Are you looking for a way to save time and money on meal prep? Bulk cooking and freezing leftovers is an easy and effective method that gives you convenience of having access to meals ready when there’s no time to cook!
Bulk cooking is an effective way to save time and money. Not only can you cook a large batch of food at once, but you can also freeze leftovers for later use. This process of bulk cooking and freezing leftovers gives you the convenience of having access to meals when there’s no time to cook.
There is nothing better than having a long day and being able to come home and pull out a meal and cook it in minutes!
Benefits of Freezing Leftovers
Freezing leftovers from bulk cooked meals can provide several benefits. The most obvious one is convenience – you’ll have ready-to-go meals in the freezer waiting for a quick reheat. Another benefit is waste reduction – freezing your food locks in freshness so that any extra portions don’t go bad before you eat them. Freezing also retains flavor and texture, so that your pre-made meal tastes just as good as when it was first cooked.
Bulk Cooking Tips
- Choose recipes wisely – consider recipes that don’t require too much prep work (such as casseroles or slow cooker soups) or ones that contain ingredients that freeze well (like pasta or rice).
- Use sealable containers – storing frozen meals in airtight containers will prevent them from going bad too quickly.
- Label and date everything – labeling your food and dating it will help you keep track of what needs to be eaten first, so nothing goes wasted.
Recipes You Can Freeze and Reheat
Here are some of our favorite recipes for freezing and reheating…
How to Freeze Leftovers
Now that you know why freezing leftovers can be beneficial, let’s discuss how to do it properly:
- Let food cool down before sealing it – if you seal hot food, moisture will form on the container which can lead to freezer burn (particularly if stored for extended periods).
- Divide large portions into smaller ones – splitting up larger servings into multiple containers or bags allows for quicker thawing times since they won’t take as long to defrost in the fridge or microwave oven (just make sure each portion is properly sealed).
- Place foods lower on top shelves of your freezer – leaving space between containers helps circulate cold air evenly resulting in more efficient cooling throughout the entire freezer compartment (this also means less energy will be used overall).
Reheating Frozen Meals
Reheating a frozen meal is simple! You can put it in the fridge the night before and microwave for a few minutes or you can microwave from frozen. Just keep cooking until it is hot!
