The Economics of Freezer Meals (market)

[Sarahsez]

I think what you are doing is great and economical. I also think it depends upon the actual food you want if it's going to be economical enough to work for you. if you mainly want fresh fruits and veggies, it's really difficult to prepare that ahead. It's not always easy to eat that stuff before it goes bad.

I occasionally go through stages where I make meals ahead. My kiddos also know that. Those breakfast tacos or burritos or whatever I make have a way of disappearing before I know it. I often find it easier just to cook up extra meat when I'm cooking and then portion it out for the meals. I cooked up some ground beef for supper last night. It came proportioned from the freezer, but I decided I didn't want to use that much so I cooked it all up and used the leftover portion in a meal today. I would have frozen it if I didn't want to do that.

Reading this gave me an idea. I'm going to be busy for a while. I may need to figure out how make and save shepherd's/cottage pie.

[Threestep2]

Originally Posted by Sarahsez

I think what you are doing is great and economical. I also think it depends upon the actual food you want if it's going to be economical enough to work for you. if you mainly want fresh fruits and veggies, it's really difficult to prepare that ahead. It's not always easy to eat that stuff before it goes bad.

I occasionally go through stages where I make meals ahead. My kiddos also know that. Those breakfast tacos or burritos or whatever I make have a way of disappearing before I know it. I often find it easier just to cook up extra meat when I'm cooking and then portion it out for the meals. I cooked up some ground beef for supper last night. It came proportioned from the freezer, but I decided I didn't want to use that much so I cooked it all up and used the leftover portion in a meal today. I would have frozen it if I didn't want to do that.

Reading this gave me an idea. I'm going to be busy for a while. I may need to figure out how make and save shepherd's/cottage pie.

Do your pies have crusts?

[TimAZ]

Made a big batch of chili today for the freezer. Chuck roast at $2.99/lb, Hatch chilis at 68 cents/lb, no beans, so the whole pot, a gallon or so, enough for 8 meals, cost about $16.

[Sarahsez]

Originally Posted by Threestep2

Do your pies have crusts?

No. They don't. We use mashed potatoes.

[Threestep2]

Originally Posted by Sarahsez

No. They don't. We use mashed potatoes.

Try using potatoes without too much added liquid for the freezer version.

[numsgal]

You can use tator tots in place of the mashed potatoes. That freezes well.

[Threestep2]

Oregon - hearty chicken pot pie including potatoe with a bit of extra liquid to account for microwaving and pie crust on the side in biscuit sized cookies. No soggy crust and the cookies freeze well.
Mine are
1 stick butter
1 cream cheese (no low fat)
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

I use corn meal to roll the dough out. 425 F, preheated oven.

[tickyul]

I can come-up with economical, healthy things to eat that do not need cooking or refrigeration.

[Wartrace]

I usually cook "entree" items to freeze but never entire meals. I'd rather cook the vegetables fresh for each dinner.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by Wartrace

I usually cook "entree" items to freeze but never entire meals. I'd rather cook the vegetables fresh for each dinner.

That's what I do.