90 Cheap and Healthy Freezer Meal Recipes That Save Time and Money (2024)

FAQs

Do freezer meals save money? ›

I have found that eating home-cooked vegetable-filled meals is not only healthier for me and my family, but also cheaper. Having a well-stocked freezer saves even more money by removing the temptation of takeout. It also saves prep, cooking, and cleanup time during the week so you can enjoy time with your family.

To prepare a meal for the freezer, you'll want to fully prepare it ahead of time. Be sure to let it cool fully, and then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer bag. Date it, pop it in the freezer, and it'll be ready to go in a pinch! Most freezer meals keep for around 2 months.

Choose from dozens of delicious freezer meals including casseroles, baked pasta dishes, gumbo, pot roast, slow-cooker soups and stews, and more. You guests will never guess that you just popped that Turkey-Noodle-Poppy Seed Casserole out of the freezer.

Freeze in Airtight Bags or Containers. Using an airtight container or bag to freeze your food will help increase the quality of your frozen food for a longer period of time because it will limit the food's exposure to air.

While some frozen meals can be very cost-effective, others may be more expensive than cooking the same meal from scratch. If you're cooking a meal for multiple people, you may find it's cheaper to buy the ingredients separately than to purchase enough frozen meals for everyone.

Affordable – Frozen foods are lower in cost-per-serving and have a longer shelf-life than refrigerated or fresh foods. Nutritious – Research from the Universities of California-Davis and Georgia show that frozen fruits and vegetables have equal to and sometimes better nutritional value compared to fresh-stored produce.

Rigid containers and flexible bags or wrapping are two general types of packaging materials that are safe for freezing. Rigid containers made of plastic or glass are suitable for all packs and are especially good for liquid packs. Straight sides on rigid containers make the frozen food much easier to remove.

Can you freeze cooked rice? Yes, you can freeze cooked rice. Cool it as quickly as possible by placing it in a shallow container in the fridge. Once the rice is completely cold, transfer it to freezer bags in desired portion sizes, flatten to about 3cm thick and expel as much air as possible before sealing tightly.

Yes, you can freeze almost any kind of cooked chicken! Whether it's roasted, grilled, poached, or sautéed, as long as it's cooked thoroughly, you can preserve its flavour in the freezer. You can freeze the whole bird – chicken thighs, breasts, wings and drumsticks.

What cooked food can you freeze? ›

Not as Healthy as They Seem

While some frozen meals from the grocery store may appear to be a healthy choice, they often fall short when it comes to their nutritional value. Many of these meals are highly processed and may contain fewer nutritious ingredients than expected.

So much Convenience

An added advantage of frozen foods is that you can always buy these in bulk and keep it in the freezer until you need it. They are often cheaper than similar fresh foods and just as good.

Freezing reduces the number of potentially harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It does that by preventing micro-organisms from growing (which happens naturally as fresh food degrades.) Freezing suspends microbial and fungal activity in food. As long as it's frozen, it's safe.

It can take time to perfect your freezer game, but a freezer can be a budget shopper's best friend. Nix the three-year old meat at the back behind the blueberries, wrapped in layers of frost. Outlaw everything haphazard, everything unlabeled.