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| This is my first time making freezer meals with my sister! We learned lots and continue making them in separate states. |
1. Pick what meals you
want to use. If you want to do the same meal twice, put it on the
list twice
2. Make a grocery list of EVERYTHING on the list. (you make exclude spices/seasonings if you know you have plenty of that)
3. Check your pantry for any items that you may already have and take them off the list.
4. If you have extra time to prepare, search the adds for sales.
5. Make sure there is plenty of room in your freezer to store finished meals, and in your fridge to hold the fresh food
6. The day before: I go shopping for EVERYTHING on the list so I can start in the morning.
7. The day before: I write the recipe name, ingredients to add the day of, what to serve it with, and cook times on a zip lock bag. Then put bags in the order of my list of recipes.
8. Day before/morning of: Make sure sinks are empty, dishwasher empty, all counter tops are clean and ready to use
9. Day of: Start by chopping up ALL The veggies and placing them in separate containers.
10. Add veggies to bags
11. Add seasonings, and other ingredients to bags
12. Add meat to bags
13. Place all bags flat in freezer, I stack them on top of each other horizontally instead of vertical and use one whole shelf for them.
14. Make a list of all the meals you made and place on fridge. Cross off as you use them so you know what you have and don't have. Place stars 1-5 after eating the meals rating them so you know which ones your family liked, or which ones didn't work out so good freezer version for next time.
2. Make a grocery list of EVERYTHING on the list. (you make exclude spices/seasonings if you know you have plenty of that)
3. Check your pantry for any items that you may already have and take them off the list.
4. If you have extra time to prepare, search the adds for sales.
5. Make sure there is plenty of room in your freezer to store finished meals, and in your fridge to hold the fresh food
6. The day before: I go shopping for EVERYTHING on the list so I can start in the morning.
7. The day before: I write the recipe name, ingredients to add the day of, what to serve it with, and cook times on a zip lock bag. Then put bags in the order of my list of recipes.
8. Day before/morning of: Make sure sinks are empty, dishwasher empty, all counter tops are clean and ready to use
9. Day of: Start by chopping up ALL The veggies and placing them in separate containers.
10. Add veggies to bags
11. Add seasonings, and other ingredients to bags
12. Add meat to bags
13. Place all bags flat in freezer, I stack them on top of each other horizontally instead of vertical and use one whole shelf for them.
14. Make a list of all the meals you made and place on fridge. Cross off as you use them so you know what you have and don't have. Place stars 1-5 after eating the meals rating them so you know which ones your family liked, or which ones didn't work out so good freezer version for next time.
Tips:
*If you pick meals with
similar ingredients such as meat and veggies it is easier overall...
but it also means you have a lot of similar meals your family might
get sick of.
*You may want to buy the meat ahead of time and put it in your fridge/freezer (depending on how soon ahead of time) to get it for cheaper
*I like to order my chicken from Zaycon Foods (https://zayconfoods.com/refer/zf9551). It gives me a set date to make all my meals, and it comes in 40lb case of chicken, easy to divide up between bags.
*You may want to buy the meat ahead of time and put it in your fridge/freezer (depending on how soon ahead of time) to get it for cheaper
*I like to order my chicken from Zaycon Foods (https://zayconfoods.com/refer/zf9551). It gives me a set date to make all my meals, and it comes in 40lb case of chicken, easy to divide up between bags.
*If you have
extra time, organize the recipes in order of meats (if you have a
large variety), then veggies (starting with the most common ones used
first)
*I know it takes time, and gets kind of messy, but I make sure I cross off EACH ingredient off the recipe so I am SURE I put it in. At the end I double check to make sure everything is crossed off.
*Meat: Sometimes the recipe calls for 6 chicken breasts, and we only eat 2, I only put two in. OR I put the meal into two bags and use it as 2 meals with 4 breasts total.
*I know it takes time, and gets kind of messy, but I make sure I cross off EACH ingredient off the recipe so I am SURE I put it in. At the end I double check to make sure everything is crossed off.
*Meat: Sometimes the recipe calls for 6 chicken breasts, and we only eat 2, I only put two in. OR I put the meal into two bags and use it as 2 meals with 4 breasts total.
Resources:
This list and tips I
have gotten from a variety of websites over the years and from my
personal experience. Here is a list of some more of the specific
websites I got ideas from.
