Too Early to Start Making Meals?

nycmommy13 · September 2015

I'm 6 1/2 weeks away from my due date. I'd assume it's still a little early to start making frozen meals for when we get home from the hospital, but do you know when I should start doing this?

Ceridwen77 · September 2015

Why would it be too early? You can freeze things for months. I often go past that timeframe and haven't gotten sick yet.

Here's some super strict guidelines from the U.S. Government - https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/storagetimes.html

Elyse1384 · September 2015

Definitely make and freeze food now while you have the drive/energy. The last couple of weeks with DS I had no appetite (terrible heartburn and no space left for the food to go) and zero desire to be in the kitchen. As a scared FTM I came home to a house with no food and a baby who kept me up all night burning calories bouncing him about! I won't make that mistake again. DH and I are stocking up now and making food to freeze.

lakesideknitter · September 2015

You can freeze things for a very long time, especially if you have a chest freezer that doesn't get opened every day. If you don't, put the things you don't intend to eat soon at the back of your freezer.

flas · September 2015

I'm going to make mine about a month before my EDD since I will finally be off on mat leave around that time.

grapesoda1111 · September 2015

I've already frozen some soup!

kmkrushi · September 2015

As long as you have the space and energy, go for it!

MercyC1130 · September 2015

Oo, hadn't thought to start this yet. Defiantly going to start soon. I've been having these awesome spurts of motivation.

kesmeredith · September 2015

I would think this is the perfect time to start getting things together! Go you!

MargaretC5 · September 2015

I agree, get started with freezer meals. I procrastinated with DS then was on bed rest towards the end so they never got done.
When you freeze them write the date and cooking directions right on the bag or foil. Also I love frozen single serving lunches, when you have some dinner leftovers.

grapesoda1111 · September 2015

What are you ladies going to make? I've done chicken wild rice soup. Planning on a couple pans of lasagna and just the filling of chicken pot pie.

BlondeMomma92 · September 2015

i made a couple of meals today, and i'll make some more in a few weeks, but I made a turkey spaghetti casserole and a chicken and orzo(sp?) soup!

kesmeredith · September 2015

I'm also going to do a lasagna or two, definetly chili, and potato soup. Here's a good article I have pinned with some different options and ideas

https://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/freezer-cooking/

LauraK33 · September 2015

I say start! I'm having twins so my timeline is a little different but I started in July and have about 60 frozen...like others have said, make sure your label includes dates and cooking instructions!

VexedMommy · September 2015

A thought on soups with rice or noodles, don't add the starches yet. It doesn't take much longer to toss in a handful of rice or noodles to cook than it takes to heat the stuff in the first place.

coffeymg · September 2015

I have made gumbo, minestrone soup, chicken and wild rice, broccoli cheese soup, a few crock pot meals that will need to be cooked rather than reheated like creamy chicken and mushrooms I can just serve over rice...also turkey meatballs, lasagna rolls, bourbon chicken.... Check Pinterest, @grapesoda1111! Lots of good options.

2octobermama · September 2015

I'm doing mine about 4-5 weeks before my EDD, but that's just because it's the only day that works for my SIL and I to do it together. I definitely say go for it.

Ceridwen77 · September 2015

I freeze everything - I have tons of pie fillings, chilis, soups, cooked beans, blanched vegetables and fruits. I even froze a bunch of shredded cabbage! Also have pestos, salsa, homemade pasta, braised short ribs, and I make my own stock so all that is frozen too for easy soups or to add to recipes. Chutney, fresh herbs, homemade jams, stuffed peppers, etc. DH and I basically live off of my summer & fall cooking all winter, so baby is coming at the perfect time.

nmwheel1 · September 2015

I don't think it's too early to start at all!
I keep telling myself I'm going to start, maybe this weekend I'll make a double batch of something to freeze!

flesher2 · September 2015

Yes!! Rice only takes 20-30 minutes in the crock pot

Falchas · September 2015

I'm not a huge cook to freeze person, but I love shopping so I've been buying extras of all my favorites around town. Bread at the good bakery, fresh pasta at the farmers market, soup from my fav deli etc. If it can be frozen safely, I buy double to have on hand. SO's parents have a small farm and his mom does a ton of canning and is a great cook. They are not really into babies, so in lieu of on-hand help, I'll let them show their love in the form of canned goods.

The one thing I do plan on making in the next few weeks is pot pies (my favorite comfort food). I love buying a turkey breast and letting it cook all day, you get tons of meat to make multiple pies (great frozen) and then make stock out of bones.

AmoLovesAud · September 2015

As long as you use proper food safety and cover & label everything well, everything should still be good in a couple months. I could probably start now, but anything I make will have to be transferred over to the new house in a few weeks, and our current freezer is teeny tiny, so I'm going to wait until we're done moving, then invite my mom down for an Unpack The Kitchen And Cook A Ton Of Stuff party.

My list so far is: chili, curry (Japanese curry from a box, but its our favorite and makes a ton in one go), vegetable soup, French onion soup (and I'll freeze grated cheese along with it, all I'll have to do aside from reheat is make toast, assemble, and broil), spicy black bean soup, taco filling, enchiladas, and pizzas. I'm also thinking of tossing in breakfast sandwiches and blueberry muffins for easy grab breakfasts, if I have time/energy. My MIL will be staying with us on and off over December to help around the house, and she makes great lasagna so I'm not going to bother making any.

CarrieOct15 · September 2015

This just reminded me to add freezer meals to my to-do list. I know I want to make a couple pot-pies, but other than that I need to consult Pinterest for ideas. Unfortunately, I'm not much of a cook so I better start learning. Eating out is way too expensive.

rubirubi89 · September 2015

I need a bigger fridge.

(

VexedMommy · September 2015

My mother suggested today that I buy a deep freezer. We live in a 3bd apartment seriously mom, whatever drugs you're on I want some after I push this little gal out because they've obviously warped your sense of reality.

oliarnmom1517 · September 2015

I have already started and have been doing soups and different kinds of chili.. The past few days my DH has been eating all of our freezer stuff because he's too lazy to cook so I'm pretty sure when I leave that I'll have to make a few more soups and chilis.. I also grow my own veggies and I have a food saver (totally worth the money if your interested!!) and we cut them up and put them in there and put them in the freezer and they come out nice and crisp!!

TacoSarah · September 2015

LauraK33 said:

I say start! I'm having twins so my timeline is a little different but I started in July and have about 60 frozen...like others have said, make sure your label includes dates and cooking instructions!

I like to live on the edge and forgo the date and cooking instructions. Heck I don't even put what it is. I like the surprise.

savyjohn1 · September 2015

Quiches freeze really well!! I also like to do enchiladas, and lasagna. Need to get started, but have waited to see how hunting season goes before I fill up our freezer.

onebadmotha · September 2015

I'm going to start this weekend by making a pot pie and a slow cooker roast. I started a Pinterest board a while ago with ideas- it looks like crock pot meals are super easy. Basically throw all of the ingredients in a freezer bag, then thaw and put in the crock pot when you're ready. That's my idea of cooking!

We just got a huge deep freezer at Costco for like $100, which is pretty sweet. I figure it'll be worth it for the make ahead meals and (hopefully) breast milk. Our regular freezer is always packed (especially when fro yo goes on sale...)

MercyC1130 · September 2015

@TacoSarah Ooo girl livin life on the edge!
Gives me the idea to freeze some takeout gift cards or money in a big dark container and mix it in the bunch and throw it in there.
It would be hard to forget about, but maybe I'll do this for a friend and weigh it down and write something boring/weird on there like, Idk, fish soup or liver stir fry. That way it's a last resort meal.
Then BOOM, romantic dinner for one/two/three/whatever you can afford, delivered to your doorsteps.

VexedMommy · September 2015

MercyC1130 said:

@TacoSarah Ooo girl livin life on the edge!
Gives me the idea to freeze some takeout gift cards or money in a big dark container and mix it in the bunch and throw it in there.
It would be hard to forget about, but maybe I'll do this for a friend and weigh it down and write something boring/weird on there like, Idk, fish soup or liver stir fry. That way it's a last resort meal.
Then BOOM, romantic dinner for one/two/three/whatever you can afford, delivered to your doorsteps.

Careful it doesn't get thrown away without ever looking inside though. I know a family who is very active in their church who received around 100 meals the first week and only had a normal size freezer/refrigerator. They ended up throwing out or giving away a lot of them.

MercyC1130 · September 2015

VexedMommy said:

MercyC1130 said:

@TacoSarah Ooo girl livin life on the edge!
Gives me the idea to freeze some takeout gift cards or money in a big dark container and mix it in the bunch and throw it in there.
It would be hard to forget about, but maybe I'll do this for a friend and weigh it down and write something boring/weird on there like, Idk, fish soup or liver stir fry. That way it's a last resort meal.
Then BOOM, romantic dinner for one/two/three/whatever you can afford, delivered to your doorsteps.

Careful it doesn't get thrown away without ever looking inside though. I know a family who is very active in their church who received around 100 meals the first week and only had a normal size freezer/refrigerator. They ended up throwing out or giving away a lot of them.

That crossed my mind! Lol. It wouldn't get thrown out without checking here (granted, 100 meals!!) but that would be a bummer.

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