My favorite cheat code: caramelize onions or bell peppers in large batches, and freeze a big spoonful in a 3”x4” ziplock baggies. Grab a baggie to add to your dishes. Caramelizing takes a long time, which consumes energy, so if you’re going to do it, do it once a month instead of every time a meal calls for the ingredient. 🙃
i started doing this few years ago after i've read similar comment in food reddit post. Just do big batch of them once and freeze portioned sizes you often use in your dishes, saves so much time and give some much flavour its insane, one of the best things i started prepping was this, definitely recommend everyone to do it.
I'm halfway through the video and I'd like to just pause and take the time to praise this young man right here for giving so many great ideas and practical tips, I love your content, it's so useful! It's pretty refreshing to see other people's cooking hacks, there's always something we can learn and start doing now and then too.
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If you hate mincing garlic: my ultimate ingredient prep hack is to food process garlic and ginger. Then freeze them in ziploc bags in a flat sheet, and break off chunks to use it (I “perforate” it in a 1” grid pattern using a flat edge like a bench scraper to make it easier to break off pieces). Freezing probably reduces the strength by a little, but I just throw in a little (or a lot) extra. Never mince garlic again!
I just process it witha little bit of olive oil, lemon and salt to prevent it from going rancid and keep in an air tight container in the fridge. It stays as fresh as day 1
hate mincing garlic- so I just have a good garlic press instead. give it a good mush and scrape that into the dish, and it's all hands-free, so no garlic hands! apparently crushing the garlic releases more flavors than chopping it with a sharp knife, anyways, so it's a win-win!
If you own a stove top pressure cooker or instant pot, you can do the legume prep in a tiny amount of time. Especially with an instant pot, you can get extremely consistent results. Soak over night, pop them in the pressure cooker, cook for 10-15 min. Once you do this a few times, you’ll dial in the texture you like. For me, 12 minutes gives me the perfect chickpea texture. If I use my instant pot, I can walk away without having to worry about the stove being on.
@@YeshuaKingMessiah Also a great option if it's more convenient for the chickpeas to take it slow. I find that 30 minutes on a stove is just an inconvenient amount of time, so either shrinking the time or lengthening it is a great way to go!
Swap those green onions with shallots in that spice paste and you basically have what is called a bumbu in Indonesian cuisine, the base for a lot of dishes. I cook a lot of Indonesian food in my home and once in a while I’ll fill an ice cube tray with the stuff, freeze then transfer the cube to a ziplock bag, that way I always have some at the ready. 🎉
precooking potatoes also actually makes them healthier by increasing their resistant starch content and changing the way your body digests them. cold or reheated potatoes (and other starches like rice) can act as a prebiotic and reduce the usual impact they would have on blood sugar
The broccoli paste lit a bulb for me: a baby/toddler food video (or better yet, a series) would be wonderful. I bet you have a lot of tricks and tips in addition to "These 4 tips Changed the Way I Cook for My Family".
You can also do this with carrots, zucchini and the easiest one: spinach (just use the prechopped freezed version and add a little milk). To make it more interesting for yourself as a spread: add spices! For carrot use pumpkin pie spice or an Indian mix, some orange juice also does wonders as does ginger. For the green veggies go Italian with lemonzest, juice and some Italian herbs plus grated cheese. Cheers
I am so happy to see people feeding babies food. My sister in law brought over mynsix month old neice. She was complaing that thebaby cried all the time, wanted to be feed all the time, and was going through 4 bottles milk a day. My mom said to feed her food, but my SIL said that , this is better, helped with allergies, etc. I dont have kids but even I know that babies need fuel to grow.
I love that you show not only the food prep but the uses, and use the exact thing you just prepped. It makes me believe you actually use the food you prep!
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Please do a garden series come spring time! I just bought a home and would love to see how you go through the growing phases and what you choose to grow!
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When I cook beans from scratch, I use some fresh then freeze the rest in can-sized portions so that if a recipe calls for a can of beans I have them measured out
Very useful video! My girlfriend just got a new job, and long story short, I'll be making her lunches to take to work. I'll definitely be keeping these trips in mind
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I'm a big proponent of dicing and storing onions and peppers in bags in my freezer! Some sliced, some diced. I do the same with garlic but usually mince it in a food processor! I'll also cook a larger volume of chickpeas and get them decently dry, then add some to a freezer bag as well! Great for thawing and roasting and they last a little bit longer.
For broccoli or potatoes: i find that microwaving a small amount as i need it, is a fast way to cook them also. Particularly potatoes, you can cook one to tender by microwaving on high for a couple of minutes. I find a quick way to make broccoli soup is to pop some broccoli(+ spinach peas etc) in the microwave while i fry my onions and garlic. It is then tender by the time the aromatics are done frying and i fry the broccoli a bit and blend it together
Yes to the microwave. A few years ago I started prepping my fresh vegetables and potatoes (cut in chunks) in a covered microwave bowl (pyrex or corningware) with just a few tablespoons of water. Easier, not so messy and no vitamins lost down the drain.
I keep a roll of blue painters masking tape and a sharpie in my kitchen. It’s so easy to label all those food containers. Add a date and a “Use by” date. Use the tape for closing bags. Works in the freezer also. Love the prep ideas. Brilliant!
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Great ideas, I need to remember the broccoli prep. Every week I cook up some ground chicken mixed with chopped veg (seasoned only with salt to keep neutral) and store in my fridge. It just works as an "all purpose" protein+veg, and I can make many meals from it: 1) stir a scoop into soups; 2) stir a scoop into pasta with some melty cheese; 3) throw a scoop in a hot pan with spices of choice, serve on rice with some steamed broccoli; 4) stir a scoop into tomato sauce or make a mini lasagna; 5) just snack on it when I need a quick shot of protein+veg.
I do this too! Chicken breast mince, then I just batch cook it up with garlic and onion paste, and a bit of vege stock. Then it's great to chuck in a bowl with pretty much anything, usually ends up being quick soups, salads, sandwiches, and rice dishes for me. Or just a snack on its own. So many options, love it.
I love how you showed prepping and ways to use the items. What a great ideal, esp coming home from a long day at work and being able to throw something together in such a short time.
I know this video won't 'do the numbers' that some other videos will but this is the exact type of stuff I love from RUclips home cooks. Walked away from this video with inspiration, a grocery list, and ideas.
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Great tip on the rice noodles! For the beans, I use a lot of them. I cook on the instant pot (pre-soaking not required) then strain and spread out a cookie sheet. Pop that in the freezer a few hours then put the beans in a bag in the freezer. They’re ready when I need them! Rinse under water to thaw or throw into the pot.
Oddly enough I couldn’t get into consistently cooking until I had a garden growing and preserving my own food! It was a hobby but ignited my interest in learning to cook (kind of backwards)! Would love to see how you incorporate your seasonal produce into your meals and more of your garden.
Microwave russet potatoes are a lifesaver! Wash them, stab with a fork on all sides, cook 3 minutes per potato per side, flip & repeat. Put directly in the fridge for later or let them steam in a covered bowl or pot until cook enough to safely handle & peel. They can also be mostly scooped out & used for stuffed potatoes or potato skins. If making potato skins, save the insides separate from the shells. Heat oil or bacon fat in a pan, crisp up the insides with season salt & pepper, garnish with scallions. I eat it with eggs as a super fast diner-esque home fries.
I peel several whole bulbs of garlic at a time and store them in a Tupperware in the fridge. Nothing as freeing as just grabbing the cloves you need without having to stop to peel them! They last a long time
I appreciate all your videos yet this one is fantastic. 🍲 Since most food is prepared by me at home, this really gave me some light bulb moments.THANK YOU SO MUCH! 💡💡
So many great tips. Generally that's what i do with leftovers, but going one step further to have items ready for weekday meals is terrific. Love all the options. Really love the outdoor project!
Baked potatoes... Do twice as many as you need. Have half for lunch with grated cheddar and coleslaw (or whatever toppings you like) and then use the other half to make twice baked stuffed with cheese and bacon bits and green onions alongside some breaded chicken cutlets or whatever as a dinner.
OMGOSH- the ground aromatic paste! What an amazing idea! I had not thought of that before- you are so helpful to us home cooks- I feel like I learn something every time I watch your videos- Schmaltz and now this!
You are just something! So much time and dedication (and I am assuming love) goes into what you do. I have been cooking for my friends and family for years, but the learning is infinite and I learn so much from you. Thank you. Ah yeah, and now I really have to get an air fryer and you should be billed for this one :)
I probably have too much time on my hands, but I am going to make it my mission to in some way bring it to Mike's attention that he should try starting his potatoes in cold water, since that's the general consensus from pros as to how to get an evenly cooked potato every time. Especially since I saw those potatoes crumbling when he packed them up :'( I love the channel and everything about it, but it pains me every time I think of those mealy potatoes. YOU DESERVE BETTER MIKE
I like them better, when steamed, peeled and chopped like Mike does, they turn out so much more flavorful. I'll never boil them with peel anymore since I found out, how much tastier they are this way.
Thanks for all the great ideas. A few months ago I started peeling and dicing my broccoli stalks for soup. Our daughter in law is allergic to celery so this became an awesome alternative. May be a bonus idea for your other viewers. Have a good day.
I was already thinking of prepping beans for my salads and keeping them in the fridge, but these simple ideas for food prep were amazing and extremely helpful!
Love your meal prep videos! I’m also a creative, more spontaneous type of home cook, not a perfectly planned meal prepper like my Mom lol. I open the fridge and use my imagination as needed. These are great ideas to add possibilities, efficiency, and tastiness to that flow. Thank you!
Outstanding tips! I live alone, so I can't prep lots of stuff or some will go to waste, but I like the ideas of the potatoes, broccoli and rice noodles. This was one of your best videos, IMO.
I watch you since you were with your bro cooking on a counter top. I just wanted to say, good job man. Through ups and downs, you were able to hang in there. Proud of you as a person. This video was suggested to me again. So here I am watching it... again. Thank you bud.
Some great ideas for us home cooks and to save time ,which I love. Great garden you have there ,look forward to seeing your produce in some seriously delicious dishes later in year Mike. Fan in Suffolk County.
Those tips are amazing! Thank you! Something I always have ready to go in the fridge is a vegtable broth paste. It brings instant flavour. I also like to prepare more rice then I need for a dish and freeze the leftovers.
I made your aromatic paste idea starting with 2 lbs of ginger and 2 lbs of garlic. Ground up in my vitamix. Then divided the paste in half and ground shallots and the calabrian chilis to half of the mixture. Split everything in thirds because I share with my two daughters. The paste with the shallots and chilis, wow, so good! I quite like your venue where you do a bunch of food prep and turn it into several different meals.
Another super helpful prep is pressure canned food. Imagine having pre-cooked, shelf stable potatoes?! Same with beans (so much better than store bought canned beans since you can flavor them, lemon garlic chickpeas or chipotle black bean anyone?!), so easy and convenient to have on hand.
I always keep a batch of plain rice in the freezer. Along with ready crushed garlic, chillies and ginger (separate). I normally have some pieces of a chicken I roasted at some point in the freezer also and some minced/ground lamb/beef/chicken/turkey that has been cooked in neutral spices so I can throw it into any meal. I prep tomato sauce as a base for any gravy or pasta. Char grilled or roasted peppers or eggplant in olive oil.
I love the idea of prepping green vegetables. Par-boil them or steam them, and then cool them down. When you're exhausted at the end of a long work day, they're super easy to finish cooking by just stirring them into some broth with left-over, shredded, chicken or turkey meat, a little garlic or tomato paste. Toss some toasted croutons on top, and...YUM.
Every time I go on a camping trip I bring parboiled potatoes, some kind of universal sauce, hard boiled eggs and similar such small prepped things. Fridge space is at a premium in an offroad rig, so anything that doesn't require refrigeration and makes things easier is a bonus. Particularly the potatoes are so useful: toss them in the pan with a few veggies and eggs, roll into a burrito and you have portable breakfast that keeps you going. Just fry them up with an egg - boom, campsite breakfast. Toss them in some broth with whatever else from the veggie cooler needs to go - dinner in minutes. Makes perfect sense to have something like that in your fridge at home too. I don't, but I also have the time to plan and cook meals every day.
6:44 Indonesian Pro Tip: fry the spice paste in the pan with some oil first, before adding any other items...totally kicks up the spice paste flavour and it's also easier to mix the hot paste up with whatever you add in. Man, this channel is fabulous.
I usually do a little prep on the weekend. My go to is roasting/baking a whole chicken for the week. I have a blend of white/dark meat, which all my family members can agree upon as a protein source. Thanks for all this great and useful content.
Thanks for the plant hacks and I love that yard. ❤🎉 On batch day the pressure cooker gets a load of potatoes then two different rounds of beans then grains, so I only have to wash it once and the fridge & freezer can have some homemade basics. Excited to try out your aromatic paste!
This is the first week I tried this... on the weekend I prep two meats, two starches two veggies and my family eats lunch and dinner off that all week. This week I sous vide haddock I had pre seasoned in my instapot.i left them in the bags and into the fridge. The fish was AMAZING!!!!
As a vegetarian, I've got to have beans in my salad :) I love my InstaPot for that reason. Thank you for all the hacks. I love these types of prep videos. And your garden! Looks like a dream to me. You're super cool and your wife is very blessed to have a husband loves to experiment with food and also grows a garden!!!
Thank you! These videos helped me so much to keep cooking healthy meals in less time. I would cook things in bigger batches and then mix and match them over the week. For example I would roast a bigger tray of chopped veggies and then add some rice, or salad or chicken. And you can do this to almost anything and than just mix them in different ways. Is brilliant 😄
Such great ideas beyond just chopping vegetables! I can foods so I have some things on the ready but when I want that fresh taste these are great. Thanks Mike!
I'm amazed you didn't give the tip of blitzing the white beans up with a bit of broth to then add back to the liquid to thicken it. Another use for your beans! Also, I just learned how to properly do rice noodles lol And your aromatics mix is something I will sure do sooner than later!
Aside from the obvious tomato base sauce from the freezer, I always make my mirepoix for the week ahead. Much more chopping in the winter but it’s Sunday morning and the music is on and you can always chop in the processor for a finer grain. 1xWhite Onion, 1xLarge Carrot, 2/3xCelery stalks. (Double / triple up as needed). Plenty of oil and Ghee in the pot and cook on a low temp with a cartouche and a closed lid for 7/8 minutes. Add 3/4 garlic cloves (doubled/tripled) finely chopped and a bouquet garni (or 1xtsp Herbes de Provence) for another 7/8 minutes. Keeps in the fridge for a week if it’s oily enough. Soups, stews, risotto, ragu or just a base sauce (see above) done on a week night / every night with 30 minutes taken off every time.
Some nice random bits, and thank you for the garden update! I also like to bulk prep some ingredients that take longer like onions/bell peppers/... in advance.
Whenever I've been making food recently, if I can make it in a large quantity while it retains quality, I've been trying to do that. Having a couple sides already cooked really helps me stay motivated to make a meal at home when I only have to cook one or two things. For instance, I made some bean soup recently. I had a bunch leftover and I've been eating small bowls as a side with other proteins, veggies, and fruits and it has helped me make healthier choices at home instead of eating out.
I usually cook for 1-2 people at a time so my favorite tip is to freeze 4oz portions of meats in zip-top sandwich size bags. Smoosh them flat so there's no air in the bag and freeze flat. About 8 baggies fit into a gallon bag and they defrost almost instantly for quick meals! I do the same with seasonal fruits and veggies for smoothies, etc. I don't reuse raw meat bags, but will wash and reuse fruit/veg bags. Much love from Oklahoma!
I was tired of my green onions going bad so I finely chop them in bulk when I get home from the store and throw them in the freezer. I can easily throw them into a soup or stir fry and they heat up fast!
So brilliant!! I need to get my fridge as clean and decluttered as yours, so I’ll be able to see all my meal prep, then remember to *cook with it*!! My goal in my singleton home is to #EndFoodWaste (which is trickier than you’d think!)
As a Latin guy who eats beans everyday; Please rinse the beans! Don’t cook with the same water it was soaked. (1 water change in the middle of the soak period is also good for darker beans)! But I’ve loved the video ❤
Potatoes are great. If I make a scalloped potato or gratin, on the weekend. I make a bigger casserole so I can eat as Ieftovers and/or whizz in a blender, add stock and you have a hearty soup.. I always have cooked bacon in a silicone bag in the freezer (easy to bake a whole pound, on a tray in the oven, when something else is baking; adds flavor to all kinds of things), chop up a few slices to adorn the soup. Any left over vegetables work well, for soup... cauliflower, zucchini, broccoli. Always cook m I re than I need. From the grapes, you can make and can, a fabulous grape concentrate... shelf stable, use it to make jelly, but also drink. It is super nutritious, that has the bright and refreshing flavour punch, from the late summer. Use in fancy cocktails or just mix with soda water or lemonade.
Precooked potatoes is a game changer. I put mine in whole in the instant pot and pressure cook them for one minute then stick them in the fridge. You can cut them as you like, depending on what you're making and they're even easier to peel. Also cooking potatoes and cooling them completely increases the resistant starch, which changes how it's digested making it more like a prebiotic fiber and causing less if a spike in blood sugar.
The potato pancake was so much thicker than I expected you to make it. Korean pancakes (potato or otherwise) are SUPER thin, almost crepe-like. Yours looked like a frittata. How interesting! I never would have thought of that. Great ideas, I will totally be par boiling potatos today
I almost bypassed this video… but so glad I didn’t. I will use most of these ideas! Seems like common sense but it’s wonderful being reminded how and then. Thank you Mike. 😊
Mike, top advice, thank you ! BTW... if u reduce the water over the chikpeas a good deal and check it isn't boiling away, you get a lovely vegetable "jelly" from the concentrated chicpea liquid when it cools ! This stuff is excellent adding into other things like a stock almost, well worth the effort to create. Also... lots of plastic linning a can and also additives. A good benefit is just avoiding that "industrial" crap ;-)
I pressure cook a large amount of potatoes, for eight minutes. If you let them fully cool and steam off, before fridging them, they hold up beautifully. Since they are all in one piece, you can have them any way you like. Also, pressure cooked potatoes are more flavorful than boiled.
Potatoes... as you're doing four, just start them cold after you've peeled and cut two of them, then add the others as the water heats up. Cook for 6 minutes once the water comes to a boil if you want to re-heat/fry them after storing them in the fridge, or 8 to 9 minutes if you want to eat them just cooked or as a mash. As I'm single, I usually do a double batch, taking out half around the 6-minute mark to pan fry and have with something like a brochette and a salad later.
Every time I've tried to deal with dried beans, I've killed them. My ADHD brain is not great with anything that requires attention or careful timing. Still, it's been years since I tried them, I've now got a rice cooker and a crock pot, and I've developed some strategies for keeping better track of my cooking (including a little timer cube to help me remember to check on things, in a way that's super simple to use and doesn't distract me with my phone), so maybe it's time to try again!
Nice video, just started watching your channel. I definitely try the paste and the chickpeas. Another idea what you can easy do with the potatoes are homemade gnocchi, just mash them, add egg, flour and salt ( of course you can add directly other herbs or flavors). Mix it to a dough. Let it rest in the fridge for 20min. Make portions, roll to a sausage, cut it and cook it for around 3min (till they coming up) and done 😊
My favorite cheat code: caramelize onions or bell peppers in large batches, and freeze a big spoonful in a 3”x4” ziplock baggies. Grab a baggie to add to your dishes. Caramelizing takes a long time, which consumes energy, so if you’re going to do it, do it once a month instead of every time a meal calls for the ingredient. 🙃
I do this too but just the onions as allergic to peppers. Also freeze lemon and lime cubes and stock .
i started doing this few years ago after i've read similar comment in food reddit post. Just do big batch of them once and freeze portioned sizes you often use in your dishes, saves so much time and give some much flavour its insane, one of the best things i started prepping was this, definitely recommend everyone to do it.
You've just saved me from trying to figure out what to cook for dinner 🙏
I would freeze in ice cube trays. Then put the cubes in a freezer bags.
Cheat code for the cheat code
If you slice them thinly the rice cooker will caramelize them perfectly. Do it double for a darker color
I'm halfway through the video and I'd like to just pause and take the time to praise this young man right here for giving so many great ideas and practical tips, I love your content, it's so useful! It's pretty refreshing to see other people's cooking hacks, there's always something we can learn and start doing now and then too.
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If you hate mincing garlic: my ultimate ingredient prep hack is to food process garlic and ginger. Then freeze them in ziploc bags in a flat sheet, and break off chunks to use it (I “perforate” it in a 1” grid pattern using a flat edge like a bench scraper to make it easier to break off pieces).
Freezing probably reduces the strength by a little, but I just throw in a little (or a lot) extra. Never mince garlic again!
I just process it witha little bit of olive oil, lemon and salt to prevent it from going rancid and keep in an air tight container in the fridge. It stays as fresh as day 1
Ice cube trays!
@@yousramarcil1634 how long does it stay fresh for, do you reckon?
hate mincing garlic- so I just have a good garlic press instead. give it a good mush and scrape that into the dish, and it's all hands-free, so no garlic hands! apparently crushing the garlic releases more flavors than chopping it with a sharp knife, anyways, so it's a win-win!
Freeze minced garlic, onions, herbs etc in olive oil and pour into ice cube trays. Throw one in a pan when needed. Super simple.
If you own a stove top pressure cooker or instant pot, you can do the legume prep in a tiny amount of time. Especially with an instant pot, you can get extremely consistent results. Soak over night, pop them in the pressure cooker, cook for 10-15 min. Once you do this a few times, you’ll dial in the texture you like. For me, 12 minutes gives me the perfect chickpea texture. If I use my instant pot, I can walk away without having to worry about the stove being on.
Thanks for the timing on the IP chick peas. I just picked up a bag at Winco today and was going to research the IP time. I’ll try 12 minutes.
Crockpot much better
Overnight cook on low, cool and fridge by time lunch prep begins
@@YeshuaKingMessiaht won’t be that different, and the difference in cost in energy will be huge.
@@YeshuaKingMessiah Also a great option if it's more convenient for the chickpeas to take it slow. I find that 30 minutes on a stove is just an inconvenient amount of time, so either shrinking the time or lengthening it is a great way to go!
Instant pot is the best invention ever....
Swap those green onions with shallots in that spice paste and you basically have what is called a bumbu in Indonesian cuisine, the base for a lot of dishes. I cook a lot of Indonesian food in my home and once in a while I’ll fill an ice cube tray with the stuff, freeze then transfer the cube to a ziplock bag, that way I always have some at the ready. 🎉
precooking potatoes also actually makes them healthier by increasing their resistant starch content and changing the way your body digests them. cold or reheated potatoes (and other starches like rice) can act as a prebiotic and reduce the usual impact they would have on blood sugar
I love how much great info I've learned here, especially this! Amazing, thanks for sharing!
Thank you. This is the first time i heard this. But I googled it and it checks out. Now I can eat leftover rice and potatoes guilt free.
Wow fascinating!
Also fried, recently baked potatoes are quicker and really good
Microwaving and then cooling is the healthiest way!
The broccoli paste lit a bulb for me: a baby/toddler food video (or better yet, a series) would be wonderful. I bet you have a lot of tricks and tips in addition to "These 4 tips Changed the Way I Cook for My Family".
Totally agree with this! Would love to see that as well. I have an almost 5 month old that will be eating solids soon!
I second this!! I have a 1 1/2 year old and I struggle during meal time for him! 😩
i'm keen to try the broccoli paste for myself now! sounds so yum.
You can also do this with carrots, zucchini and the easiest one: spinach (just use the prechopped freezed version and add a little milk).
To make it more interesting for yourself as a spread: add spices! For carrot use pumpkin pie spice or an Indian mix, some orange juice also does wonders as does ginger. For the green veggies go Italian with lemonzest, juice and some Italian herbs plus grated cheese. Cheers
I am so happy to see people feeding babies food. My sister in law brought over mynsix month old neice. She was complaing that thebaby cried all the time, wanted to be feed all the time, and was going through 4 bottles milk a day. My mom said to feed her food, but my SIL said that , this is better, helped with allergies, etc. I dont have kids but even I know that babies need fuel to grow.
I really like how this didn't have music. Everything looks yummy and the kids are cute and the grapes are going to be awesome.
I love that you show not only the food prep but the uses, and use the exact thing you just prepped. It makes me believe you actually use the food you prep!
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Please do a garden series come spring time! I just bought a home and would love to see how you go through the growing phases and what you choose to grow!
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When I cook beans from scratch, I use some fresh then freeze the rest in can-sized portions so that if a recipe calls for a can of beans I have them measured out
Very useful video! My girlfriend just got a new job, and long story short, I'll be making her lunches to take to work. I'll definitely be keeping these trips in mind
That’s so nice 🎉
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I'm a big proponent of dicing and storing onions and peppers in bags in my freezer! Some sliced, some diced. I do the same with garlic but usually mince it in a food processor! I'll also cook a larger volume of chickpeas and get them decently dry, then add some to a freezer bag as well! Great for thawing and roasting and they last a little bit longer.
For broccoli or potatoes: i find that microwaving a small amount as i need it, is a fast way to cook them also. Particularly potatoes, you can cook one to tender by microwaving on high for a couple of minutes. I find a quick way to make broccoli soup is to pop some broccoli(+ spinach peas etc) in the microwave while i fry my onions and garlic. It is then tender by the time the aromatics are done frying and i fry the broccoli a bit and blend it together
🎊 mate I have a (Mystery Box) package for you, Text the above username on telegram for acknowledgment!,.
Yes to the microwave. A few years ago I started prepping my fresh vegetables and potatoes (cut in chunks) in a covered microwave bowl (pyrex or corningware) with just a few tablespoons of water. Easier, not so messy and no vitamins lost down the drain.
Yes. A covered glass dish in the microwave steams veggies and even cauliflower rice super fast!
I keep a roll of blue painters masking tape and a sharpie in my kitchen. It’s so easy to label all those food containers. Add a date and a “Use by” date. Use the tape for closing bags. Works in the freezer also. Love the prep ideas. Brilliant!
samsies!
Same here except I use the cheap masking tape from the $1 store.
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Chicken stock into ice cubes is my best hack.
Always an easy way to add magic to a sauce, soup or pan sauce.
Great ideas, I need to remember the broccoli prep. Every week I cook up some ground chicken mixed with chopped veg (seasoned only with salt to keep neutral) and store in my fridge. It just works as an "all purpose" protein+veg, and I can make many meals from it: 1) stir a scoop into soups; 2) stir a scoop into pasta with some melty cheese; 3) throw a scoop in a hot pan with spices of choice, serve on rice with some steamed broccoli; 4) stir a scoop into tomato sauce or make a mini lasagna; 5) just snack on it when I need a quick shot of protein+veg.
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I do this too! Chicken breast mince, then I just batch cook it up with garlic and onion paste, and a bit of vege stock. Then it's great to chuck in a bowl with pretty much anything, usually ends up being quick soups, salads, sandwiches, and rice dishes for me. Or just a snack on its own. So many options, love it.
Well that's a brilliant idea! Thanks for sharing!
I love how you showed prepping and ways to use the items. What a great ideal, esp coming home from a long day at work and being able to throw something together in such a short time.
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I know this video won't 'do the numbers' that some other videos will but this is the exact type of stuff I love from RUclips home cooks. Walked away from this video with inspiration, a grocery list, and ideas.
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If you want an idea for another challenge, you could do a plant based week of home cooking
yes this please!! or plant based meal prepping tips
Great tip on the rice noodles!
For the beans, I use a lot of them. I cook on the instant pot (pre-soaking not required) then strain and spread out a cookie sheet. Pop that in the freezer a few hours then put the beans in a bag in the freezer. They’re ready when I need them! Rinse under water to thaw or throw into the pot.
I never thought to cold soak my rice noodles. *mind blown* great tip, can't wait to try this out!
Me toooo. So excited about this one!
Oddly enough I couldn’t get into consistently cooking until I had a garden growing and preserving my own food! It was a hobby but ignited my interest in learning to cook (kind of backwards)! Would love to see how you incorporate your seasonal produce into your meals and more of your garden.
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Microwave russet potatoes are a lifesaver! Wash them, stab with a fork on all sides, cook 3 minutes per potato per side, flip & repeat. Put directly in the fridge for later or let them steam in a covered bowl or pot until cook enough to safely handle & peel. They can also be mostly scooped out & used for stuffed potatoes or potato skins. If making potato skins, save the insides separate from the shells. Heat oil or bacon fat in a pan, crisp up the insides with season salt & pepper, garnish with scallions. I eat it with eggs as a super fast diner-esque home fries.
I peel several whole bulbs of garlic at a time and store them in a Tupperware in the fridge. Nothing as freeing as just grabbing the cloves you need without having to stop to peel them! They last a long time
This is what cooking is ALL ABOUT. Thank you for sharing!
Some great ideas, I have a few of these. It does save a lot of time when everything is grouped together. Keep your finds coming.
I appreciate all your videos yet this one is fantastic. 🍲 Since most food is prepared by me at home, this really gave me some light bulb moments.THANK YOU SO MUCH! 💡💡
So many great tips. Generally that's what i do with leftovers, but going one step further to have items ready for weekday meals is terrific. Love all the options. Really love the outdoor project!
Yayy, thanks for popping in the baby food tip for meal- prep! Doing BLW and I was on the lookout for ideas, love it!
Genius - This is why I still stick around for your content for the past decade!
Baked potatoes... Do twice as many as you need. Have half for lunch with grated cheddar and coleslaw (or whatever toppings you like) and then use the other half to make twice baked stuffed with cheese and bacon bits and green onions alongside some breaded chicken cutlets or whatever as a dinner.
OMGOSH- the ground aromatic paste! What an amazing idea! I had not thought of that before- you are so helpful to us home cooks- I feel like I learn something every time I watch your videos- Schmaltz and now this!
Me too. 👍🏾👍🏾
You are just something! So much time and dedication (and I am assuming love) goes into what you do. I have been cooking for my friends and family for years, but the learning is infinite and I learn so much from you. Thank you.
Ah yeah, and now I really have to get an air fryer and you should be billed for this one :)
I probably have too much time on my hands, but I am going to make it my mission to in some way bring it to Mike's attention that he should try starting his potatoes in cold water, since that's the general consensus from pros as to how to get an evenly cooked potato every time. Especially since I saw those potatoes crumbling when he packed them up :'(
I love the channel and everything about it, but it pains me every time I think of those mealy potatoes. YOU DESERVE BETTER MIKE
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I was 😮 when he said bring the water to a boil, then add. I use room temp water.
I like them better, when steamed, peeled and chopped like Mike does, they turn out so much more flavorful. I'll never boil them with peel anymore since I found out, how much tastier they are this way.
Thanks for all the great ideas. A few months ago I started peeling and dicing my broccoli stalks for soup. Our daughter in law is allergic to celery so this became an awesome alternative. May be a bonus idea for your other viewers. Have a good day.
I was already thinking of prepping beans for my salads and keeping them in the fridge, but these simple ideas for food prep were amazing and extremely helpful!
Love your meal prep videos! I’m also a creative, more spontaneous type of home cook, not a perfectly planned meal prepper like my Mom lol. I open the fridge and use my imagination as needed. These are great ideas to add possibilities, efficiency, and tastiness to that flow. Thank you!
Outstanding tips! I live alone, so I can't prep lots of stuff or some will go to waste, but I like the ideas of the potatoes, broccoli and rice noodles. This was one of your best videos, IMO.
I watch you since you were with your bro cooking on a counter top. I just wanted to say, good job man. Through ups and downs, you were able to hang in there. Proud of you as a person. This video was suggested to me again. So here I am watching it... again. Thank you bud.
Favorite is the tip on pre-soaking rice noodles !!
Some great ideas for us home cooks and to save time ,which I love. Great garden you have there ,look forward to seeing your produce in some seriously delicious dishes later in year Mike. Fan in Suffolk County.
Those tips are amazing! Thank you!
Something I always have ready to go in the fridge is a vegtable broth paste. It brings instant flavour. I also like to prepare more rice then I need for a dish and freeze the leftovers.
Thank you for making most of these suggestions plant-based, so that everyone can make use of them!
I made your aromatic paste idea starting with 2 lbs of ginger and 2 lbs of garlic. Ground up in my vitamix. Then divided the paste in half and ground shallots and the calabrian chilis to half of the mixture. Split everything in thirds because I share with my two daughters. The paste with the shallots and chilis, wow, so good! I quite like your venue where you do a bunch of food prep and turn it into several different meals.
Another super helpful prep is pressure canned food. Imagine having pre-cooked, shelf stable potatoes?! Same with beans (so much better than store bought canned beans since you can flavor them, lemon garlic chickpeas or chipotle black bean anyone?!), so easy and convenient to have on hand.
Every time I get in a meal slump you inspire me again. Great video!
I always keep a batch of plain rice in the freezer. Along with ready crushed garlic, chillies and ginger (separate). I normally have some pieces of a chicken I roasted at some point in the freezer also and some minced/ground lamb/beef/chicken/turkey that has been cooked in neutral spices so I can throw it into any meal. I prep tomato sauce as a base for any gravy or pasta. Char grilled or roasted peppers or eggplant in olive oil.
I love the idea of prepping green vegetables. Par-boil them or steam them, and then cool them down. When you're exhausted at the end of a long work day, they're super easy to finish cooking by just stirring them into some broth with left-over, shredded, chicken or turkey meat, a little garlic or tomato paste. Toss some toasted croutons on top, and...YUM.
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That garden you are building is amazing! Thank you for sharing! As well I loved the tips….
Fabulous. Thanks for upload. I’m always learning new things with you. And I use them. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Every time I go on a camping trip I bring parboiled potatoes, some kind of universal sauce, hard boiled eggs and similar such small prepped things. Fridge space is at a premium in an offroad rig, so anything that doesn't require refrigeration and makes things easier is a bonus. Particularly the potatoes are so useful: toss them in the pan with a few veggies and eggs, roll into a burrito and you have portable breakfast that keeps you going. Just fry them up with an egg - boom, campsite breakfast. Toss them in some broth with whatever else from the veggie cooler needs to go - dinner in minutes. Makes perfect sense to have something like that in your fridge at home too. I don't, but I also have the time to plan and cook meals every day.
6:44 Indonesian Pro Tip: fry the spice paste in the pan with some oil first, before adding any other items...totally kicks up the spice paste flavour and it's also easier to mix the hot paste up with whatever you add in.
Man, this channel is fabulous.
Love this style of video, please keep making more like this, thanks for your amazing channel 💕
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I usually do a little prep on the weekend. My go to is roasting/baking a whole chicken for the week. I have a blend of white/dark meat, which all my family members can agree upon as a protein source. Thanks for all this great and useful content.
Thanks for the plant hacks and I love that yard. ❤🎉 On batch day the pressure cooker gets a load of potatoes then two different rounds of beans then grains, so I only have to wash it once and the fridge & freezer can have some homemade basics. Excited to try out your aromatic paste!
This is the first week I tried this... on the weekend I prep two meats, two starches two veggies and my family eats lunch and dinner off that all week. This week I sous vide haddock I had pre seasoned in my instapot.i left them in the bags and into the fridge. The fish was AMAZING!!!!
As a vegetarian, I've got to have beans in my salad :) I love my InstaPot for that reason. Thank you for all the hacks. I love these types of prep videos. And your garden! Looks like a dream to me. You're super cool and your wife is very blessed to have a husband loves to experiment with food and also grows a garden!!!
Thank you! These videos helped me so much to keep cooking healthy meals in less time. I would cook things in bigger batches and then mix and match them over the week. For example I would roast a bigger tray of chopped veggies and then add some rice, or salad or chicken. And you can do this to almost anything and than just mix them in different ways. Is brilliant 😄
Such great ideas beyond just chopping vegetables! I can foods so I have some things on the ready but when I want that fresh taste these are great. Thanks Mike!
I'm amazed you didn't give the tip of blitzing the white beans up with a bit of broth to then add back to the liquid to thicken it. Another use for your beans!
Also, I just learned how to properly do rice noodles lol
And your aromatics mix is something I will sure do sooner than later!
Aside from the obvious tomato base sauce from the freezer, I always make my mirepoix for the week ahead. Much more chopping in the winter but it’s Sunday morning and the music is on and you can always chop in the processor for a finer grain. 1xWhite Onion, 1xLarge Carrot, 2/3xCelery stalks. (Double / triple up as needed). Plenty of oil and Ghee in the pot and cook on a low temp with a cartouche and a closed lid for 7/8 minutes. Add 3/4 garlic cloves (doubled/tripled) finely chopped and a bouquet garni (or 1xtsp Herbes de Provence) for another 7/8 minutes. Keeps in the fridge for a week if it’s oily enough. Soups, stews, risotto, ragu or just a base sauce (see above) done on a week night / every night with 30 minutes taken off every time.
Now I'm excited for the summer for your garden results
Some nice random bits, and thank you for the garden update! I also like to bulk prep some ingredients that take longer like onions/bell peppers/... in advance.
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Always love your content, so extremely helpful!!! Thank you for making my life easier and healthier! 🥰
Whenever I've been making food recently, if I can make it in a large quantity while it retains quality, I've been trying to do that. Having a couple sides already cooked really helps me stay motivated to make a meal at home when I only have to cook one or two things. For instance, I made some bean soup recently. I had a bunch leftover and I've been eating small bowls as a side with other proteins, veggies, and fruits and it has helped me make healthier choices at home instead of eating out.
Thanks, Mike! I use my Instant Pots to steam potatoes and cook beans. Can't wait to add the aromatic paste and pre-soaked rice noodles to my prep.
I usually cook for 1-2 people at a time so my favorite tip is to freeze 4oz portions of meats in zip-top sandwich size bags. Smoosh them flat so there's no air in the bag and freeze flat. About 8 baggies fit into a gallon bag and they defrost almost instantly for quick meals! I do the same with seasonal fruits and veggies for smoothies, etc. I don't reuse raw meat bags, but will wash and reuse fruit/veg bags. Much love from Oklahoma!
I like to soak my beans with a bouillon cube or two. They soak up the extra flavor and they do well with the high salt amount.
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I was tired of my green onions going bad so I finely chop them in bulk when I get home from the store and throw them in the freezer. I can easily throw them into a soup or stir fry and they heat up fast!
So brilliant!! I need to get my fridge as clean and decluttered as yours, so I’ll be able to see all my meal prep, then remember to *cook with it*!! My goal in my singleton home is to #EndFoodWaste (which is trickier than you’d think!)
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Such great ideas. I love using white beans in soups I'm going to puree because it makes them creamy and helps to thicken it at the same time.
My new favorite youtube channel! You're helping me level up my life! Thank you!!!
As a Latin guy who eats beans everyday; Please rinse the beans! Don’t cook with the same water it was soaked. (1 water change in the middle of the soak period is also good for darker beans)! But I’ve loved the video ❤
Potatoes are great. If I make a scalloped potato or gratin, on the weekend. I make a bigger casserole so I can eat as Ieftovers and/or whizz in a blender, add stock and you have a hearty soup.. I always have cooked bacon in a silicone bag in the freezer (easy to bake a whole pound, on a tray in the oven, when something else is baking; adds flavor to all kinds of things), chop up a few slices to adorn the soup. Any left over vegetables work well, for soup... cauliflower, zucchini, broccoli. Always cook m I re than I need.
From the grapes, you can make and can, a fabulous grape concentrate... shelf stable, use it to make jelly, but also drink. It is super nutritious, that has the bright and refreshing flavour punch, from the late summer. Use in fancy cocktails or just mix with soda water or lemonade.
These are all wise and wonderful tips.
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SOOO HELPFUL-This episode, this channel-thank you from our family!
Please keep eating the food you make. It's oddly satisfying and makes me trust your words like hypnosis.
I really appreciate you and this video😁 I’m definitely going to incorporate all your home cook shortcuts from this video 🙌
Peel or slice off the woody bit of the broccoli stalk and keep chopping. So delectable
Absolutely crushing content, as always. 👌🙌🔥 Thanks for sharing so much value!
Thank you so much for your demonstration. Love the beets too. I have anemia so I must have iron enrich food. Thanks again.
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Precooked potatoes is a game changer. I put mine in whole in the instant pot and pressure cook them for one minute then stick them in the fridge. You can cut them as you like, depending on what you're making and they're even easier to peel. Also cooking potatoes and cooling them completely increases the resistant starch, which changes how it's digested making it more like a prebiotic fiber and causing less if a spike in blood sugar.
Awesome tips just wanted to say I love new ideas it never dawned on me to pree cook a potato I do rice and vegetables but never potatoes genius
The potato pancake was so much thicker than I expected you to make it. Korean pancakes (potato or otherwise) are SUPER thin, almost crepe-like. Yours looked like a frittata. How interesting! I never would have thought of that. Great ideas, I will totally be par boiling potatos today
I almost bypassed this video… but so glad I didn’t. I will use most of these ideas! Seems like common sense but it’s wonderful being reminded how and then. Thank you Mike. 😊
Mike, top advice, thank you ! BTW... if u reduce the water over the chikpeas a good deal and check it isn't boiling away, you get a lovely vegetable "jelly" from the concentrated chicpea liquid when it cools ! This stuff is excellent adding into other things like a stock almost, well worth the effort to create. Also... lots of plastic linning a can and also additives. A good benefit is just avoiding that "industrial" crap ;-)
I pressure cook a large amount of potatoes, for eight minutes. If you let them fully cool and steam off, before fridging them, they hold up beautifully. Since they are all in one piece, you can have them any way you like. Also, pressure cooked potatoes are more flavorful than boiled.
I would love to see what you can do with dried peppers like
Guajillo
Ancho
Pasilla
Chipotle
Pulla
Árbol
All sorts❤
ooh. key takeaway for me is pre-soaking rice noodles. THANK YOU!!
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Please do a video of all your baby meal prep hacks or simple baby/toddler/kids meals 🤗 love these videos!!!
Great video!! Thank you for so many useful tips. Please make more of these to help us home cooks 😊
Potatoes... as you're doing four, just start them cold after you've peeled and cut two of them, then add the others as the water heats up. Cook for 6 minutes once the water comes to a boil if you want to re-heat/fry them after storing them in the fridge, or 8 to 9 minutes if you want to eat them just cooked or as a mash.
As I'm single, I usually do a double batch, taking out half around the 6-minute mark to pan fry and have with something like a brochette and a salad later.
I’ve always been too intimidated to cook dried beans but you’re making me feel brave
Every time I've tried to deal with dried beans, I've killed them. My ADHD brain is not great with anything that requires attention or careful timing. Still, it's been years since I tried them, I've now got a rice cooker and a crock pot, and I've developed some strategies for keeping better track of my cooking (including a little timer cube to help me remember to check on things, in a way that's super simple to use and doesn't distract me with my phone), so maybe it's time to try again!
Thank you, such useful ideas to save time ❤
On this channel I feel like I hit the meal prep jackpot and I wasn’t even trying.
I know aye. Me too. 😂😊
Yes, garden content!
Nice video, just started watching your channel.
I definitely try the paste and the chickpeas.
Another idea what you can easy do with the potatoes are homemade gnocchi, just mash them, add egg, flour and salt ( of course you can add directly other herbs or flavors). Mix it to a dough. Let it rest in the fridge for 20min. Make portions, roll to a sausage, cut it and cook it for around 3min (till they coming up) and done 😊
if you're gonna boil the potatoes, salt the water so that there is salt incorporated into the inside of the potato to boost flavor :)
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Stews are such a great meal prep life hack for a big family
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