A Beginner's Guide to Bulk Freezing for Stress-Free Family Dinners - Via Organizing

sammi140
Mar 28
3 min read

The Basics of Bulk Prepping for Large Batch Freezer Meals

Preparing meals in advance can be a lifesaver for busy families. By bulk prepping and freezing meals, you can save time (and money), reduce stress, and ensure your family always has a healthy meal ready to go. Here's a simple guide to get you started with bulk prepping freezer meals.

My Personal Journey with Bulk Freezer Meals

I have been bulk meal prepping since I was about 25/26 (2016 ish). I would spend a whole weekend once or twice a year, depending on how far the meals I made got us. Back when I was working full time at a Pharmacy I would get home right around 6 pm and had literally no time to make food from scratch or something relatively healthy, to have a meal at a decent time. So I started the bulk meal freezing.

It wasn’t so bad when it wasn’t during my husband’s busy season, because he would just make something for us, but when hubby is working 18 hour days, the last thing he wants to do is cook something, too. The only way I felt I could help was by prepping meals WAY ahead of time. In order to not waste the large amounts of food I made, it had to be frozen.

Some years I would get away with only doing it once, before seeding. Some years I would need to top up before harvest started. Back in 2020 I had our first child and, well, I wasn’t about to become a super hero. So I continued as I could, usually smaller batches, more times through the year or busy seasons.

What I do now, with 2 kids and a business to run, on top of a farming house hold to keep in order, is something like this...

I still bulk meal prep for supper meals, but I do it with another farmer’s wife so we make twice as much of each recipe for both of us to fill up our freezers. Every week, ish, I will make about 9 sandwiches for my husband’s lunches. Lastly, as needed, I will bulk make up breakfast burritos for the freezer for hubby’s breakfasts. He doesn’t always have a sandwich for lunch and I switch up the meats and sauces, as well he doesn’t always have the burritos for breakfast, but on days he knows he will be more physically active, an option with more protein than peanut butter on toast is needed. This is what works for us. Some families may have to be more creative.

Benefits of Freezer Meals

Convenience: Meals are ready to be cooked or reheated, saving you time on busy days.
Cost-Effective: Buying ingredients in bulk is often cheaper and reduces waste.
Healthier Options: You control the ingredients, making it easier to include nutritious choices.
Less Stress: Knowing dinner is already prepared can reduce the stress of meal planning.

Getting Started

Plan Your Meals: Choose recipes that your family enjoys and that freeze well. Casseroles, soups or stews, and marinated meats are great options.
Create a Shopping List: List all the ingredients you'll need. Buying in bulk can save money and ensure you have everything on hand.
Gather Supplies: Stock up on freezer bags, containers, and labels. It's important to have the right storage to keep meals fresh.

Prepping the Meals

Cook in Bulk: Prepare large quantities of each recipe. Consider using a slow cooker or large pot for soups and stews.
Portion Control: Divide meals into family-sized portions. This makes it easy to thaw just what you need.
Cool Completely: Allow cooked food to cool before freezing to prevent ice crystals from forming, which can affect taste and texture.

Freezing Tips

Label Everything: Include the name of the dish, date prepared, and cooking instructions on each package.
Organize Your Freezer: Keep similar meals together and rotate older items to the front for easy access.
Seal Properly: Use airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags to prevent freezer burn. I will even use a straw to suck out all the air I can to prevent crystals from being able to form. If you have a vacuum sealer... use that.

Reheating Meals

Thaw Safely: Move meals from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before you plan to eat them.
Cook Thoroughly: Ensure meals are heated to the right temperature to be safe and delicious.

By following these simple steps, you can make bulk prepping and freezing meals a seamless part of your routine. Enjoy the extra time and peace of mind knowing dinner is always ready to go! Do it with a friend to make it more fun!