Loving your videos. Put together 7 meals last night and have 4 or 5 more ingredient ready to make meals tomorrow. Thank you thank you for the help in making freezer meals.
I cook my hamburger in a crock pot. I have done 5 pounds at a time. I just plop it all in there, sometimes I also add diced onions. I break it up throughout the morning when I think about it and it all cooks itself while I am going about my day. I also put frozen chicken in my crockpot at night on low with a little water and then i go to bed. In the morning I ha e several pounds cooked beautifully.
Cooking pulled pork shoulder in slow cooker overnight works for me. With the ground beef, I found a recipe for slow cooker taco meat cooking 3 pounds at a time; I love it.
Thank you for the recipe ideas. I realize why you and others make a complete meal in those bags. For me this would take up too much room in my freezer and limit me in what I want to eat. What I do is just cook the beef or chicken (bacon, ham...) and bag it up into single use servings. If you feel like a pizza, taco or pasta, its already cooked ready for the rest of the spices and veggies. You can pop some cooked chicken into a salad, sandwich or soup. You can also cook and freeze rice, so a chicken fried rice is ready in minutes. Frozen Veggies, canned tomatoes and mushrooms are my staples as well as some canned veggies and makes chopping unnecessary. I also try to freeze in reusable containers to reduce plastic. But even 8 smaller bags are less waste than 8-gallon bags.
Thank you for the recipe ideas! When I have to cook a lot of hamburger up (especially if it’s still frozen), I put it in the crockpot(s) and check and mash periodically.
Wow! A huge thank you for your videos. The way you explain everything is just amazing and makes it all so easy to understand and follow. Love this and thank you again!
Your channel just recently popped up in my feed and I have to say, I’ve enjoyed your content. The first video was of you and your neighbor doing the 2 day mega freezer meal prep. I am definitely trying some of your recipes!
I always dish out a plate first and put in the microwave for the person that is not home. I definitely need to try the tater tot casserole. I've seen a sloppy Joe casserole with tater tots on top as well. Seems tasty too.
Awesome video Sharla!! I remember Zach telling me how awesome your freezer meals were! And loving to come over for supper! I started watching and then thought to myself, “wait a minute, I know his lady !” 😅
I'm starting to do meal preps & wish I had done it years ago. We are a family of 6 & now that I work part-time & have a moment to think I am starting to do meal preps & it saves money & time which is amazing. Thanks for your video now I can make dinner less dreadful 🤣
Sharla has seven kids in her family and freezer meals became a necessity! I'm glad you're able to make it work for you! Dinner CAN be less dreadful. lol
just came across this video. i am looking to do some freezer meals to make December less hectic. I will definatly we trying some or all of these. I think the goulash would be improved with some tomato sauce as well as the diced tomatoes. Thanks for the ideas. Video liked! now to find the check freezer meal video.
This is the first of your videos I've seen and am impressed enough to say it just might be the best food video of the hundreds I've watched. I'm a strong believer that standalone freezers are vastly underused and misunderstood. I've found that if food is sealed in an air free plastic (bags or otherwise) it can last indefinitely (I've recently cooked a corned beef that I bought seven years ago and it is still as fresh as ever). Sadly, there is not enough information available on freezing. Cooking in lots as you recommend makes so much sense, both economically and cutting down on the necessity to cook daily.
Thank you so much Anitra! I'm especially glad to hear that it's helped give you confidence. I hope you try making some freezer meals. I know you could do it!
Wooster- (pronounced Wu) shire. 😊 Took me years to learn that. For the stuffed peppers I like to stuff them wrap individually in cling wrap them store in Ziploc bag. Can pull just one or all of them out to cook. Love your goulash recipe. ❤️
Well I must say you did a great job. I am going to try this out, since I don't really enjoy cooking like I use to. I live alone with my 2 dogs, and I hate to cook every day. But If I want to eat I have to cook. So this will save me time when I don't feel up to cooking. Thanks for the recipes and tips.
Hi Bonnie! It may be helpful for you to check out some of our videos on single serving freezer meals. Here's one you might like: ruclips.net/video/1dd9nBIK_nQ/видео.html
Thank you so much for these!! I made 2 of these ground beef freezer meals and 2 of your chicken freezer meals yesterday. I sent my daughter a pic of my prep and she wanted the recipes! She is active duty air force and really loves the easy, budget friendly meals. I can't wait to try "That Lady's Chicken". Such an interesting combination of flavors! thank you again for making our lives a little easier!
Being a Brit, I was thinking of meal differences between U.K. and USA. For mince (ground beef) based dishes, and in our house we would probably do 1. Shepherds pie, 2. Goulash, 3. Savoury mince (Birdseye chilli, garlic, soy sauce), 4. Keema curry, 5. Meatballs & pasta, 6. Chilli, 7. Bolognaise & pasta, 8. Rice, mince, cashew nuts, tomatoes mix for stuffed peppers, 9. Burger patties in baked beans, tinned tomatoes and extra veggies. I’m dairy and gluten allergic so no cream sauces (hubby can’t have coconut milk due to gallstones) only gravy or tomato for us sadly! Lovely to see what you do with the same ingredients though, and we all pick up new ideas from each other too. Re Worcestershire sauce, we tend to just call it wuster sauce, no one ever bothers with the shire bit, we all know what it is ☺️
Wonderful ideas for freezer meals! Yum. Fast, easy, versatile and delicious. Is there a link for the goulash? I have recipes of my own that I would love to add into a rotation. Great idea! Thank you so much. ~Sharon from Florida
I've only recently found your freezer meals videos, and, I don't know if I've just missed it, but there wasn't any mention to how you prepare the meals (after freezing); for instance, method (oven, slow cooker or microwave), times and temperatures. I think that would be good to note on the outside of the freezer bag, how to reheat that particular recipe: method, temp and time.
They might not have been obvious in this video, but we make labels for all of our meals that include the recipe name, cooking instructions and date! If you are a member of the Freezer Meals 101 Club, you can print off your labels on Avery Shipping labels and stick them right to the outside of the bag. It's way handier than having to go back and look at the website when it's time to cook. Thanks so much for watching!
Some people totally do! We tend to get through ours in a fairly timely manner so we haven't felt the need to go that direction but you're right! A vacuum sealer is a great way to keep your freezer items last longer. Thanks!!
These all really look good. The other day I heard a RUclipsr call Worcestershire sauce "Who's your sister?" sauce. It's so hard to say that I thought it was quite humorous.
Just found you!! Of course I HAD to subscribe!! 😉 love that you have some beef recipes. My husband doesn’t eat chicken so I have to find beef/pork recipes.
This video is freezer meals made with rotisserie shredded chicken (you could use any shredded or diced cooked chicken): ruclips.net/video/cXo5dwhPajI/видео.html
Welcome! Thank you for letting me know. I popped over to her channel after your comment. I love it when people actually make the meals so it was exciting to see her groceries for these recipes all laid out!
So do you just finish by putting into oven for final backing when the pasta AB’s rice is already cooked rather than using crock pot? Thank you for your videos!
Some recipes use cooked rice or pasta and then they are a simple re-heat and then we'll use the oven. Like the Spanish Rice in the video. The Beefy Rice Slow Cooker Casserole has raw rice, so you can add it in the slow cooker with some water to make sure it has enough moisture to absorb as it cooks. We don't put it in the oven after that. We just eat is as a "casserole" right from the crock pot. If you're adding pasta to a slow cooker meal, you want to either cook it separately at the end and add it in, or if there is enough liquid in your slow cooker, you can add your rice or pasta at the end and let it cook with the meal. I hope that helps!
This must be the Canadian version of tater tot casserole. The original American one has all the tots on top so they get crispy. Also, go ahead and stuff the peppers and freeze them. Freezing makes the pepper break down and all you need to do is heat it up.
I am in Oklahoma. I mix tater tots in with the meat mixture then I put tots on top and add cheese on top. I think Tater Tot casserole is one you can do whatever you want.
@@keridrowatzky9543 As I said, the ORIGINAL Ore-Ida tater tot casserole has meat and veg on bottom and tots on top. OF COURSE you can do it however you want. It's a free country, even in Canada.
This is such a great idea. I do have a question though. Are you planting herbs inside your kitchen? Can you tell me what device that is & where I can buy it. I don’t have a lot of sun where I live to plant outside & the deers that live nearby would eat them if I did. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Hi! A link for the herb garden is in the description below the video. We have a video coming out soon about harvesting and freezing herbs, so you'll get to see it up close and personal! Thanks for watching!
I am working on clearing my fridge freezer to fill with freezer meals, there is just two of us so they will go a long way. I’m going to check out your chicken meals also.
Thank you for your recipe ideas. I'm challenged to be on my feet for very long. Chopping veggies and cooking the ground beef is a challenge. I am unable to use 2 hands to put casseroles into and take out of my oven.
Hi! Thanks for watching and commenting. Obviously mobility issues play a part in what we can accomplish in one session. Many of our meals can be broken down into single-servings, which might make it a bit easier to get it in an out of the oven because they are in smaller containers. Even doing a few meals at a time will help and you'll feel a sense of security/relief if you have a couple socked away in the freezer for the days where the going is really tough. I hope you find a solution that works for you!
Thanks for your videos ladies, I just joined your website for a month for now, as I’m looking for freezer to plate type meals, could all your meals be done to accommodate this. We have been down the road of freezer meals for slow cookers but the issue for us is we work different hours and kids are or aren’t home so it goes to waste. So I was just wanting to know if these could be cooked then frozen.
Hi! We're so glad you could join us! Some recipes cook from frozen better than others. The general rule of thumb is to increase the cooking time by 50%, so if you have a casserole that calls to be cooked for 1 hour, you would want to cook it for an hour and a half. The hard part about cooking meals from frozen is that it always seems that the outside is as hot as lava and the inside is still frozen! I typically thaw all my meals so that their cook time will be more reliable. Instead of cooking from frozen, I would recommend meals that are ready in 30 minutes or less. In the Club, when you're searching for recipes, type in the keyword "30 minutes or less" and you'll find a LOT of meals. Alternatively, when using filters, select "skillet" and/or "stovetop" as those meals tend to be fast. I also recommend One Pot recipes because they are usually 30 minutes or less and then are a full meal ready all at once. There is a list of keywords available from the home page of the Club. Lastly, if everyone is coming home at different times, maybe individual meals are the way to go for those days. We have a whole playlist of Meals for One and Two on RUclips. Then everyone can have what they want, when they want. I hope that helps!
The trick is to undercook it a minute or two under the al dente cooking time on the box. Then when you defrost it and cook it further it shouldn't get mushy. Good luck!
Do you ever have problems with the staples poking holes in the other bags in the freezer ? Also I would write on the freezer bags first . My hubby would want me to write cooking instructions on the bags as well because he's clueless when it comes to preparing foods. Lol
We haven't had that problem with the staples but if your staples weren't properly closed at the back, that could potentially happen I suppose. When I make freezer meals with my neighbour Christie, we use printed labels that have the cooking instructions on them as well as the date but she's the one that makes them, so when I make meals on my own, I just write on the bags.
I wouldn't need to put cheese in another bag as I ALWAYS have cheese on hand in the fridge. you could always put the two bags together in a large plastic bag like the bags that hold two loaves at the big box stores and tie the end.
A few tricks to get the air out of the bags. 1. Stick a straw in there and close the lock as tight as you can around the straw, suck out the air, and close the seal as you withdraw the straw. 2. A bath of water in a bowl or sink, seal the bag except for a small bit open at the corner, dip the bag slowly into the water with the opening up which will force out the air, help it along with some squeezing, and just as the opening is about to dip under the water you pinch it shut, I prefer this method for aw meats where I don’t want to get a mouthful of meat juices through a straw. Freeze flat so it thaws quickly. If you don’t have the freezer space to freeze everything flat and If you live in a cold climate in the winter you can take advantage of the great outdoors and some baking sheets to spread and freeze your bags flat, then transfer to your freezer.
I just found you channel. I was wondering what is the:freezer life " of these meals? Also can we substitute the diced tomatoes with just tomatoes paste or sauce? Thanks
Hi Sue. Most freezer meals will last 3 to 6 months. The key to avoiding freezer burn is reducing the amount of air in the bag with the food as that is the cause of freezer burn. Be sure to date your meals so you can track them better. You CAN substitute diced tomatoes for tomato sauce for sure, but it will change the texture of the meal. The tomato paste won't have enough moisture to fully substitute for diced tomatoes. If you added some water in with it, you might have better luck but I would probably skip trying to sub that one.
Goulash is one of my bulk eating (stress eating) so it doesn't really have the "fillers" in it to fill people up. It is awesome to eat. Not sure how to change it. Some sort of fat. Maybe eat with butter bread??
Just wondering if you have a cookbook out I'm new to your site what is your with the cookbook and trying to write all this down thanks for answering me back
Hi Sandra - the recipes are all listed below the video. If you click "show more" under the title, the recipes and their links are usually all there (unless we haven't tested it yet, and then the recipe is still to come). Alternatively, you can find more recipes at mealplan.freezermeals101.com/ in our membership site and there are many free recipes here at freezermeals101.com and freezermeals101.com/product-category/freezer-meal-plans/ where you can buy meal plans and a few recipe books. I hope that helps!
It’s recommended that you thaw first but if you forget to take a meal out, you can put it in a sink of room temperature water for twenty minutes and it will thaw enough for you to put it in the slow cooker.
With ground beef it's best to cook it up first. It gives you a chance to drain off the extra fat and liquid, plus we find it's easier to mix than when it's still raw or frozen. It allows for more even distribution. I hope that helps!
Just in a skillet until it's heated through, stirring occasionally and top with cheese towards the end of cooking. Everything in it is already cooked so just 10-12 minutes should do it.
I used 1 1/2 pounds in the Beefy Rice Casserole and the Hamburger Goulash and 1 lb. each in the other recipes. So if you were making one of each recipe (including the invention at the end), you would need 8 pounds of ground beef. I cooked up 10 pounds and ended up with two of the taco meats and two of the Tex Mex inventions.
I feel silly for not considering this sooner, but you are absolutely right! Less cross contamination when working with one protein at a time. Thank you for pointing this out.
Regagarding the recipe that you stapled the uncooked rice to... why wouldn't I be able to just put the uncooked rice in with the mix, since it gets added right away when cooking it? What makes one method better. I just want to understand.
Just that if the rice sits in the rest of the mixture as it's thawing, the extra moisture can lead to mushy rice later on. But adding it directly in wouldn't completely ruin the dish...it just could lead to texture issues.
I was curious if anybody can reply to my question as to how long can keep these freezer meals in your freezer? And when dumping in crock pot, can you put meals in frozen? And long do you cook them, also high or low? I work during the day so I would like to take something out of the freezer put it in the Crock-Pot but it cook on low all day and be ready when I get home after work, can you do that with these meals?
Hi Connie, these meals last for 3-4 months in the freezer. Most of them work well in the Crock Pot. Ideally, you would thaw them before adding them to the slow cooker, but if you increase the cook times slightly, it will still work from frozen.
You can either use medium (quart) size freezer bags or freezer safe containers. I sometimes make meals for either one or two (for my daughter and her husband or my dad or mother-in-law) so you can take a peek at those videos to get an idea of how I do it. Here's a video of some meals I recently did for my daughter and her husband that shows some examples of the packaging: ruclips.net/video/CdeC9-zItds/видео.html
That's a good question. I've always done it separately to ensure everything cooked properly. But I just tried a new chicken and rice casserole where I added rice (although it was Minute Rice) directly to the large bag and it worked well so it might just work.
I used 1 1/2 pounds in the Beefy Rice Casserole and the Hamburger Goulash and 1 lb. each in the other recipes. So if you were making one of each recipe (including the invention at the end), you would need 8 pounds of ground beef. I cooked up 10 pounds and ended up with two of the taco meats and two of the Tex Mex inventions.
Loving your videos. Put together 7 meals last night and have 4 or 5 more ingredient ready to make meals tomorrow. Thank you thank you for the help in making freezer meals.
Myla, this makes me so happy! I'm so glad.
@@FreezerMeals101 .
I cook my hamburger in a crock pot. I have done 5 pounds at a time. I just plop it all in there, sometimes I also add diced onions. I break it up throughout the morning when I think about it and it all cooks itself while I am going about my day. I also put frozen chicken in my crockpot at night on low with a little water and then i go to bed. In the morning I ha e several pounds cooked beautifully.
Thanks for this tips!!!! Gonna try this
Cooking pulled pork shoulder in slow cooker overnight works for me. With the ground beef, I found a recipe for slow cooker taco meat cooking 3 pounds at a time; I love it.
Thank you for the recipe ideas. I realize why you and others make a complete meal in those bags. For me this would take up too much room in my freezer and limit me in what I want to eat. What I do is just cook the beef or chicken (bacon, ham...) and bag it up into single use servings. If you feel like a pizza, taco or pasta, its already cooked ready for the rest of the spices and veggies. You can pop some cooked chicken into a salad, sandwich or soup. You can also cook and freeze rice, so a chicken fried rice is ready in minutes. Frozen Veggies, canned tomatoes and mushrooms are my staples as well as some canned veggies and makes chopping unnecessary. I also try to freeze in reusable containers to reduce plastic. But even 8 smaller bags are less waste than 8-gallon bags.
This is awesome. Usually these freezer meal videos are all things my family doesn't like. This is a great list of fun meals! Thanks so much!
Thank you for the recipe ideas! When I have to cook a lot of hamburger up (especially if it’s still frozen), I put it in the crockpot(s) and check and mash periodically.
I've heard that works well. I may have to give that a try next time. I tried the roasting oven once but it didn't go well.
I do mine in a pressure cooker.... In half the time!
Love the tip...
1 lb ground beef uncooked = 2 1/3 cooked
🙇♀️
How does ground beef gain weight?
Great idea using one protein at a time. Bravo!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Slickest recipe ideas I've seen in a long time. Will try most of them. Thanks!
Wow! A huge thank you for your videos. The way you explain everything is just amazing and makes it all so easy to understand and follow. Love this and thank you again!
Aw. Thanks so much. It's lovely to hear that.
Your channel just recently popped up in my feed and I have to say, I’ve enjoyed your content. The first video was of you and your neighbor doing the 2 day mega freezer meal prep. I am definitely trying some of your recipes!
Love the recipes a lot, the tex mex meal, we do, only thing dif we also add (that is if you like it) is drained & raised black beans too.
Good idea! Definitely would work with the tex mex theme!
I always dish out a plate first and put in the microwave for the person that is not home.
I definitely need to try the tater tot casserole. I've seen a sloppy Joe casserole with tater tots on top as well. Seems tasty too.
I am just starting to do freezer meals and thoughly enjoy your videos. Thank you so much for these videos. They are just wonderful!!!
Thank you Eva! I’m so glad to hear they’re helping you.
Can you share the goulash recipe, please and thank you.
Have to try all these recipes! So happy you turned up in my feed
You have beautiful handwriting.🌞
This "is" Freezer Meals "101" bc I would have never thought of this! 😄 So efficient!👍
This is a good idea ! 🥰😊👍
Thank you 🤗
That’s super good, love crockpot, love easy, rice, but I need a broccoli mushroom now!
I appreciate the time and effort it took you to help with your recipes. I love freezer meals!❤❤
Thank you . I thoroughly enjoyed your video. I am definitely going to make sure others see it. God Bless you and your family.
Thank you so much!
Awesome video Sharla!! I remember Zach telling me how awesome your freezer meals were! And loving to come over for supper! I started watching and then thought to myself, “wait a minute, I know his lady !” 😅
Hey Carol! Zach always did seem impressed with the stacks in my freezer! 😂
I'm empty nester, so I'll
break it down to 2- 3 meals pre 1 freezer meal..Thanks you..🔥❄☃️❤🌹
That is a great way for singles and couples to use freezer meals!
I'm starting to do meal preps & wish I had done it years ago. We are a family of 6 & now that I work part-time & have a moment to think I am starting to do meal preps & it saves money & time which is amazing. Thanks for your video now I can make dinner less dreadful 🤣
Sharla has seven kids in her family and freezer meals became a necessity! I'm glad you're able to make it work for you! Dinner CAN be less dreadful. lol
Love your videos. So very helpful.
I love making tons of taco meat. My kids could eat tacos every night lol. Thanks for the ideas :)
Love your recipes...u popped up on my feed I subscribed..will be using your recipes..
Thanks for subbing!
I just started doing this with stewed beans. I then used them for soups, rice and peas, and just stew beans for a meal.
Really frugal option! Great idea.
Work smarter not harder 👍 Thanks for sharing ❤
just came across this video. i am looking to do some freezer meals to make December less hectic. I will definatly we trying some or all of these. I think the goulash would be improved with some tomato sauce as well as the diced tomatoes. Thanks for the ideas. Video liked! now to find the check freezer meal video.
Glad to have you with us! Good luck on your plans. December is hectic enough. Meal planning will help!
This is the first of your videos I've seen and am impressed enough to say it just might be the best food video of the hundreds I've watched. I'm a strong believer that standalone freezers are vastly underused and misunderstood. I've found that if food is sealed in an air free plastic (bags or otherwise) it can last indefinitely (I've recently cooked a corned beef that I bought seven years ago and it is still as fresh as ever). Sadly, there is not enough information available on freezing. Cooking in lots as you recommend makes so much sense, both economically and cutting down on the necessity to cook daily.
I need to get another freezer!
You're channel is amazing and so entertaining!! Excellent ideas, tips and tricks that have helped me a lot and given me confidence too!!
Thank you so much Anitra! I'm especially glad to hear that it's helped give you confidence. I hope you try making some freezer meals. I know you could do it!
I am a new viewer your video popped up on my RUclips screen. I love the idea of freezer meals and I will continue to watch your channel thanks
Thanks Marsha! Glad you found us.
RE: the taco meat bags - for those that are avoiding dairy, sprinkling some nutritional yeast flakes adds nutrition and cheesy flavor.
Great tip. Thank you!
Wooster- (pronounced Wu) shire. 😊 Took me years to learn that.
For the stuffed peppers I like to stuff them wrap individually in cling wrap them store in Ziploc bag. Can pull just one or all of them out to cook.
Love your goulash recipe. ❤️
What a great video! I would never have dreamed of doing something like this! It will make my life so much easier! Thank you so much! 💕
You’re so welcome!
My husband really enjoy ground beef
These are awesome! Thanks for always sharing these delicious meals!
Awww! Thank you! Glad you liked these recipes.
Well I must say you did a great job. I am going to try this out, since I don't really enjoy cooking like I use to. I live alone with my 2 dogs, and I hate to cook every day. But If I want to eat I have to cook. So this will save me time when I don't feel up to cooking. Thanks for the recipes and tips.
Hi Bonnie! It may be helpful for you to check out some of our videos on single serving freezer meals. Here's one you might like: ruclips.net/video/1dd9nBIK_nQ/видео.html
I really appreciate your recipes!
Thanks Donna!
Thank you so much for these!! I made 2 of these ground beef freezer meals and 2 of your chicken freezer meals yesterday. I sent my daughter a pic of my prep and she wanted the recipes! She is active duty air force and really loves the easy, budget friendly meals. I can't wait to try "That Lady's Chicken". Such an interesting combination of flavors! thank you again for making our lives a little easier!
Tell your daughter thank you for her service for me please! ❤
Heather, It makes me so happy to hear that you made some of the recipes. Let me know how you guys like them!
@@hannahkayee831 I will. Thank you!
New sub, these look great!! We make goulash all the time and the only thing I add that you didn't is cheese. We love it!!
Awesome! Thank you!
Being a Brit, I was thinking of meal differences between U.K. and USA. For mince (ground beef) based dishes, and in our house we would probably do 1. Shepherds pie, 2. Goulash, 3. Savoury mince (Birdseye chilli, garlic, soy sauce), 4. Keema curry, 5. Meatballs & pasta, 6. Chilli, 7. Bolognaise & pasta, 8. Rice, mince, cashew nuts, tomatoes mix for stuffed peppers, 9. Burger patties in baked beans, tinned tomatoes and extra veggies. I’m dairy and gluten allergic so no cream sauces (hubby can’t have coconut milk due to gallstones) only gravy or tomato for us sadly! Lovely to see what you do with the same ingredients though, and we all pick up new ideas from each other too. Re Worcestershire sauce, we tend to just call it wuster sauce, no one ever bothers with the shire bit, we all know what it is ☺️
We have since learned how to pronounce Wuster Sauce but still sometimes call it rooster sauce when it's just us. Lol
I do not eat cheese, but these recipes seem like they would still be good without it. I will give it a try. Very good video! Thank you for doing this!
Hope you enjoy
New subscriber from Michigan 😊💕
Food Saver makes resealable vacuum seal bags. Regular zip lock bags won't keep air out.
Wonderful ideas for freezer meals! Yum. Fast, easy, versatile and delicious. Is there a link for the goulash? I have recipes of my own that I would love to add into a rotation. Great idea! Thank you so much. ~Sharon from Florida
I've only recently found your freezer meals videos, and, I don't know if I've just missed it, but there wasn't any mention to how you prepare the meals (after freezing); for instance, method (oven, slow cooker or microwave), times and temperatures. I think that would be good to note on the outside of the freezer bag, how to reheat that particular recipe:
method, temp and time.
They might not have been obvious in this video, but we make labels for all of our meals that include the recipe name, cooking instructions and date! If you are a member of the Freezer Meals 101 Club, you can print off your labels on Avery Shipping labels and stick them right to the outside of the bag. It's way handier than having to go back and look at the website when it's time to cook.
Thanks so much for watching!
To make your creations freeze much longer; invest in a good vacuum-sealer.
Some people totally do! We tend to get through ours in a fairly timely manner so we haven't felt the need to go that direction but you're right! A vacuum sealer is a great way to keep your freezer items last longer. Thanks!!
These all really look good. The other day I heard a RUclipsr call Worcestershire sauce "Who's your sister?" sauce. It's so hard to say that I thought it was quite humorous.
That is pretty funny!
Just found you!! Of course I HAD to subscribe!! 😉 love that you have some beef recipes. My husband doesn’t eat chicken so I have to find beef/pork recipes.
It's not often I find a name twin!
@@FreezerMeals101 me either!!! 🥰
Thank you
You're so welcome!
Is there a video that concentrates on just pre cooked shredded or diced chicken?
This video is freezer meals made with rotisserie shredded chicken (you could use any shredded or diced cooked chicken): ruclips.net/video/cXo5dwhPajI/видео.html
Thank you!
Came over from Freedom Homestead. Tangie mentioned your channel.
Welcome! Thank you for letting me know. I popped over to her channel after your comment. I love it when people actually make the meals so it was exciting to see her groceries for these recipes all laid out!
So do you just finish by putting into oven for final backing when the pasta AB’s rice is already cooked rather than using crock pot? Thank you for your videos!
Some recipes use cooked rice or pasta and then they are a simple re-heat and then we'll use the oven. Like the Spanish Rice in the video. The Beefy Rice Slow Cooker Casserole has raw rice, so you can add it in the slow cooker with some water to make sure it has enough moisture to absorb as it cooks. We don't put it in the oven after that. We just eat is as a "casserole" right from the crock pot.
If you're adding pasta to a slow cooker meal, you want to either cook it separately at the end and add it in, or if there is enough liquid in your slow cooker, you can add your rice or pasta at the end and let it cook with the meal. I hope that helps!
Great video
we pre cook stuffed red peppers, and hamburgers
This must be the Canadian version of tater tot casserole. The original American one has all the tots on top so they get crispy. Also, go ahead and stuff the peppers and freeze them. Freezing makes the pepper break down and all you need to do is heat it up.
I am in Oklahoma. I mix tater tots in with the meat mixture then I put tots on top and add cheese on top. I think Tater Tot casserole is one you can do whatever you want.
@@keridrowatzky9543 As I said, the ORIGINAL Ore-Ida tater tot casserole has meat and veg on bottom and tots on top. OF COURSE you can do it however you want. It's a free country, even in Canada.
This is such a great idea. I do have a question though. Are you planting herbs inside your kitchen? Can you tell me what device that is & where I can buy it. I don’t have a lot of sun where I live to plant outside & the deers that live nearby would eat them if I did. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Hi! A link for the herb garden is in the description below the video. We have a video coming out soon about harvesting and freezing herbs, so you'll get to see it up close and personal! Thanks for watching!
I am working on clearing my fridge freezer to fill with freezer meals, there is just two of us so they will go a long way. I’m going to check out your chicken meals also.
Thank you for your recipe ideas. I'm challenged to be on my feet for very long. Chopping veggies and cooking the ground beef is a challenge. I am unable to use 2 hands to put casseroles into and take out of my oven.
Hi! Thanks for watching and commenting. Obviously mobility issues play a part in what we can accomplish in one session. Many of our meals can be broken down into single-servings, which might make it a bit easier to get it in an out of the oven because they are in smaller containers. Even doing a few meals at a time will help and you'll feel a sense of security/relief if you have a couple socked away in the freezer for the days where the going is really tough. I hope you find a solution that works for you!
Love this !
Thanks for your videos ladies, I just joined your website for a month for now, as I’m looking for freezer to plate type meals, could all your meals be done to accommodate this. We have been down the road of freezer meals for slow cookers but the issue for us is we work different hours and kids are or aren’t home so it goes to waste. So I was just wanting to know if these could be cooked then frozen.
Hi! We're so glad you could join us! Some recipes cook from frozen better than others. The general rule of thumb is to increase the cooking time by 50%, so if you have a casserole that calls to be cooked for 1 hour, you would want to cook it for an hour and a half. The hard part about cooking meals from frozen is that it always seems that the outside is as hot as lava and the inside is still frozen! I typically thaw all my meals so that their cook time will be more reliable.
Instead of cooking from frozen, I would recommend meals that are ready in 30 minutes or less. In the Club, when you're searching for recipes, type in the keyword "30 minutes or less" and you'll find a LOT of meals. Alternatively, when using filters, select "skillet" and/or "stovetop" as those meals tend to be fast. I also recommend One Pot recipes because they are usually 30 minutes or less and then are a full meal ready all at once. There is a list of keywords available from the home page of the Club.
Lastly, if everyone is coming home at different times, maybe individual meals are the way to go for those days. We have a whole playlist of Meals for One and Two on RUclips. Then everyone can have what they want, when they want. I hope that helps!
Thanks for all of this! I love spaghetti but it gets mushy in the freezer when we have left overs...help! 😱
The trick is to undercook it a minute or two under the al dente cooking time on the box. Then when you defrost it and cook it further it shouldn't get mushy. Good luck!
It's techically 'wor chester shire' sauce. I feel ya it's a hard one. I just call it lea n perrins when I can't get it out. :) @freezer meals 101
▶︎ 08:42 - Preparing the ground beef :-)
Looks good. Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome!
Do you ever have problems with the staples poking holes in the other bags in the freezer ? Also I would write on the freezer bags first . My hubby would want me to write cooking instructions on the bags as well because he's clueless when it comes to preparing foods. Lol
We haven't had that problem with the staples but if your staples weren't properly closed at the back, that could potentially happen I suppose. When I make freezer meals with my neighbour Christie, we use printed labels that have the cooking instructions on them as well as the date but she's the one that makes them, so when I make meals on my own, I just write on the bags.
I wouldn't need to put cheese in another bag as I ALWAYS have cheese on hand in the fridge.
you could always put the two bags together in a large plastic bag like the bags that hold two loaves at the big box stores and tie the end.
A few tricks to get the air out of the bags. 1. Stick a straw in there and close the lock as tight as you can around the straw, suck out the air, and close the seal as you withdraw the straw. 2. A bath of water in a bowl or sink, seal the bag except for a small bit open at the corner, dip the bag slowly into the water with the opening up which will force out the air, help it along with some squeezing, and just as the opening is about to dip under the water you pinch it shut, I prefer this method for aw meats where I don’t want to get a mouthful of meat juices through a straw. Freeze flat so it thaws quickly. If you don’t have the freezer space to freeze everything flat and If you live in a cold climate in the winter you can take advantage of the great outdoors and some baking sheets to spread and freeze your bags flat, then transfer to your freezer.
Helpful tips! Thanks for watching!
How long are they good for in the freezer? Thanks for sharing 😋
Hi Robin. These meals last 3-4 months in the freezer.
I just found you channel. I was wondering what is the:freezer life " of these meals? Also can we substitute the diced tomatoes with just tomatoes paste or sauce? Thanks
Hi Sue. Most freezer meals will last 3 to 6 months. The key to avoiding freezer burn is reducing the amount of air in the bag with the food as that is the cause of freezer burn. Be sure to date your meals so you can track them better.
You CAN substitute diced tomatoes for tomato sauce for sure, but it will change the texture of the meal. The tomato paste won't have enough moisture to fully substitute for diced tomatoes. If you added some water in with it, you might have better luck but I would probably skip trying to sub that one.
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately I can't eat diced tomatoes 😕.
Goulash is one of my bulk eating (stress eating) so it doesn't really have the "fillers" in it to fill people up. It is awesome to eat. Not sure how to change it. Some sort of fat. Maybe eat with butter bread??
Cornbread?
Do you have grease over flow on the sheet pan?
We've never had it overflow but you have to be pretty careful when draining.
Hi 1st time here. How much ground meat did u cook to begin with? Thanks
Just wondering if you have a cookbook out I'm new to your site what is your with the cookbook and trying to write all this down thanks for answering me back
Hi Sandra - the recipes are all listed below the video. If you click "show more" under the title, the recipes and their links are usually all there (unless we haven't tested it yet, and then the recipe is still to come).
Alternatively, you can find more recipes at mealplan.freezermeals101.com/ in our membership site and there are many free recipes here at freezermeals101.com and freezermeals101.com/product-category/freezer-meal-plans/ where you can buy meal plans and a few recipe books. I hope that helps!
grrat thankyou Australia
Thanks for watching!
Substitute ground beef for ground turkey for healthier versions 😋 👌 😀
Do you have to thaw first? Or throw it in the crockpot frozen?
It’s recommended that you thaw first but if you forget to take a meal out, you can put it in a sink of room temperature water for twenty minutes and it will thaw enough for you to put it in the slow cooker.
Your invention bags at the end are a great start to Taco soup. Just add beans and beef broth.
You're so right! That would work.
Great for dreary rainy days! I'm going to make some and package into 2 serving size containers.
Great ideas and video. About how many pounds do you make per cookie sheet??
About 4 pounds
is the meat always freshly bought.. or can it be frozen then make the bags up.. thank you..
With ground beef it's best to cook it up first. It gives you a chance to drain off the extra fat and liquid, plus we find it's easier to mix than when it's still raw or frozen. It allows for more even distribution. I hope that helps!
How long do you cook the beef goulash for? 😋
Just in a skillet until it's heated through, stirring occasionally and top with cheese towards the end of cooking. Everything in it is already cooked so just 10-12 minutes should do it.
Thank you so much! I’m making multiples of all of these for our family and as gifts for all my pregnant friends 😍
Can you mix everything in a big bowl, and then add it to the bag?
Sure can!
WOULD I START WITH 9 POUNDS OF BROWNED BEEF? THESE ALL LOOK SO GOOD.
I used 1 1/2 pounds in the Beefy Rice Casserole and the Hamburger Goulash and 1 lb. each in the other recipes. So if you were making one of each recipe (including the invention at the end), you would need 8 pounds of ground beef. I cooked up 10 pounds and ended up with two of the taco meats and two of the Tex Mex inventions.
@@FreezerMeals101 THANK YOU
Can these be used in a Instant Pot?
I don't use my Instant Pot often but most crock pot recipes can be adapted for use in the Instant Pot.
Cabbage casserole (unstuffed cabbage rolls)
I had to laugh cause when you were explaining your unstuffed pepper meal I was eating it.
I hope you were enjoying it!
Less cross contamination when working with only one type of meat. I like doing only one type at a time for this reason.
I feel silly for not considering this sooner, but you are absolutely right! Less cross contamination when working with one protein at a time. Thank you for pointing this out.
Regagarding the recipe that you stapled the uncooked rice to... why wouldn't I be able to just put the uncooked rice in with the mix, since it gets added right away when cooking it? What makes one method better. I just want to understand.
Just that if the rice sits in the rest of the mixture as it's thawing, the extra moisture can lead to mushy rice later on. But adding it directly in wouldn't completely ruin the dish...it just could lead to texture issues.
Approximately how many servings are your meals?
Some serve four and many serve six.
Pronounced wustersheer sauce x😊
This is an old video. We have improved our pronunciation! I promise! lol
I was curious if anybody can reply to my question as to how long can keep these freezer meals in your freezer? And when dumping in crock pot, can you put meals in frozen? And long do you cook them, also high or low? I work during the day so I would like to take something out of the freezer put it in the Crock-Pot but it cook on low all day and be ready when I get home after work, can you do that with these meals?
Hi Connie, these meals last for 3-4 months in the freezer. Most of them work well in the Crock Pot. Ideally, you would thaw them before adding them to the slow cooker, but if you increase the cook times slightly, it will still work from frozen.
Did you drain the ground beef ? I don't think you mentioned if you did
I didn’t drain the ground beef after browning it, but I used lean. If you don’t use lean ground beef, then I’d recommend draining it.
You look beautiful!! 🥰😍🌺
Hi, do the tater tots not get soggy?
A bit but they crisp up nicely on top when baking.
If there are only two people in the family how would you package these meals?
You can either use medium (quart) size freezer bags or freezer safe containers. I sometimes make meals for either one or two (for my daughter and her husband or my dad or mother-in-law) so you can take a peek at those videos to get an idea of how I do it. Here's a video of some meals I recently did for my daughter and her husband that shows some examples of the packaging: ruclips.net/video/CdeC9-zItds/видео.html
For the cheesy rice slow cooker recipe, could I just add the uncooked rice to the big bag? Why does it have to be separate?
That's a good question. I've always done it separately to ensure everything cooked properly. But I just tried a new chicken and rice casserole where I added rice (although it was Minute Rice) directly to the large bag and it worked well so it might just work.
Love this video. Pls less chitchat.
You camps always use ground turkey too
Does your Veggies have to be FROZEN?
It would be helpful if we knew how many pounds of ground beef,how many onions, etc you started with
I used 1 1/2 pounds in the Beefy Rice Casserole and the Hamburger Goulash and 1 lb. each in the other recipes. So if you were making one of each recipe (including the invention at the end), you would need 8 pounds of ground beef. I cooked up 10 pounds and ended up with two of the taco meats and two of the Tex Mex inventions.