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Mush 4 Brains
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Registered: 12/19/07
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Freezing meals for the week
#14464721 - 05/16/11 08:58 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Ive been cooking for the family for a while now and due to a new job opportunity, Ive been kicking around the idea of freezing meals for the week. I cook Monday through Friday, weekends are fend for yourself days. I'm planning on cooking meals on Sundays and freezing them for the rest of the week. Spaghetti sauce, chili and soup are the only things i have experience freezing. I'm thinking like home made tv dinner style. Anyone do this?
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argg
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I was reading up on it and it seems doing it for the month is a better idea. You can brown a shit ton of beef or cook a whole bunch of chicken then make soup out of the bits left over.
I used to can a whole shit ton of stuff from my garden and then add meat to it so it was a meal in a jar. I never really froze anything but leftovers and it seems like a good idea as long as I get an efficient deep freeze.
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Mush 4 Brains
about tree fiddy


Registered: 12/19/07
Posts: 8,298
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Re: Freezing meals for the week [Re: argg]
#14464858 - 05/16/11 09:22 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Browning and freezing meat that can be used for a variety of dishes is definitely a good idea. I just want to switch things up, keep it interesting for the family. I want them to do minimal preparation work as well.
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argg
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well from what I have read so far breakfast burritos and other stuff can be prepped for easy nuking later along with a ton of stuff that can be done by just getting idea from the freezer section at the store. OAMC stands for once a month cooking and bulk cooking and freezing are the keywords to search for info but you can easily make bulk amounts from stuff that is on sale if you shop right. The key seems to be not buying unneeded crap or money is wasted.
I really hate my food bill being high right now as I do not have last years garden canned up. I wrecked my back right at harvest and just had to give it all away for the most part.
Check out some sites as there are recipes that use the same meat cooked the same way but seasoned a few different ways and with it frozen if packed right you can have it next month even. I have a sweet vacuum sealer now so I might give this thing a full go as soon as I move.
If I don't have decent meals ready and planned I just default to burger king so I need to get back on track myself.
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Mush 4 Brains
about tree fiddy


Registered: 12/19/07
Posts: 8,298
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Re: Freezing meals for the week [Re: argg]
#14465133 - 05/16/11 10:06 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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I should blow the dust of my vacuum sealer. Food shopping, let alone bargain hunting is relatively new for me, but recently i have been getting the hang of it due to necessity. Ive been doing some reading and i at least have a week planned out so far. I make a mean spaghetti sauce that im thinking i'll start having on hand at all times for a quick fix meal. Lots of tasty casseroles ive been reading about using chicken.
Things ive been planning for this week- Baked mostaccioli, cooked taco meat, chicken enchilada casserole, chicken stuffing casserole, beef stroganoff.
Thanks for the input man, its good to have people to bounce ideas off of.
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argg
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where in IL are you at? wanna split some beef jerky?
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Mush 4 Brains
about tree fiddy


Registered: 12/19/07
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Re: Freezing meals for the week [Re: argg]
#14465400 - 05/16/11 11:01 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Edited by Mush 4 Brains (05/24/11 08:19 PM)
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soochi
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yes, and may I suggest getting a vacuum pack machine.
-------------------- Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie, O, what panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi' bickering brattle!
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argg
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Re: Freezing meals for the week [Re: soochi]
#14469969 - 05/17/11 08:49 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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bags are pricey from a vac pack. I have an industrail type unit that uses cheaper bags but ziplocs work great for freezing and can be re used. If you make a form or use a tupperwear to freeze the bag in it retains the shape making organization easier.
A good tupperware collection takes up a lot of space and costs hella more then ziplocs.
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soochi
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Re: Freezing meals for the week [Re: argg]
#14474454 - 05/18/11 05:27 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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sorry, I'm spoiled and have an abundace of vac bags at work that I just hoard in my closet.
-------------------- Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie, O, what panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi' bickering brattle!
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argg
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Re: Freezing meals for the week [Re: soochi]
#14474633 - 05/18/11 06:11 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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care to part with any? what type are they? rolls?
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soochi
Chef


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Re: Freezing meals for the week [Re: argg]
#14485935 - 05/20/11 06:53 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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no they're industrial type (smooth) so will not work for foodsaver because those are textured to be able to suck the air out. I have several in small, med, large. Sorry not much help I know, not sure about the capacity of each. I wouldn't mind sending you, if you pay for shipping and packaging. I live near DC.
-------------------- Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie, O, what panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi' bickering brattle!
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argg
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Re: Freezing meals for the week [Re: soochi]
#14486025 - 05/20/11 07:12 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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I can use industrial ones up to 12 inch wide but are those pouch type or roll?
do you want mushroom spawn bags or anything? I may have stuff you want in trade
I have been reading more on freezer cooking and to do it just for the week makes little sense as you spend the same time prepping. To really save time you need to set a good block of solid cooking time and have a solid plan.
I started to plan out stuff know and am going to make a big batch of burritos both meat and breakfast. I am going to brown enough meat for that and to make sloppy joes at the same time. I am looking at 3 serving of sloppy joes worth so that is 3 dinners/lunch worth.
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soochi
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Registered: 08/13/02
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Re: Freezing meals for the week [Re: argg]
#14488714 - 05/21/11 08:04 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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they are pouches, the largest bag is about a foot across.
-------------------- Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie, O, what panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi' bickering brattle!
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