Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Batch cooking

89 replies

MrTrebus · 06/10/2018 20:16

What actually is this

All I think to do is chilli stew curry etc

I really want to save money on the food shop and have time and more money to ourselves but the thought of eating this sort of thing all the time is boring

Help please!

OP posts:
MsHomeSlice · 06/10/2018 20:51

I am still not used to cooking for the three of us, ds1 and dd have mostly left home, so I always have leftovers!

I also always batch cooked so the freezer is usually crammed!

Make lots of bolognese sauce, you can use that for spag bol, or lasagne

Stews and casseroles, make lots it can double as pie filling ,under potato like a cottage pie, or fake pastry lids from ready roll pastry

Poach a whole chicken...strip off all the meat. Last time I did this I made a chicken, leek and white sauce pie filling, used half and froze half, all I had to do for tonight's supper was roll out pastry

If I find chicken breast in the reduced I make hunters chicken (slice open like a book, bash them flat, roll up a stick of cheese and the wrap the lot in a couple of slices of bacon. Bag them individually and all you have to do is defrost and shove them in the oven with sauce

Mash .....make loads and freeze it, now imo it doesn't reheat nicely as plain mash, but let it defrost and add in some extra cheese and sliced spring onions, reheat it in the oven and it's gorgeous.
Or I often make loads of savoury mince , and put it in the freezer...with your spare mash you are good to go for a cottage pie.

formerbabe · 06/10/2018 20:53

Thanks for the info ShadyLady53!

limescaleAHHHHH · 06/10/2018 20:59

Following!

Please can people post explicitly detailed descriptions, including how and how long to defrost these things please Blush

MrTrebus · 06/10/2018 21:00

7 veg roasted veg sauce sounds amazing please can we have the recipe?

Also good top about be able to recreate anything that's in the frozen food ready meal section at the supermarket. I'll do some research next time I'm there.

OP posts:
Mammylamb · 06/10/2018 21:02

My goto list is: veg chilli, Moroccan lamb, veggie bolognaise, chickpea and pumpkin stew, fish pie, mac and cheese, shepherds (or shepherdess) pie, various curries (paneer curry, fish curry, spinach and potato Dahl)

ShadyLady53 · 06/10/2018 21:03

A lot of stews, curries, soups etc can be heated from frozen or defrosted first in the microwave then heated up if you prefer. I don't follow any exact formula. I just allow longer for reheating something from frozen.

barleyreed · 06/10/2018 21:10

We just got an extra freezer for the garage with the plan to batch cook lots of dishes and then had no idea what to fill it with so this thread is really handy! Could anyone direct me to a good ratatouille recipe please? Xxx

itsbritneybiatches · 06/10/2018 22:22

I make

Bolagnaise
Turkey mince chilli
Lasagne
Shepherds or cottage pie
Macaroni and bacon cheese
Sausage casserole
Lamb abruzzio
Chicken or beef madras

Sxchwartz or Colman's do some slow cooker casserole mixes now. I make these and freeze them also

squiggleirl · 06/10/2018 22:31

Things I batch cook:

Lasagne
Shepherd's pie
Chicken cacciatore
Pork stroganoff
Lamb stew
Bolognese sauce
Lamb casserole
Beef bourgignon
Chicken and chorizo casserole
Meatballs and tomato sauce
Lamb with tomato, peppers and pesto
Greek lamb
Thai red curry

So much stuff (and most not made of mince!)

Glumglowworm · 06/10/2018 22:37

I have beef stew, chicken casserole, bolognese, tomato sauce for pasta, chilli, sausage casserole, beef goulash and a vegetarian curry in my freezer at the moment

I live alone so make a family sized pot of something then portion it up and freeze individual freezer bags full. Defrost in the fridge overnight and take to work for lunch or defrost in the fridge while I’m at work and have it for dinner.

BlingLoving · 06/10/2018 22:43

I try yo make extra of whatever we are having if doing curries, stews ext. Soup always. I also roast piles of veggies, blitz with cream cheese/quark and sometimes walnuts and it turns into instant pasta or side sauce in portions in freezer.

If I make pesto, I freeze in small containers sometimes rather than trying to use it all up.

I make jacket potatoes stuffed with tuna and creamed cheese, freeze In portions. Skin isn't as crispy when reheated but handy for lunches at work.

If doing roast, especially something big like roast lamb I will usually freeze a large chunk whole and have as another roast-like meal or cut off pieces for sandwiches, stir fries etc.

Cauliflower cheese in tinfoil containers. Put them in oven when turning on and cook from frozen. (D's favourite so always do extra when making it as it's such a hassle).

Mash in single portions. Microwave from frozen and so convenient.

thismeansnothing · 06/10/2018 22:51

When I cook o try and make double or at least a couple of extra portions. Pot up in takeaway foil trays from Wilko's then on days I'm working late or can't be arsed I have healthy home cooked stuff in the freezer ready.

So the kinda things I do are :-

Spag bol
Chilli
Pork and apple burgers
Asian turkey burgers
Regular beef burgers
Beef stew and dumplings
Various different curries
Soup
Chicken/lamb tagine

thismeansnothing · 06/10/2018 22:51

Oh and DH quite often does fish pies and shepherd's pies but I'm not keen

FreeButtonBee · 07/10/2018 16:36

7 veg sauce.

You need a large roasting tray (I normally do two trays at a time to maximise the batch cooking nature of this!)

Aubergine
Courgette
Red onion
Peppers
Carrots
Celery
Garlic (skins removed bite you don’t need to chop)

Chuck into roasting trays. Liberally sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast for about 30 mins then add tinned tomatoes - 2 tins per tray is about right. I really like tinned cherry tomatoes as they add a bit of sweetness. Roast again until the whole thing is just starting to catch and look really soft and roasted.

Put into a very large stockpot/saucepan. Use immersion blender to whizz up to smooth sauce and then add water to get your preferred texture. I keep it pretty thick. Check for seasoning. Split into freeze containers.

MrTrebus · 07/10/2018 16:52

@FreeButtonBee thank you!

OP posts:
hazell42 · 07/10/2018 17:01

This afternoon I have made 5 cottage pies, 6 chicken lasagne, 3 steak and mushroom pies and a huge load of red soup for my lunches. Already have some Bolognese, minestrone soup and a couple of casseroles in the freezer.
I love batch cooking. I cook only once a week, kids get to choose what they want, I dont waste food and I can control the portion sizes which is good for saving money and watching my weight. Brilliant.

Banamara · 07/10/2018 17:14

There's only me here at the moment so I just do mash and soup which I love. Big tip for freezing mash.... do NOT add any milk or butter before freezing, just mash as it is. Add the butter, milk, cheese whatever when defrosted and heated up. Yummy! Portion up using an ice cream scoop.

I freeze sandwiches, yes.... do them on a Saturday for my weeks lunches and take out on the morning. Bring a separate stash of salad to add. Do NOT freeze sandwiches with salad or egg, or mayonnaise. Butter/spread is fine. Great to freeze is any roasted meat sliced, ham, and cheese, peanut butter and cream cheese or jam. So easy to grab in the morning and go! I have no school going kids, but they are great for their lunchboxes too.

It's those little things that help my weeks organising!

Saltypeanuts · 07/10/2018 17:24

hazell42 I love the sound of chicken lasagne - is that with chicken mince? I am not sure I have ever seen that - can you expand on this please? :)

PS can I come for tea sometime?

Saltypeanuts · 07/10/2018 17:26

Swiggle what is chicken cacciatore?

Saltypeanuts · 07/10/2018 17:26

sorry I meant Squiggleirl! not swiggle

GreenTulips · 07/10/2018 17:33

This is great when you have teens and the tin foil containers are really handy

DD loves curry
DS prefers stews and Shepard's pie
DH eats anything
Make lots and they can both have their choice

Remove from freezer straight to the oven

Also great when kids are out or DH away makes life easier

hazell42 · 07/10/2018 17:36

Chicken lasagne, as normal lasagne but with chicken breast diced small instead of mince. Lovely

Saltypeanuts · 07/10/2018 17:38

hazel- hooray thank you for your prompt response - you have inspired me to try chicken lasagne - sounds amazing!

Blackoutblinds · 07/10/2018 17:41

I’ve batch cooked today and done

Chicken curry
Honey chilli chicken
Hunters chicken (we ate that for lunch)
Bol
Chilli

Some weeks I don’t hardly cook at all.

I’d also do stuff like

Chicken and veg in white sauce - can be leeks, carrots, sweet corn, whatever - and can be pie or with rice and cheese or with pasta

Veg soup

Lentil soup

Cottage pie mince - I only ever do the mince I don’t have a big freezer

Cottage pie mince with curry powder in the mince

I put it all in freezer bags in individual portions. The freezer bags are small ziplock ones and I squeeze the air out and lie them flat and can get loads in the freezer.

BiscuitsWithEverythingPlease · 07/10/2018 17:41

Brilliant ideas here, and thanks for the 7 veg sauce, that sounds amazing!

Swipe left for the next trending thread