https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 21:06:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dumb-freezer-meal-question#post-1821822 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 14:37:27 +0000 blackbird 1821822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just pick a weekend and make like, 10, when you're closer. Otherwise, they get icky. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dumb-freezer-meal-question#post-1821771 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 14:24:43 +0000 Kelley_lovelikecrazy 1821771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like others have said, it definitely wont hurt to start now. I was SO sick for so long, that my husband lived off of take out - haha - so it would have been nice to have those. But the biggest, is that you can experiment with what freezes well and what doesn't. I wouldn't save things for longer than 6 months - but you can freeze it for a month, try it out and if it worked great make a big batch later on in your pregnancy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dumb-freezer-meal-question#post-1821607 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 13:13:27 +0000 Emsmems 1821607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I made a few early on to figure out which ones I liked and what "tweaks" to make. Then in the end on my 2nd trimester (I think), I made a bunch with my "tweaks". There were a few that made A LOT so I split it into a couple meals, and some I doubled because we really liked them and wanted a few! Some I added more (or decreased) veggies or meat or sauce or cheese or whatever. Some weren't that good so I didn't make them again!! Bonus was I had them in the freezer for friends when they had their babies too and knew they were good!</p> <p>So in short, you could make some now to try them and then make a bunch later! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dumb-freezer-meal-question#post-1821577 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 12:57:22 +0000 youboots 1821577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I make extras and freeze leftovers, it's nice to have some options year round. Also as others mentioned, it's good practice to see what you like before you make items in bulk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dumb-freezer-meal-question#post-1821572 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 12:51:09 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1821572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: no we don't but I think my grandmother may have one I could borrow! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dumb-freezer-meal-question#post-1821559 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 12:46:44 +0000 looch 1821559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have a vacuum sealer? I feel like if you're going to make a lot of freezer meals, you don't want any of them to be sacrificed to freezer burn. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dumb-freezer-meal-question#post-1821543 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 12:38:26 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1821543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: ahh, so glad you replied to this. So helpful, thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dumb-freezer-meal-question#post-1821482 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 12:18:57 +0000 NeekieRose 1821482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I made so many freezer meals for my first pregnancy, then didn't use really any of them. Almost 10 months later and we still have a few enchiladas and gallon bags of soup in the freezer. The casseroles are definitely not great after about 6 months, but I am hoping the soup will still be good once it starts getting cold. </p> <p>I am wary to do freezer meals again this time, I'm just afraid we won't use them. So my suggestion would to be sure you will use them before you put the effort into making them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dumb-freezer-meal-question#post-1821435 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 11:56:24 +0000 Cole 1821435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: that muffin trick is awesome! Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dumb-freezer-meal-question#post-1821427 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 11:51:54 +0000 gingerbebe 1821427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I made a concentrated effort to prepare freezer meals at about 25 weeks (in June for me) and got a bunch done over 3 weekends and a few weeknights where I made doubles of dinner. </p> <p>I'm glad I did because we started eating them during the pregnancy! Those days when you're just wiped out, its so nice to have them around, especially when eating out makes you bloated with all the sodium later in the third trimester! We don't have to worry about freezer burn that way either - we just eat the ones labeled earliest first and then replace them with another one later. </p> <p>I'd say since July, we've been eating frozen meals at least once a week, maybe twice, and then I try to cook once a week where I make doubles of something and throw one in the fridge. So the number never really goes down. Its been totally manageable.</p> <p>The best tips I have for freezer burn is to make sure everything is cool/cold when you put it in the freezer (steam = ice crystals = freezer burn) and that its sealed as tight as possible (air = freezer burn). </p> <p>Another magical thing I learned is that you can make muffin batter, pour it into paper liners, freeze them in a cupcake tin, and then bake them off later! You can just drop the pucks of batter into the cupcake pan and thaw them overnight in the fridge, or leave them on the counter for an hour or two to thaw, or just add about 15 minutes to your bake time. Just made muffins this weekend with batter I froze over a month ago and they taste great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dumb-freezer-meal-question#post-1821415 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 11:47:04 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1821415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: @Cole: great idea ladies, thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dumb-freezer-meal-question#post-1821408 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 11:45:24 +0000 Cole 1821408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @jhd:, if you wind up sick or even just tired it will be super helpful to have the freezer meals throughout your pregnancy anyway and it gives you a chance to fine tune your method. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dumb-freezer-meal-question#post-1821396 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 11:42:02 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1821396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: perfect thank you! I didn't want to dig into a meal I planned &amp; have it be gross &amp; have nothing else to eat! lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dumb-freezer-meal-question#post-1821395 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 11:42:00 +0000 jhd 1821395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i'm not sure if they would still be good. but i would start making some now (and eating them!) if you're interested. that way you can see what your family likes best and then you could make more of those closer to the time for baby's arrival. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dumb-freezer-meal-question#post-1821390 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 11:40:26 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1821390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would think 6 months is the upper end of a pre-made meal's freezer shelf life. Maybe if you were to start in the late 2nd trimester? :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dumb-freezer-meal-question#post-1821383 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 11:37:23 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1821383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am about 3 weeks pregnant with LO #2. They will be about 19 months apart &amp; I've always told myself that when I got pregnant with #2 I would start making an extra freezer meal per week right when I find out so I'll have a nice stash &amp; not have to worry about it once the baby arrives. My question is, since I am so so early, would it be to soon to start the freezer meal plan? Would the meals I make in these early weeks be freezer burnt by the time baby arrives? </p>