To think batch cooking is awful

[Newyear2025]

It takes forever to do and everything comes out tasting of freezer.

Gosh...only one page in and the Mumsnet classic 'Dhal' has already been mentioned!

(I do say this in jest...it's lovely but clearly I spend too much time on MN)

People seem to swear by batch cooking but it's not for me and I don't think it would add anything to my life. I do cook double portions sometimes and either use next day, or freeze the one extra portion. But that's my limit. I can't really articulate why I dislike the idea, I just do! Which I know is silly. It's definitely not about quality, though, which I'd assume is fine.

My Dad did cook me some lovely freezer dinners while I was on mat leave though, for which I'm forever grateful.

We don't batch cook, but we do freeze a lot of veg and leftovers. I tend to get a big order, then chop and freeze veg like baby leek, baby courgette, aubergine, cauliflower etc; easy to whip chunks out and throw loads of different veg in a pan to stir fry. DH tends to prep chicken breast for 2 meals at once and put it in the fridge for another day. A cooked meal will often have leftovers, which might be put in the fridge for the next day's lunch or might be put in the freezer for a future day. Often it'll be a meat and veg spicy topping that can then be put with rice, pasta, potato, gnocchi, wrap or other carbs cooked fresh; weekend pasta lunches particularly get saved for a quick DS meal where he can pick the carb to add depending on what he had at school. Wraps can be heated in the microwave, add mayo and eat with knife/fork; the tortilla texture is different but not unpleasant.

I find we can't defrost in plastic in the microwave as it got a flavour (is that your "freezer" taste origin OP?), we put the frozen lump in a bowl to cover and defrost/cook, then it's fine.

I think if batch cooking seems like a big performance you're doing it ering. If I'm making something time consuming I'll just make double to have another day, which is minimal extra effort. Mostly it doesn't get as far as the freezer - if I make soup in a Monday it's good to stay in the fridge and get eaten on Thursday.

Lots of things I won't necessarily cook in their entirety, but pre-preprare to a certain stage. We had a Thai green prawn curry the other day. I made twice the amount of the curry paste, and froze just that but, so it's easy to assemble the rest quickly.

Gosh...only one page in and the Mumsnet classic 'Dhal' has already been mentioned!

😆 I do not get the Dahl love, it does freeze well.

Nothing wrong with beans on toast, if that is what a person wants to eat. I am partial to egg, chips, and beans on quick cook days myself. But having a stock of batch frozen meals is important for my situation. I am disabled, so often I do not have the energy to cook, as I am frequently unwell, and eating good nutritious food, is never going to impair my recovery.

I tend to get a big order, then chop and freeze veg like baby leek, baby courgette, aubergine, cauliflower etc; easy to whip chunks out and throw loads of different veg in a pan to stir fry.

Why not buy frozen veg?

I used to do it years ago when I had a huge kitchen...I just can't be arsed now but might go back go it as my chillies and currys were nice

The only thing that truly tastes like freezer is a choc ice. Blugh
😆😆

I’ve never really understood it - like obviously I understand what it is, but it seems a bit confusing and time consuming for me although I’m sure you probably do save time in the long run. Takes too much organisation for my liking.

I prefer to make daily 30 minute meals! I WFH so can sometimes make it stretch to both my lunch and dinner. Leftovers going in the freezer is fine but I can’t be bothered with batch cooking.

That said I did have a friend in uni whose mum brought her over a huge batch of spicy Nigerian stew and rice to put in the freezer. She served me some one day and it was incredible. I think it very much depends on the food being frozen.

I love dhal but I made it twice in the space of 2 weeks and my kids have now decided they hate it!

I don't batch cook but freezing does change the taste and texture of food doesn't it? I thought that was expected? A quick google brings up a lot of info on it

Cheap little rectangles in paper that taste of purest, finest, freezer, yes.

DD worked in frozen food and part of her job was to test the product as it aged in the freezer. Blind testing. She was shocked by how the flavour of food quickly deteriorated - even when the food was frozen and stored to the highest standards.
I won't mud-fling by suggesting that some people don't notice the tinge because they have an insensitive palate or that those who detect a freezer tinge can't cook or freeze food properly but "tastes of freezer" is definitely a thing that happens to food after it's frozen and if it's not frozen in the correct method or if you are a supper taster that'll happen sooner for you.

You need better containers. Proper tupperware type boxes with a rubber seal and those clip down lids.

@Katemax82 I can get it into them maybe every 3 months!

@Lobsterteapot @SnakesAndArrows

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/coconutdahl86921

this is a foolproof one and lovely ( not sure if you already had a reply ) I use ginger and garlic too, and skip the soy sauce.

I think cooking a curry or a casserole for just one meal is a waste of a life. I freeze leftovers and generally get 2 meals for 4 that we eat that week, plus 1-4 leftover portions frozen. It all tastes the same fresh or frozen.

I was aghast when I did chicken legs curried and rather than break up the meat DH served everyone a leg each whilst I was out leaving most of the sauce and that was curry done for the week!

Ugh yes I’ve always thought choc ice are disgusting lol they were so popular in the 90s as well - all my friends liked them . The vanilla ice cream and chocolate shell were both so bland.

But nowadays I do eat Mars ice cream bars which I suppose are a super fancy choc ice 😆

Some things don't freeze well but most stuff is fine. I made a big lasagne before Christmas and froze most of it, still tastes great.

I find it easier just to make a big lot of something and freeze for later. Takes a bit more time to maybe prep with things like cutting vegetables but once it's done it's done.

I won't mud-fling by suggesting that some people don't notice the tinge because they have an insensitive palate or that those who detect a freezer tinge can't cook or freeze food properly

But that is precisely what you have done🙄.

Do you guys cook from frozen or defrost it first?

I don’t batch cook really as cba but with certain meals make double or triple.

Don’t shoot me but I find proper freezer bags work best for me both for efficient storage (flatten them and get all the air out) and without impairing flavour.

Agreed! I have ADHD and very fussy about this sort of thing.same goes with slow cooker food and anything from tupperware or stored in cling film 🤢🤢🤢 sensory and taste nightmare.

I do cook double portions sometimes and either use next day, or freeze the one extra portion

@Wonderwall23 I did that when I lived alone.

Unfortunately, DP and the DC seem to regard it as a form of domestic abuse to eat the same thing within a week, the weirdos. So I serve one meal’s worth and freeze the second to use a week or two later.