots of chopped onions, peppers and tomatoes and sometimes add spinach at the end too so it comes out quite full of veggies! We also add in beans which count as one of your five a day Smile

User1055 · 03/09/2021 13:04

I'm experimenting with The Batch Lady recipes in an attempt to be more organised this autumn.

Itsjustnotcricketisit · 12/11/2021 08:19

Bump

Itsjustnotcricketisit · 12/11/2021 08:20

[quote Seagullslanding]i've been batch cooking today,
i've just found this Dahl recipe, you make the basic dahl and feeze it. When you want to eat it you can add prawns or chicken.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/one-pot-prawn-lentil-curry[/quote]
I’ve made this and we really loved it.
Going to make a batch tomorrow and freeze some 🙂.

Sh05 · 12/11/2021 08:29

I don't freeze sauces but I'll freeze cooked mince, strips of chicken breasts, chicken drumsticks that have been marinated. If I'm making a pizza sauce then I'll cook some extra and freeze in a jar or in ice cube trays.
We normally eat chapattis with our food so I always make at least 6 extra and cool and freeze them.
I also buy bags of peppers and other freezable veg from the market then chop up and freeze. Works out cheaper than buying the 3 pack from the supermarket.
We use alot of fried onions for curry bases so in the summer I'll fry off a large bag of onions then cool and store. This saves loads of time as well as saving the house from smelling of cooking all day

AreYouRightThereSkippy · 12/11/2021 08:31

I always batch cook soup and wheaten bread to go with it. Both freeze really well and are really easy.

I don't use recipes but I make mushroom and rosemary soup, butternut squash and thyme soup and bacon, tomato and lentil. Also love making Dahl using a Nadiya Hussain recipe I saw her make on TV. I use yellow split peas instead of lentils.

haba · 12/11/2021 08:35

Apparently cakes and muffins freeze really well, if that helps with the toddler! Wink

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