Freezing meals for crazy time!

Dani428 · October 2014

The meal time posts got me thinking about how helpful a J13 suggestion was for me last time around. Freeze meals before you give birth so after you can just defrost and serve!

So I know it's early, but want to share good recipes that will freeze and reheat well?

knitfastdiewarm · October 2014

I've got a couple girlfriends who are due within a few months of me and we have started getting together and making meals to freeze. So far, we have just done chicken pot pie. I think next week will be enchiladas.

islandmom79 · October 2014

I did not do this with my first but my pregnant friend mentioned it today. We are planning on getting together for a girks night of making meals and prepping them for freezing. I am so curious to see other's ideas. So far my only ideas are lasagna, meatloaf, and chicken pot pie.

redneckmomma25 · October 2014

Chicken pot pies, lasagnas or lasagna rolls, baked ziti, meatballs, meatloaf, meat sauce, cooked taco meat, cooked breakfast sausage for egg bakes, I have a few easy crock pot staples that don't involve any prep so I will keep those ingredients on hand.

somewheresublime86 · October 2014

These are crockpot freezer meals. Basically, put all of the ingredients in a plastic bag. When you're ready to cook, just thaw in the fridge overnight and put in the crockpot in the morning. We're big fans of Mandy's Big Mess.

https://crockingirls.com/recipes-category/freezer-meals/

Soup and chili also freeze really well.

[Deleted User] · October 2014

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Yaz14 · October 2014

A good tomato sauce always freezes well. You can add it to anything: spaghetti, casserole, pie etc. It's not a whole meal in itself (unless you really like tomato sauce) but it definitely makes things easier.

redneckmomma25 · October 2014

Our church community was amazing. We have more than enough food the first two weeks. It was really amazing.

purple_2012 · October 2014

I'll probably make a few freezer meals. But we also have a ton of family near by and they'll help us with meals the first few days.

shevsam · October 2014

I like doing a lot of raw prep, freezing and then cooking fresh. Breading or spicing chicken breasts, spicing whole chicken or quarters, spicing ground meat and shaping into burgers or meatballs. Everything tastes fresh but you've done 3/4 of the work (and mess!) already. And soups like pp said. I like soups after birth because I usually just drink them out of a mug. Who has time to sit at a table with an actual spoon?

GWhizzers · October 2014

What do you guys freeze the meals in to keep them usable? How far in advance can you make these without freezer burn attacking them? TIA!

Ashgal · October 2014

I made freezer meals before my first son was born and it was such a great idea. I went into labor early with my second son and didn't get them made before. I totally regretted that. I plan to make up at least a few weeks worth before this baby comes. My favorites are ones that fit into freezer bags since my freezer is pretty small. I can only make so many casseroles with the limited space. I love cowboy spagetti, lasagna, pizza pasta bake, and various chicken recipes. I will be loading up my pinterest beforehand as well. I love the idea of getting together with other pregnant ladies I know and making them together. Thanks for the idea ladies!

shevsam · October 2014

GWhizzers said:
What do you guys freeze the meals in to keep them usable? How far in advance can you make these without freezer burn attacking them? TIA!

Depends what it is. You can do disposable aluminum pans if it's a casserole you want to pop in the oven. Ziploc freezer bags are great and yoy can put the covered pans in them too. Ideally with freezing you want to keep any air out so bags are also really good for that purpose. You can even freeze sauces or soups in bags and lay them flat to take up the least amount of space. If you use containers fill them as full as possible for the same air reason. And label label label! Tops and sides so you don't have to unstack things to see what they are.

drmrsmantis · October 2014

I made a crapton of freezer meals before DS (like 20). It was a nesting frenzy, like this:

I ended up only using about half of them, and the rest are still stuck frozen to the bottom of my chest freezer. My suggestion would be to wait until at least 3rd tri before making said freezer meals, and to organize the freezer well. Also, if you use freezer bags--check carefully for leaks (I think that's how I ended up with such a mess). This time around I'll definitely make fewer meals, and I'm guessing I'll also need some kind of supervision.

schwabab · October 2014

Any kind of casserole is perfect for freezing. I will be starting my meal prep in February.

Dani428 · October 2014

So many great ideas! Man I was boring and just did soups last time. I need to step up my game! I wonder if chicken cutlets freeze well. My family can literally live off of that every day (minus me)

OliveMom3 · October 2014

I did the 10 freezer bag meals in under an hour. They're great! The website I found has a printable shopping list and everything. Super easy. Not incredibly cheap and not the best meals I've ever had, but they were great when needed.

shevsam · October 2014

Dani428 said:
So many great ideas! Man I was boring and just did soups last time. I need to step up my game! I wonder if chicken cutlets freeze well. My family can literally live off of that every day (minus me)

They do! Almost everything freezes well of it's stored properly. I buy several family packs, prep them and freeze portions.

knitfastdiewarm · October 2014

souptin said:

LynnaF said:

I've got a couple girlfriends who are due within a few months of me and we have started getting together and making meals to freeze. So far, we have just done chicken pot pie. I think next week will be enchiladas.

Come to Canada and do this with me!

And by "with me", I mean for me.......

Ha! I'll trade you freezer meals for poutine.

whippoorwill3 · October 2014

I had a friend that made a couple batches of cookie dough to freeze. I thought it sounded like a good morale booster to have on hand for a tough day.

lexyraejay · October 2014

GWhizzers said:
What do you guys freeze the meals in to keep them usable? How far in advance can you make these without freezer burn attacking them? TIA!

Using a deep freeze helps with that, but if you don't have that, doubling ziplocs helps. If its a casserole, after it's frozen, pop it out of your baking dish and wrap it in alternating layers of plastic wrap and aluminum foil.

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