Inspired by a recent thread on the availability of good quality food at affordable prices. What suggestions do you have for freezer and store cupboard staples and nourishing, affordable and tasty meals that can be made quickly from them?
I'll start by suggesting frozen chopped garlic, chilli and ginger.
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I make tomato sauces from home grown add garlic and basil then freeze ..
Last year despite the weather being cold till late into the spring we still had lots, even after giving them away..
Doing less this year. |
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Frozen chopped spinach goes in more or less everything I cook. I also do use frozen ginger and garlic to avoid wastage and time.
You can also buy frozen ready chopped onions, celery and carrots which takes the labour out of cooking if in a hurry. |
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"I have a fridge but no freezer i buy fresh so smaller amounts, it works for me, plus not much goodness in frozen food so I'm told  "
Frozen fruit and vegetables have more vitamins and minerals than fresh unless you grow your own and use it within a couple of hours of harvesting. |
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By *TG3Man 47 weeks ago
Dorchester |
"I have a fridge but no freezer i buy fresh so smaller amounts, it works for me, plus not much goodness in frozen food so I'm told
Frozen fruit and vegetables have more vitamins and minerals than fresh unless you grow your own and use it within a couple of hours of harvesting. "
really omg i was told the freezing action takes the goodness out, you just can't believe anything you're told can you? |
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By *ltrMan 47 weeks ago
sheffield |
Working in the frozen food world I can tell you all of my customers have frozen veg and fruit not for the lazy side of it but for freshness
It would surprise most of you how many big chain or so called posh restaurants have frozen food .
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I'd say that if you have tinned tomatoes, tuna and pasta you can make a quick and easy meal.
If you know how to make a basic cheese sauce you can make cauliflower cheese or macaroni cheese quickly and easily. Add frozen peas for extra vegetables.
Defrosted frozen cherries, mango, raspberries or strawberries with Greek yogurt are a quick dessert.
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By (user no longer on site) 47 weeks ago
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Hubby makes the base paste for Thai green curry and then we freeze it in cubes, ice cube trays would also work . Once frozen we chuck them in a ziplock bag. They cook from frozen and just add your meat fish veg etc and a can of coconut milk. |
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I batch cook a lot of my main evening meals.
Most often it's stews, curries or soups.
I make a batch of 6 to 8 meals in the pressure cooker then freeze in single portions.
When I'm organised I can make 20 meals in one morning / afternoon, usually at the weekend. That means I can have a month of weekday meals at my disposal. |
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By *arkus1812Man 47 weeks ago
Lifes departure lounge NN9 Northamptonshire East not West MidlandsMidlands |
Being single food shopping for 1 can be expensive so I tend to buy fresh veg,meat.and poultry and make my own ready meals using a pair of slow cookers.Meals are a range of different Casseroles along with Cottage pie,Shepards Pie, Bolognase Sauce, and a range of Soups and are made within 24hrs of the food being purchased.
Currently have about 40 meals in the freezer at any one time.
Managed to find meal containers which fit into the Ninja food draws which makes reheating easy. |
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"I'm thinking more of having the base ingredients that you can quickly make a meal from rather than cooking in advance and freezing.
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You can freeze almost anything from onions to chopped veg, herbs and even beaten eggs. |
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"I'm thinking more of having the base ingredients that you can quickly make a meal from rather than cooking in advance and freezing.
You can freeze almost anything from onions to chopped veg, herbs and even beaten eggs."
You can buy most of that too. |
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"I have a fridge but no freezer i buy fresh so smaller amounts, it works for me, plus not much goodness in frozen food so I'm told
Frozen fruit and vegetables have more vitamins and minerals than fresh unless you grow your own and use it within a couple of hours of harvesting. really omg i was told the freezing action takes the goodness out, you just can't believe anything you're told can you? "
I am always amused how few people know that fruit and veg loose their goodness through time - the longer they are not frozen the poorer they become nutritionally. The best thing you can eat is stuff that has literally been frozen as it come out of the ground. |
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"I'm thinking more of having the base ingredients that you can quickly make a meal from rather than cooking in advance and freezing.
So what sort of base ingredients are you looking for then? Please don't say if you knew, you wouldn't be asking
You can freeze almost anything from onions to chopped veg, herbs and even beaten eggs.
You can buy most of that too. "
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"I'm thinking more of having the base ingredients that you can quickly make a meal from rather than cooking in advance and freezing.
You can freeze almost anything from onions to chopped veg, herbs and even beaten eggs.
You can buy most of that too. "
So what sort of base ingredients are you looking for then? Please don't say if you knew, you wouldn't be asking |
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"I'm thinking more of having the base ingredients that you can quickly make a meal from rather than cooking in advance and freezing.
You can freeze almost anything from onions to chopped veg, herbs and even beaten eggs.
You can buy most of that too.
So what sort of base ingredients are you looking for then? Please don't say if you knew, you wouldn't be asking "
I'm not explaining myself properly am I  .
I read recently that the reason people rely on high fat, low nutrient ready meals is because they don't have time to cook. I believe that if you are fortunate enough to be able to afford to have a few things in the freezer and store cupboard you can make a meal from scratch in nit much longer than it takes to heat a ready meal and for a similar cost.
Eg frozen vegetables, tuna etc. |
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"Myself I do love the Indian curry n rice meals from Iceland "
Yeah I was really hoping people could share ideas that helped avoid ready made meals.
My dad enjoys what he calls 'packet dinners' from Iceland though |
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We always have low fat cream cheese in the fridge. We make a quick and easy chicken pasanda (from pinch of nom book), sauce for pasta or gnocchi. Easy way to get a creamy sauce minus all the calories. My favourite quick although not the lowest fat, is fried chorizo with low fat cream cheese melted into it and frozen chopped spinach. On the plate in about 15 mins |
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"We always have low fat cream cheese in the fridge. We make a quick and easy chicken pasanda (from pinch of nom book), sauce for pasta or gnocchi. Easy way to get a creamy sauce minus all the calories. My favourite quick although not the lowest fat, is fried chorizo with low fat cream cheese melted into it and frozen chopped spinach. On the plate in about 15 mins "
I love cream cheese but I go for full fat  . Those are good ideas |
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By (user no longer on site) 47 weeks ago
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I keep garlic & chilli in the fridge. In the freezer I try to always have peas, sweetcorn, spinach, edamame beans and peppers which can be added to pretty much anything.
Frozen fruit for smoothies and porridge.
I'd say the thing that can most help with affordable cooking is herbs and spices. With them you can use similar base ingredients to make a pasta dish, a curry, a chilli and so on for little cost.
Always worth looking out for veg in the clearance section which can be frozen and used for stir frys. |
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Not food but if u like wine make ur own! Once u have the set up its so cheap! Especially if u use pickings I have grape vines in the garden u can use rose hips elderberries etc! Then it's just the cost of sugar and yeast ! X |
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