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Batch cooking help

3 replies

Differentstarts · 12/08/2024 12:17

I'm learning to cook and I'm interested in batch cooking but there's a few things I'm confused about also any tips would be appreciated. I'm a complete beginner with this stuff.
Firstly can you freeze everything or is there certain things you can't?
Do you have to get the meal out the night before and put it in the fridge?
Do you reheat in the microwave/air fryer/oven or is it dependent on food
How long can you leave food to cool before putting it in the freezer.
How long do meals last in the freezer?
If the meal isn't fully defrosted the next day does it matter can I still reheat it?
If I get something out the night before to defrost and change my mind How long is it ok in the fridge for?
Do you separate any part of your meals to freeze or do you make them up as a whole meal?
How do you know how long to reheat and what temperature?
If you forget to take something out the night before can you cook it from frozen?

Sorry I have no clue what I'm doing and just want to learn 🙈 any help will be appreciated

OP posts:
Pipecleanerrevival · 12/08/2024 12:21

You can’t freeze raw meat that has already been frozen.
yes, defrost in the fridge from the day before.
i usually reheat in a pot over the stove, or in the oven for cottage pie and things like that.
most things ok in the fridge for 2 days if you change your mind.
you can write instructions for reheating on labels if you’d find that handy.

start with batching one meal and build up to what you want.

Autumn1990 · 12/08/2024 12:23

Yes anything can be frozen but some things don’t freeze well.
Ideally get it out the night before
I don’t always put it in the fridge to defrost
can microwave anything but some things are better in the oven
wait until it’s room temp before putting in freezer
about 3 months for keeping food in freezer. It will last longer but unless you’ve got a huge freezer it will get eaten
ok in the fridge for a couple of days.
microwave better at cooking from partially defrosted than oven
can cook from frozen but takes longer
until it’s very hot. Basically similar cooking times to supermarket ready meals

Autumn1990 · 12/08/2024 12:25

I freeze pies, quiches, jacket potatoes
just start by freezing an extra meals worth of something you’re already cooking and gradually build up

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