Convenient and Efficient
Without a doubt, freezer recipes can help individuals and families enjoy tasty and healthy meals. Simply prepare, freeze and then re-heat when it is time to eat.
If cooking meals is a challenge, freezer recipes will provide you with the perfect solution. The principle behind these recipes is actually simple. Instead of cooking and preparing meals on a daily basis, you only need to do it once every month. You will just cook large quantities of a particular recipe and divide them into portions. To preserve their taste and freshness, you will have to store them in well-sealed containers and then put them inside the freezer. You can choose to thaw the meals in the morning or just pop them in the oven as soon as you get home from work. For sure, you and your family will be delighted with the delicious home cooked meals during dinner.
Advantages
There are several benefits to freezer recipes. For starters, you will enjoy the convenience of not having to cook. If you have a full time job but would still like to provide your family with healthy and tasty meals for dinner, you will surely appreciate these recipes. Aside from the time saved in food preparation, you will also send more quality time with you family since you can go straight home after work and not stop by the grocery to buy ingredients. As for money, you get to save in two ways. First, buying food in bulk is usually a lot cheaper. Second, you no longer need to order take-out or buy those commercial frozen dinners. Now, with all these advantages there is just no reason for you not to try these recipes.
Disadvantages
Usually, individuals who try freezer recipes find themselves with problems usually associated with not being able to plan the meals well or the frozen meals did not turn out as expected. You have to remember that all these things will require patience and lots of practice. Also, you have to make sure you family’s preferences are incorporated in your meal planning in order to avoid the food going to waste. Aside from these issues, you will generally enjoy using these recipes.
Requirements
Before you start looking at freezer recipes, you need to know the basic requirements to make this endeavor successful.
• Freezer – for obvious reasons, you need to have a freezer which can easily hold all your frozen meals. You can choose between a chest freezer and an upright freezer. Most of those people who are into freezer cooking prefer the chest-type freezer because it is more energy efficient, more consistent in terms of temperature and more affordable. Also, a chest freezer can store large-sized items. On the other hand, upright freezers can fit into your kitchen easily and you can have a better time organizing your frozen meals because of the many storage options available including door bins, shelves and drawers or baskets. Plus, you get to see what you have without much difficulty. Also, you should probably choose frost free over manual defrost for more convenience.
• Planner – although there are the recipes to refer to, you still need to come up with a system which will allow you to keep track of the ingredients as well as entire meals which you have planned. It is recommended for you to have a master list to refer to with categories like ingredients on hand, recipe ideas and shopping list.
• Storage Bags and Containers – consider investing in durable zipper bags and plastic containers which can stand the freezing, thawing and re-using. You have to realize that you will be freezing meals good for at least two weeks and you have to maximize all the freezer space you have.
Summary:
Freezer recipes are most likely the solution to your meal preparation problems. With the right planning, you can freeze meals which could last for at least two weeks. This means you only have to cook for your family once or twice every month. So, for those of you who are having a tough time providing healthy and delicious food for your family because of lack of time, there is hope. All you need to do is choose the recipes for meals that your family likes to eat, cook them in large quantities, divide into portions for easy reheating and then put them in the freezer. That‘s about it!