Batch Cooking - 5 Tips to Make it Stick!
As soon as fall arrives, my cravings for warming food arrive too. Lentil soups and thai curries, roasted veggies and homemade muffins . . . Give me all of the things! I know I am not alone in craving comforting foods when the weather cools, but having home-made, nourishing foods that will warm my soul - AT THE READY. . . well, that’s what I call, living my best life. :)
Now, that being said, batch cooking ain’t no joke! It can be a pain in the ass, and it can be a little daunting. Half-way through you may end up wondering if it was all really worth it . . . trust me, it is. Whether it saves you ordering take out (again) after a busy day, or you use that time for a hot bath, or sexy time with your partner, every minute you spent batch cooking will be totally worth it.
I’m actually fairly new to batch cooking it the grand scheme of life. It always seemed like a good idea, but I just didn’t feel like it was enough of a priority. In fact, I was a little judgy about the whole thing. . . like, ugh! How can I have time to batch cook when I barely have time to make a regular dinner. Well that was dumb. Cause batch cooking is where it’s at y’all!
But, it still can be a little daunting and a pain-in-the-ass, so I’ve put together a few tips that can make it easier, something you want to do again and dare I say, a little fun.
STEP 1
Choose What You Want To Make
Select tried and true recipes you love. If you’re gonna make a triple batch of something, it better be something you like!
I like to make some items that I will freeze and a few that I will have in the fridge for the week ahead. Batch cooking isn’t just meals, but a great way to have healthy side-dishes, roasted veggies or whole grains that can be warmed and added to a salad to make it more appealing in the cooler months.
Here’s what a typical batch cooking menu might look like for me:
2-3 different vegetarian soups, stews, curries or chillies for the freezer - Make at least a double batch of each recipe.
Marinated Lentils or Marinated Tofu for the Fridge.
Batch of Grains for the Fridge.
Batch of Roasted Veggies for the Fridge.
Sesame Chicken to Freeze
A Caserole Dish or Pasta Dish to Freeze
STEP 2
Plan Your Mission, Get Organized + Start Shopping
Grab a cup of coffee, the recipes you want to make, and get organized.
Decide what to make, and how many batches, along with your grocery list 2-3 days before you plan to cook. If you happen to have access to a scanner and printer at home, I highly recommend printing each recipe out on a piece of paper. Your kitchen is gonna be a gong-show ,and a tidy stack of paper makes me feel organized and calm. Plus, they are handy when you are ready to do this all over a gain in a few months!
Chances are, you may need to shop at numerous places. I typically hit up Costco for everything I can, then place an online order at grocery store for the rest. Times like these call for life-saving hacks like online shopping.
I friggin’ love online shopping when batch cooking!!!
Batch-cooking justifies splurging the few dollars and having your groceries delivered. You’ll be on your feet cooking for a lot of hours, so if you can skip an hour at the grocery store first than do it!!!!!
I highly suggest getting your Costco trip done the day before, then schedule your groceries to arrive the morning you will start cooking.
STEP 3
Find a Friend if You are Not Feeling Motivated
Half the work, Half the Food, Double the Fun
Help with chopping all the veggies and cleaning up is huge! I have done it with friends who love to help cook, and friends who love to drink wine while they watch me cook - and honestly I am cool with either one!!!! Just having company to chat with is a win!
For me and Kim - I’ll plan the meals and do the shopping, she’ll cut me a cheque, cut the veggies, bring the wine, and take half of what we make.
If none of your friends are in the mood, or you feel like flying solo, I suggest downloading a few good podcast or making sure some good tunes are cranking.
TIP 4
Labels + Containers
You will not know what that is after a few months, so LABEL it!
Plan what containers you are going to use ahead of time and make sure you have enough. Large ziplock bags can come in really handy if you are short on freezer space - and you can use a sharpie to label them. Once filled, lay them flat on a baking tray until frozen. Makes them very stackable!
TIP 5
Freeze in Usable Portions
From family meals to grab n’ go lunches
I recommend making some dishes that you can individual freeze for lunch - for this I love soups, curries and chillies. These are also handy for those nights when I’m cool with giving the kids pizza, but still want something healthy for myself.
I would also recommend freezing some dishes in family portions. Anything that can be tossed in a crock pot frozen in the morning, and be hot and ready when you get home is a huge win. Things that are saucy work best for this- that can include uncooked meats that are in a sauce or marinade.
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XO, Andrea