Am I just picky? Re:Freezer cooking, crock pots and casseroles

EveryNameIWantIsTaken · November 2011

I'm not going to lie. I'm not a fan of freezer cooking, crock pot meals, or casseroles. I tried the freezer cooking thing when ds was born and the stuff just tasted gross reheated unless it was a soup. About the only thing I like from the crock pot is a roast of some sort. Every other recipe I've tried, especially if it involves chicken, gets dry and disgusting. Casseroles just aren't my thing either. There are only a couple I will actually eat. Any of these things are not due to my lack of trying. I've tried, and it just doesn't work for me.

It seems like these three ways of cooking are very common on here which leads me to wonder if I am just plain picky. Anyone else not a fan of these? I know Harriet has shared my dislike for the crock pot in the past, but everyone else seems to love it.

ktsnshn · November 2011

Have you tried freezer meals that are reheated? I will prepare a pan of lasagna or enchiladas, and then freeze and cook at another time. I do not usually freeze meals that have already been cooked.

EveryNameIWantIsTaken · November 2011

ktsnshn:
Have you tried freezer meals that are reheated? I will prepare a pan of lasagna or enchiladas, and then freeze and cook at another time. I do not usually freeze meals that have already been cooked.

Yep. Tried lasagne. It ended up mushy.

maplehearts · November 2011

Fresh is always best! But sometimes with babies you gota do what you gota do.

Its taken me a few months to get good at cooking in a crock pot. I just had to find the right recipes.Its great because I can cook the really cheep meats and we have saved on our grocery bills.

I don't like casseroles because they are usually to high in calories and fat. Plus its just weird to have everything all mixed together.

I freeze my meats in marinades and then let them defrost in the fridge. That way they marinade while defrosting. I think it also helps them from getting freezer burn. There are some things that never turn out right after being frozen, but if you find a few things that work it is really nice.

ktsnshn · November 2011

I use the no boil noodles. I also let it defrost in the fridge. I am pretty picky and probably would not eat it if it was too mushy either.

Dochas · November 2011

I'll freeze some things. Ziti is good. Sausage and pepper does well. I also make stuffed shells and then freeze them without cooking them. I also do freeze some raw meat in a marinade so it saves that step. I don't love all crock pot meals but I could enjoy one every two weeks or so. It all comes out so much like stew that I just don't want it that often. And so many recipes call for canned this or that and I just don't like to use that stuff. But dry chicken? How do you simmer something in liquid for 6-8 hours and have it come out dry?

Daisy77 · November 2011

I don't do freezer meals. I use the crockpot once in a while, usually for sandwich stuff for a get-together or a roast. And casseroles are a pretty rare thing around here too.

I'd use our crockpot more if we had space on the countertop for it, but we don't. Since it's not used often it's behind stuff that does get used.

Mc_Newlywed · November 2011

We're a meat & veggie house. We really don't eat many casseroles and my husband won't go near a baked pasta. The only time I use my crockpot is for heating dips or meatballs for a party. Or to make pulled chicken or pork for sandwiches.

I freeze a lot of things - bagels, butter, cheese, meats... but the only prepared food I freeze is soup.

So no, you're not the only one.

treble_clef · November 2011

I don't like them, either. My husband doesn't like to eat leftovers or defrosted food, so I don't do "cook a lot and freeze them for later" thing.

The easiest meal I can think of right now for us is to have my husband grill a piece of stake or chicken on his BBQ grill outside, I cook rice in the rice cooker, and open a bag of salad. That's our emergency food.

SMA! · November 2011

I agree with you.

A few disclaimers 1. I grew up outside of the US so the traditional casserole cuisine here was not something that I grew up around. I have never had green bean casserole, tuna noodle, broccoli chicken etc. 2. I am a pastry chef and worked in restaurants until SAH with DD, so I know that I approach making meals, shopping etc from a specific perspective.

I freeze meat, bread, various doughs, butter and stock.

I don't understand crockpots. I have yet to see a recipe that I can't make on the stove or in the oven. I generally make quick meals for dinner and if I want something that requires slow cooking I wait to do it on a day that I have the time. I really enjoy cooking so I don't mind lots of steps, tending to it etc.

I also don't understand how using a crockpot cuts down on your grocery bill?

Turkey Lurkey · November 2011

I'm with you. I only like beef roast in the crock pot. The only frozen meals I've done are soup and chili from leftovers for DD to take in her lunches.

Arnegard · November 2011

Hmm... I guess you should not come to my house then. I usually have a freezer meal, or two, or three or four in my house at a time.

I just made a ham in the crockpot today (because I wanted it but wasn't going to be home). Casseroles are a standard at my house too.

Stick out tongue

rab41380 · November 2011

Right there w/ ya! I like to make fresh meals and soup in the crock pot.

penguingrrl · November 2011

I like the crockpot for soups, tomato sauce or pot roast and that's pretty much it. I don't like or make casseroles at all ever. My mom never liked or made them so I'm pretty much unfamiliar with them too (the word casserole evokes assumptions of canned vegetables and low grade meat product thrown together and put in the oven).

As far as freezing things, I find tomato sauce freezes well on its own, so I'll make a huge pot then freeze one dinner sized sauce packages and while the sauce defrosts I'll make a pot of fresh pasta. I'm not so big on frozen ziti/lasagna since it definitely alters the texture. If I'm making it to freeze I'll usually way way undercook the pasta (leven more than I undercook it to make ziti or lasagna to begin with) and that helps a lot.

I usually freeze soup in 2-cup containers so it's the same size as one can of soup. Great for lunch or for dinner if DH isn't home.

I have a tiny freezer so that's pretty much the extent of my freezer meals. I've found that the way I cook doesn't really take any longer than defrosting a freezer meal (we frequently throw chicken breasts or fish on the grill pan and serve with brown rice and salad) so it hasn't been something I needed to lean on.

EveryNameIWantIsTaken · November 2011

Arnegard:

Hmm... I guess you should not come to my house then. I usually have a freezer meal, or two, or three or four in my house at a time.

I just made a ham in the crockpot today (because I wanted it but wasn't going to be home). Casseroles are a standard at my house too.

My sister is a crock pot chef and uses it multiple times a week. DS and I usually end up one night there a week for dinner and I don't turn my nose up at it because if someone else wants to cook for me, who am I to complain? I just prefer to not do it myself. Maybe it's like one of the pp's said, I enjoy the cooking part of things so it's really not a problem for me.

I will say I will freeze raw meats if I get a good deal, I make homemade stock and freeze that because there is no way I would be able to use up the 12 cups it usually makes before it went bad, and I specifically asked my mom to make me a batch of her spaghetti sauce that actually does freeze well for when the baby is here for a quick meal. So it's not that I won't eat it. Apparently I am just better at cooking fresh things myself and don't have the magic touch required for the other things.

penguingrrl · November 2011

SMA!:

I don't understand crockpots. I have yet to see a recipe that I can't make on the stove or in the oven. I generally make quick meals for dinner and if I want something that requires slow cooking I wait to do it on a day that I have the time. I really enjoy cooking so I don't mind lots of steps, tending to it etc.
I also don't understand how using a crockpot cuts down on your grocery bill?

I don't do anything in my crockpot I couldn't do on the stove. The convenience it affords me is that I don't have to stay home the entire time something's cooking. My daughter is in school from 12:30-3:30, so I'm gone for pick up/drop off 12-1 and 3-4. The crockpot means I can start soup in the morning and it can cook all day instead of having to turn it off for an hour, turn it back on, then turn it off again when I leave again.

Also, I find for soups it's a lower temp than my POS stove can do, so it's less likely to burn than on my stove.

June2007 · November 2011

I agree with you but I'm a vegetarian so that limits how many of those I eat anyway. I also try to eat mostly whole fresh foods. The only crock pot thing I like is some sort of dip or veggie chili.

Kristine Schilling · November 2011

the trick with crockpot meals is to cook on low setting for a longer period. high setting will make meats tough and vegiies mush. I also almost always fiddle with the seasoning. the recipes in most crock pot or slow cooker books are bland.

My DH has an excellent chicken soup he does. and I make great beef stew. occationally we try things like roast chicken and pot roast but we always add waaaaaay more "juice" like broth or sauce to the recipe.

Mrs.Hizzo · November 2011

You're right as far as I'm concerned. The only meals that tastes truly good when cooked in a crock-pot are pot roast and steel cut oatmeal. Frozen leftovers also aren't my favorite. And, yeah, casseroles are...casseroles. But, (and it's a bit but), it's amazing how much better things taste when I'm in a hurry and don't have time to cook the way I want to, but can still manage to get a hot meal together. The advantage to the crockpot, to me, is that I can dump a bunch of stuff in it in the morning and then leave the house for the rest of the day and magically come home to hot food. Sure, it sort of sucks taste-wise, but my kid's aren't old enough to care and I figure it's better than ordering pizza again. Casseroles are good when I can assemble them the day before and then pop them in after a long day of doing whatever. I figure no one really loves cream-of-crap with noodles or rice, but it's hard not to love minimal effort some days.

notkateanymore · November 2011

I am not a fan of frozen things, casseroles and crock pots either. I never remember to deforest things, so it just doesn't save any time. I can't even store meat in bulk because of it. As far as the crockpot goes, if I smell it all day, I can't eat it. Now casseroles are the best of the bunch...there are a few that I eat, but for the most part I am not a fan of "soup cooking" as my aunt calls it. I like a protein and sides vs. things all mixed it. DD won't eat mixed up things except spaghetti/pasta. Last reason is that most casseroles and crockpot meals seem very fatty and god knows I could have less of that.

eaglesfan700 · November 2011

I hate crock pot meals and I never do freezer meals. The only reason I make casseroles is because my H loves them

I have also been surprised by all the crockpot love on this board and TB in general. The only thing I make in my crockpot is hot RB sandwiches

MesmrEwe · November 2011

I think a lot depends on what the food is... Out of the freezer, I'll make things like pulled beef/pork otherwise it better have a label on it from a company that meant it to come out of the fridge/freezer...

From there, I don't do "hot dish" (yea, it's casseroles to me too but since I'm in MN now LOL)... The only one I've tried and like was basically cream of mushroom soup with wild rice and chicken that is tossed together and baked about an hour or less...

As for crock pots - honestly, too much food manager in me to really want anything out of one... I'm more confident in something cooked in the oven slowly than I am for something out of a crock pot... I can understand for keeping something warm on a buffet line, but that's about it...

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Am I just picky? Re:Freezer cooking, crock pots and casseroles

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