https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:18:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-2133998 Mon, 06 Apr 2015 12:18:23 +0000 blackbird 2133998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: Oh i did frozen rice last time and it turned out great! If you dump it in a bowl and place a damp paper towel over it, it makes a big difference. </p> <p>I've got breakfast burritos+sandwiches, then main meals of: thai curry, meatballs, a couple of soups, honey lime chicken, chicken parm bake, taco meat, calzones, curry....and then maybe tamale pies and chicken taquitos? We have a french door refrigerator so i'll start making stuff and see how much room we have left in the freezer. It's not a big freezer </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-2133979 Mon, 06 Apr 2015 12:05:47 +0000 cmomma17 2133979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: what are you making?! :) this was excellent planning on my part especially with our unexpected 18 days in the NICU. The rice wasn't that great reheated and I'd make more of the pasta dishes next time because my in laws ate half of those! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-2133933 Mon, 06 Apr 2015 11:33:41 +0000 blackbird 2133933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: That's awesome! I'm actually making my list of freezer meals this morning :) Your food sounds way more indulgent than my list, LOL! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-2074528 Tue, 17 Feb 2015 22:00:32 +0000 cmomma17 2074528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bumping an old post because I'm proud of myself! I have managed to get 14 dinners packed away in the freezer! Creamy tortellini tomato soup, minestrone soup, vegetarian chili and cornbread, chipotle style rice beans and tortillas, zucchini baked ziti, a creamy spinach tortellini dish, roasted veggie Mac n cheese, and lentil sloppy joes with buns!<br /> Several of the recipes were big enough to be 2 or 3 dinners. I also have a big batch of baked beans, several portions of cheesy garlic bread and muffins (blueberry orange oatmeal, lemon poppyseed and Greek yogurt carrot).<br /> It was hard getting motivated, especially while working full time. But once I started cooking (one thing per night) I got on a roll and it didn't seem so hard.<br /> If baby boy is late I will cook more, but for now DH has banned me from the kitchen! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-1858119 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 13:11:10 +0000 looch 1858119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: That looks simple enough! I have never frozen rice before, I am eager to try that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-1858103 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 13:03:56 +0000 cmomma17 1858103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: ooh, that's good to hear! I found this recipe this morning: <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-mixed-bean-masala-with-fragrant-yellow-rice-177562" rel="nofollow">http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-mixed-bean-masala-with-fragrant-yellow-rice-177562</a></p> <p>I have frozen my vegetarian chilli which has black and red beans and it reheats very well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-1858082 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 12:56:00 +0000 looch 1858082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Indian food freezes well, wink wink! I made curry two weekends ago and froze the portions in those quart containers. We had one for dinner last night with naan that I had also frozen.</p> <p>I am not really sure how well beans freeze/defrost. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-1858079 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 12:53:51 +0000 cmomma17 1858079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I'll look into it, thanks! My mom had one years ago, I wonder if it's collecting dust in her house somewhere! One of my other challenges is definitely being vegetarian. Most freezer meals are meaty or heavy pasta dishes. After having LO #1 I craved lighter, healthier fare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-1858069 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 12:50:07 +0000 looch 1858069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: you might be able to find one for under $100, if you're going to go this route, it's a great investment!</p> <p>I recently found Rachel Ray's Week in a Day cookbook, but it's meat heavy. The premise is 5 meals, that you make ahead. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-1858059 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 12:45:43 +0000 cmomma17 1858059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LuLu Mom: thanks! the only problem is I won't have energy closer to my due date! :silly: Or I'm paranoid I will go into labor early and not having anything done. </p> <p>@myonlysunshine: oh muffins are for sure on the list! :) I'm glad you've had good success with them. I've frozen other baked goods (cookies, cake, bread) so I am confident those will do well. I also ate about 4 thousand muffins on my last maternity leave :silly: </p> <p>@looch: I unfortunately don't have a vacuum sealer but I've had pretty good luck avoiding freezer burn with double/triple wrapping (for cookies at least). </p> <p>@mrs.rabbit: we should make a thread to share freezer meal lists/recipes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-1857997 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 12:26:12 +0000 Mrs. Rabbit 1857997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I froze meals when I was in my third trimester and they lasted until the end of the "fourth trimester." Basically I cooked our favorite meals and either made double and/or froze the leftovers. SO many recipes can be frozen, so I would either freeze them after they've already been cooked (like soups) or prepared them and froze them uncooked (for casseroles). One of my favorite things to freeze is "taco" meat (seasoned beef), into individual portion sizes, because it's great for a quick meal (taco salad, tacos, inside quesadillas, stuffed peppers, zucchini boats, etc.) </p> <p>I'm excited to freeze meals again and I'm already making my list of what i want to make! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-1857981 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 12:17:46 +0000 looch 1857981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have a vacuum sealer? I find that I can't really keep things in the freezer in things like freezer bags or containers past a few weeks without getting freezer burn. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-1857974 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 12:15:30 +0000 My Only Sunshine 1857974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love freezer meals. I usually aim for 3 months in my regular freezer, and 6 months in the chest freezer - we open the chest freezer a lot less, so things seem to last longer.</p> <p>Even when my 3 or 6 month "deadline" passes, it doesn't mean the food is bad. It just starts to get a little funky or get some freezer burn or just generally not taste as good. </p> <p>One suggestion - I made a bunch of meals for postpartum and I also made a few kinds of muffins. The muffins were so great for easy nursing snacks! Next time I would probably add some breakfast burritos to the list.</p> <p>ETA - I know some moms do a big cooking session once every month or so and make a bunch of freezer meals. For me, it works better to just make two of something I'm already making. If I'm making lasagna I'll make one to eat and one for the freezer. If I make soup I make a double batch and put one in the freezer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-1857916 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 11:43:58 +0000 Bao 1857916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: That's our problem, we get busy/lazy and then end up eating crap because it's easier. This way we can have some better options when we are feeling this way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-1857913 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 11:42:14 +0000 LuLu Mom 1857913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've read that most things keep for about 4 months. So, I would wait closer to your due date! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-1857887 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 11:19:58 +0000 cmomma17 1857887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: Chili and potato soup are on my list :) And I think learning to cook and freeze will be really helpful long term as a working mom, because I used to enjoy cooking, but most days I'm too tired/frazzled to do so! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-1857874 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 11:12:08 +0000 Bao 1857874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just started freezing meals just because I hate cooking. We also have a deep freezer, but honestly not sure how long things hold up. So far I've made potato soup and chili (triple batch of each). I also have some sausage gravy and regular gravy in there for quick meals. I freeze my other sauces so they don't go to waste. That's not a meal but I'm all about not opening a jar of sauce then forgetting about it and having to toss it, when I could just freeze it. I also buy meat in bulk so there is always something on hand, even if it's browning meat for tacos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-1857863 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 11:02:13 +0000 cmomma17 1857863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yellowbird: We actually have a big freezer! We had to get it after C was born because I was pumping and freezing milk and we didn't have space for real food :) I am compiling a list of recipes too! Which is just making me hungry more than anything... haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-1857861 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 11:01:10 +0000 yellowbird 1857861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following! I was the same as you and didn't do any freezing last time. We relied on take out WAY too much! </p> <p>Length of freezing probably depends on your freezer type. Deep freeze or regular? I've started stockpiling some recipes I'll share when I get home! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freezer-meals-1#post-1857836 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 10:46:54 +0000 cmomma17 1857836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How far in advance can you/did you start freezing meals for postpartum? I am 16 weeks pregnant now. How long do things generally hold up? 2-3 months? 6 months?</p> <p>I didn't do any freezer meals for LO #1, but when I have a toddler and a newborn I know I will thank myself for this! Especially when I return to work full time! </p> <p>I actually wouldn't mind having some meals for the end of pregnancy, maternity leave, and then when I return to work. I thought if I could start getting into the habit of cooking and freezing now, I could build a small stockpile and then eat and replace over the next couple months? </p> <p>Any tips or advice? </p>