New to batch cooking. How do I defrost and reheat frozen food?

[TaffyToffee]

I’ve tried googling but I just feel increasingly stressed and confused. I can’t seem to find a simple explanation of what I need to know.

Grew up with a tiny freezer and parents who could barely cook, and I’ve never got the hang of freezing and reheating leftovers. I want to start but I’m so confused.

Is it better to defrost things in the microwave or in the fridge? Does it depend on the type of food?

Can you defrost and reheat in the microwave in one go? Or is it better to reheat in the oven?

Every time I try to learn about this I just feel so discouraged and stressed, so thanks for any help and advice.

I defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven, I use foil trays for the freezer, so straight to the oven.

Its so nice to have good home cooked food on a week night without the effort. Get going with big lasagnas, pasta bakes hot pots etc and you will love it. I cook at the weekend when I have the time to potter and not get stressed.

I just defrost and heat up in the microwave. It’s a lot easier.

I take it out the night or morning before and defrost in the fridge then microwave it. Much more energy efficient as it helps to keep fridge cool then quicker in microwave. If I have to microwave from frozen I use full power then stop and stir it halfway or it doesn't heat through.

The Batch Lady on YouTube has some videos on freezing, defrosting and reheating, which might help, OP.

Right but how are you reheating them?

Thanks everyone

If it's just leftover rice then I microwave from frozen, but anything with a lot of liquid takes a lot of energy to heat.

Reheating in the foil tray it was frozen in for 25 mins at gas mark 5 , preheated oven. Taking the lid off the tray, DP amd I disagree re the lid though, but as I tend to do it, I win.

I defrost on the worktop during the day and put it in the fridge once defrosted. Havent died yet!

Reheat in the microwave

Thanks - her recipes look great!

If at home: Defrost on the side/in the sink and check on it after about 3/4 hours. Then reheat in microwave or oven depending what it is.

Or defrost overnight in fridge and then an hour or two on the side then microwave or oven again.

With regards to specific reheating: 3-5 mins depending on what it is or about 15-20mins in the oven.

It's very difficult to go wrong, don't worry. And good on you for doing it!

defrost the night before or the morning then heat up in the microwave

Soups I defrost overnight in the fridge, frozen in sandwich bags in tupperware so they freeze in blocks and you can remove the tupperware when frozen and stack them which saves space. Defrosted in a bowl in the fridge. I then reheat the defrosted soup in a pan on the hob.

Take it out of the freezer and put it into the fridge before you go to bed the night before.

Or

In the morning, take out of the freezer and leave on the side (on a plate to catch the condensation).

I would only defrost in the microwave if you’ve forgotten to do one of the above and it’s now too late. It’s using energy unnecessarily otherwise.

I mostly only batch cook and freeze bolognaise, chilli, soup, stews and similar.

I freeze in tubs that fit inside a saucepan.

I am not organised enough to get stuff out the night before (and never know how much time/energy I'll have) so I decant the frozen lump into the pan, put the lid on and cook slowly on the hob on the lowest heat with a diffuser.

I meal plan so I know what to put out in the sink to defrost before I go to work.

I've got this book which is incredibly useful and I refer to it all the time:

www.amazon.co.uk/How-Freeze-Everything-Freezing-Managment/dp/0572027699/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=3VV59GLM64E7Q&keywords=book+how+to+freeze&qid=1659705905&sprefix=book+how+to+freeze%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-2

I invested in some glass boxes with plastic lids. Defrost on the side unless a hot day then in the fridge. Remove plastic lid, cover with foil, medium oven (eg 160 if it was something I'd cooked at 180), 30 mins ish, poke the middle with the handle of a fork to see if hot enough.

I also started using my oven timer so can put something in before go to work and it's heating up when I get home.

Otherwise defrost all day then decant into saucepan.

Once I had a mad moment where I thought why not pour boiling water over the frozen dish so I can get it out. Dish cracked into pieces perfectly leaving the block of frozen curry

I have this problem too. I put things in the fridge to defrost but the next day they're still pretty frozen and really puts me off because they take days to defrost

Hi op
just be careful of advice here…reheating rice is not “recommended” due to it containing “Bacillus cereus” bacteria. This can, unusually, survive cooking. If rice is allowed to cool to room temperature (which food should before it goes into freezer) these bacterium can start to multiply rapidly and won’t be killed off with subsequent reheating no matter how hot you get it.

some people do freeze rice, never had issues, and take that risk. Just be aware though especially if you are giving it to immune suppressed individuals.

very little else that could cause you damage on freezing and reheating as long as you do it properly - rice is just one of those watch outs though.

Thanks everyone!

I mostly defrost overnight by leaving out on worktop. In winter heating is off so cool but above fridge temperate. In summer I’m in northwest and my utility room stays pretty cool as north facing. When I get up in morning I stick into fridge so it kept cold for the day until needed in the evening.

if I forget to defrost the night before I will defrost in microwave first. Then I will stir it well to check all ice crystals have melted

i reheat almost all my dishes in microwave as they’re the sort of things that reheat in microwave well- stews, spag Bol, curry , chili etc. even for lasagne I’ll heat till piping hot in microwave while oven is heating and then walk into oven for 10-15 mins on very high just to re crisp the cheesy top etc. for pies I tend to make the meat/fish mix and freeze that, and then freeze the pastry lid separately , I then defrost the meat and pastry separately and then assemble and cook in oven