To think batch cooking and freezing is bleegghh

[Notgotajarofglue]

FT working busy mum trying to follow all the tips and hints on getting through these hectic years.
One thing always comes up:batch cook, freeze and reheat.
AIBU thinking that everything comes out Not envy
Watery sauces, soggy veg and dry over cooked meat in all the favourites recommended for this. Husband said it was like prison food. I don't know what I'm doing wrong as I'm a fab cook and it seems from mn that everybody loves batch cooking.
Can't just be me, they've got to be settling for eating horrid food just to save time right?

Yes I agree CB meals are nice, at least the ones I’ve tasted.

I don’t like all of the M&S ready meals, either. They’re definitely not all equal. But the ones I do like are certainly of a good standard for a frozen meal. And most of them are quite a bit nicer than say, Tesco, whose meals are not generally of a good standard. Sainsbury’s are good, but again you pay a bit extra for it. Aldi and LIDL have some perfectly acceptable ones and some that aren’t nice.

Anyway, I think the secret is to understand the principles of cooking with a view to freezing, and being able to reheat it in a way that does it justice.

CB lasagne and macaroni cheese are much nicer than any others imo. I don't need permission to use a ready meal if I want to, but most of them don't taste nice.
I also detest my slow cooker, and no I don't want to learn any special recipes, and I successfully freeze extra helpings of chilli or bolognaise but don't deliberately 'batch cook'. It is nice to know there's a chilli in the freezer though.
It's all got a bit combative around here lately hasn't it?

I work some evenings and weekends and OH, though he tries, isn’t a good cook. I batch freeze so that I know everyone’s eaten okay!

I echo what pps have said that it’s about how you cook it in the first place, and what you cook. Mince meat will always freeze and reheat well as long as it’s reheated slowly.
My dd1 can never tell the difference between a fresh and a reheated spag Bol (spaghetti always cooked fresh never frozen), and dd2 eats anything tbh.
I do batch freeze cottage pie, but make the mash fresh as it doesn’t freeze well. I also batch freeze leg of lamb stew.

The only thing I waffle on to OH about is he has to slowly heat it, he would otherwise have a tendency to just blast it in the microwave and that’d make it slushy and rubbish.

LOL at the poster who doesn’t know any one that’s ever batch cooked! No one goes around raving about having cooked a couple of extra portions of something and chucked it in the freezer for later in the week!
Well they do on here!
I do freeze stock and sometimes sauces and pastry but that's really it.
Tbh by the time I would have defrosted a chilli or whatever and heated it on the hob ( no microwave ) I could have knocked together a fast pan cooked vegetarian chilli fresh: onions, garlic, spices, black beans, peppers/ whatever other vegetables, tomatoes, serve with corn tortillas and sour cream. Or guac (which you make while the chilli sauce cooking). 15 mins in a deep frying pan.
I'm really hungry now!

Bertrand you have a revolver?!

I've never heard of Charlie Bingham before, something that I must try!

Most of my frozen stuff comes from Cook which is ok but their portions are huge.

Don’t go in expecting something extraordinary - it’s just a ready meal. It’s good, but it’s also expensive for what it is.

“Bertrand you have a revolver?!”

Only an imaginary one. It gives me great solace.

I can't do batch cooking, every time I think I'll make double it never comes out as double. We end up with the usual amount plus a bit leftover which ends up being eaten for seconds or a lunch.

I tried to make three lasagnes, tripled everything, I had enough for two and a few tablespoons of ragu.

You freeze burritos? They don't come out soggy?

No cooked in thr oven they get crispy! I tried a breakfast one once with egg but that does get soggy, every other time has been fine!

I agree with OP, I'm never much excited by the idea of heating up something 'old' from the freezer. However, I was raised abroad in Asia, and absolutely no one there batch cooks or freezes food (nature of cuisine and small kitchens) and it's not something I have been converted to. Freshness is really really prioritized by my family.

DH didn't grow up with frozen home meals and isn't keen either.

I also live in London, and have easy access to supermarkets so would much rather buy something to throw together on the way home, even though it costs more.

I find the choices for freezer friendly meals (spag bol, tomato sauce based mince things) fairly limited and personally a bit boring, but useful to have especially in the winter and also when with a newborn!

Waitrose ready meals are by far the best tasting in my opinion - and I've eaten a lot of ready meals in my time!

Nowadays I tend to batch cook or make from fresh though as I'm on a much stricter budget than I have been in the past. It tastes much better and is generally a lot cheaper too, so it's a win-win!

To whoever commented that I'd said "Some people live extraordinarily busy lives" and suggested that throughout the ages people always have... yes, but in historic times women were more likely to be at home with time to shop and cook. Both my mother and MIL (in the 60s ans 70s) used to shop DAILY with their baskets at the little local shops for fresh food and cook a full meal between 4.30 - 6pm. Fast forward to now and many more women are working, getting a single food delivery once a week and coming in at 6 pm wondering how to miraculously feed DD (a teenage vegetarian), DS (a muscle-building protein freak) and DH (happy to just be fed).
I certainly couldn't manage it without having some standbys in the freezer.

I'd much rather a home-cooked meal from the freezer rather than a ready meal. The amount of fat and salt in most supermarket ready meals (incl M&S and Waitrose) is appalling. Cook ARE good though as a last resort.

The other fact which people don't seem to have mentioned is that it often saves on washing up big pots and pans and food processors/ blenders etc, especially if the meal requires chopping lots of veg or frying stuff.

Charlie Bigham Macaroni cheese is to die for.

I buy it whenever I need comfort food. Horribly calorific but utterly delish and well worth the price tag.

DH was literally over the moon when he got a reduced one the other day in Tesco for £1.88.

"Who's this Charlie Bingham bloke?”

I've just realised, I always thought those were by Charlie Brooker and apparently I've never questioned why that sarky bloke off the tv had his own range of ready meals

15 quid for macaroni cheese for 4? Bloody hell.........!

Love Charlie Brooker having a range of ready meals! There must be a Black Mirror story in there.......

LOL at Charlie Brooker ready meals!

Yeah, *Bertrand^, it’s nice but if I’m going to buy a macaroni cheese for £15 I’d rather make one myself!

I’d make macaroni cheese and have reasonably decent bottle of wine with it!

I'd pay double for it to be honest, on a really bad day I have eaten the whole thing myself.
It's got crack in it I'm sure. So good!

The food doesn't change because it has been frozen, well not things like bolognaise, chilli, curry etc. It always taste as good a sit did the first time. If it tastes crap going in, it will taste crap once defrosted. Simples.

Ok every now and then but it's not the same as fresh food”

Oh yes it is!

I batch cook all the time for convenience and economy. Foods that do well in a slow cooker turn out best;
Stews, chill, Curry, Bolognese, butterbean based dishes. I actually think curries especially but also other dishes actually mature and taste better second time around.
We didn’t cook for three weeks after DS’ birth but ate a wholesome, home cooked meal every night.

@Elisannah
A bit OT but could you share a tangine recipe

I use it a lot for DD who is vegetarian. I'll make a veg chilli or curry for 4/5 people and freeze in individual portions. Great for when the rest of us are having something else with meat. I don't want to give her processed crap and it means she gets a home cooked meal from scratch.