[Karla]

What kinds of things to you make ahead raw and freeze to cook later?

I season/marinate chicken, cook brown rice, steel-cut oats, and chop veggies before I vac seal to freeze.

What other shortcuts besides pre-cooking can be done.

I avoid leftovers. I find with our crazy shift work schedules making a huge meal to eat over a few days ends up in the trash more often than not.

[Melanie]

Not raw to freeze but…. boil a chicken (can be rotisserie), remove and shred the meat. Portion and freeze for future recipes.

Also add the bones back to the water and simmer for nutritious bone broth to make soups.

(I also use it to cook green beans potatoes onions and bacon together.)

Strain the bones and cartilage out of course. The broth can also be frozen.

[Nancy]

Not a main coarse but when you are making homemade cookies – make a double batch and freeze the unbaked cookie dough balls then pull out and bake when you want a fresh cookie

[LySette]

Prep all my veggies and fruits and freeze. While I don’t make anything too far in advance, I’ve done meatloaf, hamburgers, meatballs, various sauces and rues, then save for later.

Or cook a big chicken or Turkey, portion and save for using in other meals later.

Makes for a quick stir fry, sandwich, or casserole.

[Jenny]

I freeze sausage and hamburger after browning, easy to make tacos, pizza, spaghetti.

My kids added it to everything. I keep chicken, and beef cooked (shredded) for bbq, chick/beef and noodles, casseroles.

I do use a vacuum sealer that freezes things well with no freezer burn.

[Michele]

Yes, pre plan for tomorrow, if meat is thawed, or use insta pot, crockpot ready the night before. Remove from fridge in am and supper ready when you get home. Some night a homemade sub and soup.

Grill cheese with really good cheese and toast beef.

Cheap night takeout or pre-made things from grocery store.

Zehrs chicken, great price, yummy and grab it on the way home with a ceasers salad.

I love Wednesday night cheap pizza local deal, and bbq year round

[Michele]

Prep veggies as soon as home from the store, chop, dice slice and marinate. Cook meat and add new starch and veggie the next day. Roast today is tomorrow s strew.

Chicken and mashed potatoes, coleslaw.

Left over chicken is chicken salad or a stir fry with frozen veggies mix, rice. Rice cooker

[Dennise]

I mentioned meatloaf the other day, you can also make meatballs and cook them later. After I commented about the meatloaf I was remembering friends used to get together and make freezer meals.

I never did it because my kids were picky but now we are empty nesters and I want to try that idea.

Not sure what you like to eat but if you google freezer meals there’s a lot of sites and videos to choose from.

The idea is the same as the meat loaf, all the ingredients are already together, you just pull out and cook.

Some are baked, some for crockpot, etc. I just saw a Hawaiian chicken recipe for the crockpot I might try.

Seems your schedule is as crazy as ours was so you might like meals that are packaged in single meal size so you don’t have to worry about leftovers.

If you try any fabulous ones let the rest of us know

[Paula]

We smoke 2-3 chickens, a roast, and vegetables then vac seal in portions for those days when there isn’t time to cook.

[Jaded]

I’ve made lasagna and froze portions of it or chilli and froze half. I also precooked chicken tenders and froze them

[Mindy]

I just pulled out cooked hamburger with onions I made in August. It was so nice just to add a can of Manwich and dinner was done.

[Tesse]

Lasagna
Chicken pot pie. I make 2 at a time and get deep dish pie crusts for the bottom and regular on top.

Wrap and freeze them bake whenever you’re ready

[Author]

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