How Batch Cooking Can Save You Time, Stress and Money in the Kitchen

Batch cooking is a wonderful way of creating healthy, cost-effective meals. Check out this post for some simple tips for batch cooking and how it can save you time, stress and money in the kitchen!

BATCH COOKING TO SAVE TIME AND STRESS

If you’ve ever come home after a long day and found yourself staring into the fridge with no idea what to cook, you’re not alone! We’ve all been there – tired, hungry, and wishing dinner would just magically appear. That’s where batch cooking comes in. It’s one of the best ways to save time and stress in the kitchen, cut down on food waste, and be more efficient with your cooking.

Batch cooking might sound like something that requires loads of effort, but I know from experience, it’s a game-changer! It’s simple, flexible, and once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it. In this article I look at why batch cooking is so helpful, how to get started, and what foods work well when cooked in batches.

WHAT IS BATCH COOKING?

Batch cooking is pretty much what it sounds like – cooking meals or ingredients in large quantities so you can store them for later. You prepare a big batch of food all at once, then portion it out into individual servings that can be refrigerated or frozen for future meals. It could be a whole dish like a big pot of stew, or even something as simple as a batch of roasted vegetables or cooked grains to use throughout the week.

Think of it as doing the bulk of the work upfront, so you don’t have to worry about cooking from scratch every day. With batch cooking, you’re making your meals once but enjoying them multiple times. It’s the ultimate time-saver.

WHY BATCH COOKING IS A LIFESAVER

Here are some of the great benefits of batch cooking that I’ve discovered.

1. It Saves Time in the Kitchen

One of the biggest benefits of batch cooking is how much time you save. Instead of chopping, cooking, and cleaning up every single night, you do the hard work once – usually on a Sunday afternoon or any day when you have a bit of time – and then you’ve got ready-to-eat meals for days. That means less time spent in the kitchen during the week, which is especially helpful when life gets busy.

2. It Reduces Stress

We all know how stressful it can be to come home after a long day and realise you have to start cooking from scratch. With batch cooking, that stress is massively reduced. You already know that there’s a tasty, homemade meal waiting for you in the fridge or freezer. Just heat it up, and dinner is sorted! It also takes the pressure off meal planning, because you don’t have to think of something new to cook every night.

3. It Helps Cut Down on Wasted Food

How many times have you bought vegetables or other fresh ingredients, only to find them going bad in the fridge because you didn’t use them in time? It happens to the best of us! Batch cooking can help cut down on food waste because you’re using everything up when it’s fresh. Plus, having meals ready in the freezer means you’re less likely to order takeaway or let food go to waste because you didn’t get around to cooking.

4. It’s More Efficient

Batch cooking isn’t just about saving time, it’s also about using your ingredients and energy more efficiently. Cooking in bulk means you’re getting the most out of the time and effort you spend chopping, stirring, and cleaning. Plus, using your oven or hob to cook a large batch of food at once means you’re making the most of your energy costs, too – something we can all appreciate but we don’t often think about in the context of meal planning and prep!

HOW TO GET STARTED WITH BATCH COOKING

If you’re new to batch cooking, don’t worry – it’s really easy to get into. Here’s a simple guide to help you get started:

1. Plan Your Meals Ahead of Time

Before you start batch cooking, it’s helpful to have a rough idea of what meals you want to make. You don’t need to plan out every single detail, but it helps to think about what kind of foods you enjoy and what will keep well in the fridge or freezer. Soups, stews, casseroles, and pasta sauces are great options. Write a shopping list based on the meals you want to cook so you have everything you need when it’s time to start cooking.

2. Set Aside Time for Batch Cooking

You’ll need to dedicate some time to batch cooking, but it doesn’t have to take hours and hours. A couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon is usually enough to prepare several meals for the week ahead. If that sounds like too much, start small – even cooking one extra-large meal to freeze is a good place to begin.

3. Choose the Right Recipes

Not all meals are suitable for batch cooking, so it’s important to choose recipes that work well when cooked in bulk and freeze well. Soups, stews, curries, and chilli are all fantastic options because they keep their flavour and texture after freezing. You can also batch-cook grains like rice or quinoa and use them in different meals throughout the week.

4. Invest in Good Storage Containers

To make the most of your batch cooking, you’ll need good-quality storage containers that are freezer-safe. Glass containers with airtight lids are a great option because they keep your food fresh, are easy to clean, and you can heat your meals straight in them. Freezer bags also work well for soups and sauces, as they can be laid flat in the freezer to save space.

5. Portion Out Your Meals

Once your food is cooked, divide it into individual portions before storing it. This makes it easy to grab a single serving for lunch or dinner without having to defrost an entire pot of stew. Labelling your containers with the date and contents is also a good idea, so you know what’s in your freezer at a glance.

FOODS THAT WORK WELL FOR BATCH COOKING

That’s the basics of batching food. Here are some more ideas for meals and types of foods that are perfect for batch cooking. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Soups and Stews

Soups and stews are classic batch-cooking favourites. They’re easy to make in big batches, freeze beautifully, and are really versatile. You can switch up the ingredients depending on what you have on hand – throw in some lentils, beans, or grains to bulk them up and make them more filling.

2. Pasta Sauces

Tomato-based pasta sauces, like Bolognese or marinara, are perfect for batch cooking. Make a big pot and freeze it in portions – then all you need to do is cook some pasta and you’ve got a quick and easy meal. You can also freeze pesto or creamy sauces, though creamy sauces sometimes need a little extra stirring when reheating to bring them back to their best.

3. Grains and Pulses

Cooking grains like rice, quinoa, or couscous in bulk saves a lot of time later. You can store them in the fridge for a few days and use them as the base for different meals. Pulses like chickpeas, lentils, and black beans are also great for batch cooking. Cook them from dry or use tinned pulses, then store them in the fridge or freezer and add them to salads, stews, or curries.

4. Casseroles and Bakes

Casseroles, lasagnes, and other baked dishes are brilliant for batch cooking. They freeze well, and you can make a few different types to switch things up. Try making one veggie lasagne and one with meat, or a cheesy potato bake for something comforting.

5. Curries and Chillis

Curries and chillis are perfect for freezing and actually taste even better after a day or two as the flavours develop. Make a big batch with your favourite spices, and you’ll have a ready-made meal that just needs reheating.

HELPFUL TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL BATCH COOKING

Here are a few more tips to make your batch cooking experience even better:

1. Start Small

If you’re new to batch cooking, start with just one or two meals. You don’t need to fill your entire freezer on the first go! Once you get comfortable with it, you can gradually build up to batch cooking several meals at once.

2. Double Up Recipes

One of the easiest ways to batch cook is to simply double up on your favourite recipes. If you’re making a pot of soup or stew, double the ingredients so you have enough to eat now and freeze for later. It doesn’t take much extra effort but saves you loads of time in the future.

3. Rotate Your Freezer Stock

Make sure to rotate your frozen meals, so you’re eating the older ones first. Label everything with the date it was cooked so you don’t forget what’s in there. Most frozen meals will keep well for 2-3 months, so keep an eye on what needs eating.

4. Keep a Freezer Inventory

If you’re someone who tends to forget what’s lurking in the freezer, keep a simple list of what you’ve got stored. It doesn’t need to be fancy – just a note on your phone or a whiteboard on the fridge. That way, you’ll know exactly what meals are ready to go.

HOW BATCH COOKING CAN SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE

Batch cooking can really transform your approach to food and meals. By spending a little bit of extra time upfront, you free yourself from the daily stress of cooking and make sure you’ve always got something nutritious and delicious ready to go. It saves time, reduces stress, and helps you avoid food waste.

Not only that, but batch cooking can also help you save money, since you’re less likely to reach for expensive takeaways or convenience foods when you’ve already got a home-cooked meal waiting. And, because you’re in control of the ingredients, it’s easier to eat healthily and stay on track with any healthy eating and/or diet goals.

Ultimately, batch cooking simplifies your life by taking one of the most time-consuming tasks – meal prep – and turning it into something that works for you, rather than against you. It’s one less thing to worry about, leaving you with more time to relax, enjoy life, and focus on what matters most.

So, why not give batch cooking a try? You’ll be amazed at how much time and energy you save, and your future self will thank you!

BATCH COOKING BONUS TIPS

Here are some other batch cooking tips which you might find helpful. It’s not a comprehensive list but just a few tips I’ve picked up along the way and find useful myself.

• Have a plan. Identify 1-5 recipes you want to cook, choose and buy the ingredients in advance (see my post on meal-planning for help with this) so you have everything you need. It’s really annoying to run out of something half way through cooking!
• I tend not to make large quantities of weird and wonderful recipes that I’m not sure my family will eat. I keep to our old favourites which I know will go down well and won’t be wasted.
• Don’t forget to multiply all the ingredients if you’re following a recipe and making up in bulk. That being said, sometimes I bulk out meals by adding in extra vegetables rather than meat.
• After cooking, always let your food cool down to room temperature then freeze it immediately to prevent bacteria growth.
• Think whether you need to freeze things in individual portions or in dishes big enough to feed your family for dinner for example.
• Go for re-usable food bags, if possible, which take up less space than containers.
• Take as much excess air out of the bag as possible or your food will get ‘freezer burn’.
• Use oven-proof containers if you have the space in your freezer so you can put them in the oven without having to transfer to another dish first.
• Label everything to indicate what the food is, when it was frozen and any special cooking instructions, as you’re likely to forget when you come round to using it!
• Always safely defrost your food.
• Check what can actually be frozen!
• Check food is cooked/re-heated properly.
• If you’re following a recipe, always check instructions for freezing and re-heating.

BATCH COOKING RECIPES

I’m definitely not a chef so to get you started with some ideas for batch cooking, you might like to look on the internet for recipes. This is where Pinterest is brilliant for ideas and inspiration on batch-cooking recipes.

Here are some good batch cook recipes that we’ve enjoyed in our home.

FURTHER READING

Here are some other posts which you might find helpful:

• Meal-planning made simple
• Simpler tips for healthy eating
• 18 ways to enjoy making dinner more

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

If you have any extra tips to share on batch cooking, please leave a comment below! I’d love to hear from you!