How to list/index batch cooked food

[Ponderingtosk]

So I’ve been batch cooking since September. Getting a nice drawer full of ‘ready meals’ in the drawer freezer but now I’m just about to expand upon that.

We’ve been eating what I’ve been cooking and I was just making a new batch when the last batch ran out but because I’m going to have a lot more dishes it’s starting to get a bit difficult to see when I’ve run out.

I thought about numbering them and writing it in a book, thought about a whiteboard list near freezer, taping raffle tickets to frozen items and writing dish on reverse on other ticket.

I want it to be easy and not a faff.

anyone got a tried and tested system you’d be willing to share please.

I'm not as far ahead a you but rely heavily on food that has been batch cooked from the freezer. I saw some people write using a whiteboard marker on the freezer.

I've done a page like the ones you get when people have a room to rent and you can rip off the phone number. .

I have a row for each type of meal and each time one is used a ticket gets ripped off. Once the tickets are all ripped off I know to batch cook some more.

That's clever. I can't think what kind of a book that would be. I'll go investigate...

We use the Google Keep app to keep track of what's in the freezer

I use a simple numbers (Mac version of excel) document to keep track. I delete row or change quantities when I take something out, and add a row something is added. It helps me meal plan and rotate and use up things in the freezer.

I've got a spreadsheet with columns labelled : -

Meals / for x people / shelf in freezer
Meat, / quantity / shelf
Fish / etc
Veg etc,

Everything is labelled.

It's stuck to the side of a freezer, & I cross off things as they get used, write on new additions, then re-do the ss every week, moving things up.
The oldest is always at the top, & I can see at a glance where to find things, & what's running low.

I write on the container lids with a whiteboard pen and also on the freezer door with a whiteboard pen.

I just write on the lid in sharpie.

I dont bother, I just lucky dip it

If you find it can you link it in the post please.

think this idea suits me too.

I like this idea of writing on freezer door.

I already make notes on the insides of my food cupboard, I have a weekly planner and which family members are gluten free etc.

I’ve also written how to unlock the washing machine when it frequently gets locked on the cupboard next to it which DH find very useful.

lol, that’s how I ended up with lasagne almost three nights in a row, I’m not a fan of lasagne either.

This looks good but maybe for later in the year. Thanks.

I have paper pinned to the cupboard. I don't write numbers, it gets messy and illegible.

Curry OOOO
Stew OO
Rice OOOOOOO

Then you cross out a circle each time you use it, or you can add to the end if you make more.

I've done it for years, it just takes the discipline to get into the habit of using it.

I just hand write it on a piece of A4 and cut the lines to tear. Old school 🤓

I’ve been using this one very successful thank you.

In the circle I write the size of portion, 1 for single, 2 for two people, I also drawn a rectangle with numbers in and this if found against shepherd pies means it’s just the meat (and portion size) and I’ve to add the mash.

it’s given a breather in a very stressful life I have to lead. Days I’m feeling brighter I try and batch cook. I didn’t want us to eat different meals but as I’m trying to lose weight and poorly relative needs to gain weight I’ve also found single portions mean I can add lots of cream or cheese to relatives meals and I leave mine not as calorific.

@Ponderingtosk Oh I am glad it has been so helpful to you!

You actually stumbled across the changes I made once I was used to it, the writing of the portion size on the circle. Or if I have 1 big bag of mixed berries, and 2 small, I draw a big circle and two smaller.

That is really great way to adapt things.
Something I do, had for dinner tonight actually, is batch cook a vegetable sauce for pasta. I have it just over broccoli with measured amount of cheese, everybody else gets pasta as well.