Times are tough and people are feeling the pinch. As a result, more and more families are turning to batch cooking to make ends meet. What is batch cooking, you ask? It’s the act of preparing bulk meals ahead of time that you can freeze or keep in the fridge and reheat when needed. Not only does this save time and reduce the cost of cooking multiple meals but it’s also a great way to stay on budget.
We have some practical tips for batch cooking and share some delicious recipe ideas that can turn your next batch cooking session into a fun family activity.
Plan your meals ahead of time
Before you start, you need to know what meals you’ll be batch cooking. Make a list of your favourite recipes and plan meals for the week. Once you’ve decided what meals to cook, you can then decide on the right amount of ingredients needed and what steps are needed. It can be helpful to plan your meals with similar types of ingredients so that it can save you money and reduce waste.
Shop smart
Once you’ve decided on your meal plans, you need to consider what your shopping list will look like. Shopping in bulk is a great way to save money, especially when buying from discount stores or opting for generic brands. Purchasing frozen or canned fruits and veggies will also save you time, as they often come pre-chopped and ready to use.
Prep the ingredients at once
Preparation is key to batch cooking. To save time, you can do all the prep work in one go prior to cooking. This can include chopping vegetables, seasoning meats or getting any other basis ingredients ready. This helps you to focus on cooking when you do batch cooking so it can be done in less time which will help make cooking a less stressful experience.
Make your kitchen smell delicious
Now the fun part – cooking! When batch cooking meals, it’s important to make sure that each dish smells great while cooking. Not only will it entice your taste buds, but also doing this means mealtime will be something to look forward to. Plus, who can resist the wonderful aroma of a home-cooked meal?
Store and label for easy access
After the cooking is done, the final step is to properly store your meals for later use. Make sure to use freezer-safe containers and label them with the dish name and date. You can also portion out smaller servings and place them in microwavable containers so they are easy to reheat for when you’re ready to eat.
Batch cooking is a great way to save money, time and reduce stress when it comes to preparing meals. It is particularly important for families living on a strict budget, without sacrificing the quality of the meals. With these helpful tips and recipes, you can today turn batch cooking into a fun and enjoyable family experience while saving money along the way!