Batch Cooking Basics

Time saving tips to help you spend more time with family

Let’s go a step beyond crockpot and freezer meals and talk about batch cooking as a kitchen time saving strategy.  With this approach to food, you dedicate 1-2 days a month to not only double- but instead cook 3-4 times each recipe.  Then pack up to freeze and store for snappy weeknight meals.  What can be easier than that?  And let’s face it, during the holiday season there’s nothing better than gaining time to spend with loved ones. 

We love this concept because it will most definitely save you time, money, cleanup, plus you’ll have a bunch of healthy recipes at your fingertips to get you through weeks ahead!

Five Tips for batch cooking success: 

1. Select Winning Recipes.  Choose recipes you know your family will love.  We like Hearty Veggie Loaves, Vegetable Lasagna, Loaded Zaatar Chicken Cauliflower Casserole, Mexican Chicken and Rice Soup and Turkey Meatballs. 
2. Shop in Bulk.  Once you select recipes, take inventory of what spices, pasta and canned goods you have on hand and buy the rest.  You may even find that you spend less money on groceries, because you are laser focused on specific dishes. 
3. Have the Right Container.  If you’re making lasagna or casseroles, choose freezer-safe glass ware, or save time on cleanup with recyclable aluminum trays.  Keeping pans the same size helps maximize space in the freezer too! 
4. Cool foods fully before labeling and freezing.  First cool food from 135 to 70 degrees within two hours, and then from 70 to below 41 within the next four hours.  Label each container with the name of the recipe and date it was made for easy recall!
5. Make a schedule –   Keep your family traditions intact by writing in your Taco Tuesday’s or Pizza Friday’s and adjust your schedule accordingly!  Just take 5 minutes to write out your monthly menu to help reduce decision stress and fatigue!  And if it seems repetitive, try to remember what you ate yesterday for lunch – we bet no one will realize they’re on a rotation J

Here's a sample schedule: 

Published January 1, 2023