Once a month cooking, anyone?

[riverwed070707]

I've followed this blog for a while now but I've always been intimidated by the massive undertaking of cooking a whole months worth of meals in a day. I was also skeptical about having all of our meals frozen rather than fresh but after the rave reviews and the amount of frozen pizza we ate last month when life got hectic, I've decided to give it a go.

I purchased the groceries for the Jan menu last night at a grand total of $177 for our family of 3... granted I'll need to make trips for fruit, milk, etc throughout the month, this give us a huge window of wiggle room compared to the $350 I normally spend on groceries (that number also included some toiletries and snacks that weren't on the list). I'm excited to see how it works out for us becuase it seems there is huge savings potential.

When I was pregnant with DD I was really good about doubling up all my recipes and putting one in the freezer for a night I didn't feel like cooking (and for maternity leave which is what sparked my interest to begin with) but I've really gotten away from it and miss the convenience.

Anyone heard of her? Tried it? Do you freezer cook?

[disneysteve]

We do "freezer cook" but do not do the once-a-month thing. We eat a lot of fresh veggies so there's no way we would ever replace that with frozen stuff. There are certain things we make, though, that we make in large batches and portion off and freeze, especially soups, spaghetti sauce, pot stickers, and a couple of other things.

[bjl584]

I wouldn't do it. I don't want to fill my freezer with a month's worth of food. I enjoy cooking, so I enjoy my kitchen time every few days.

[GREENBACK]

I can't imagine cooking for a whole month in one shot. I do cook and freeze lots of things and take them out when there is no time to cook. I've got two large freezers full of game and other meats as well as garden vegs. etc.. I wouldn't have the room if I wanted to do that.

[riverwed070707]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

I can't imagine cooking for a whole month in one shot. I do cook and freeze lots of things and take them out when there is no time to cook. I've got two large freezers full of game and other meats as well as garden vegs. etc.. I wouldn't have the room if I wanted to do that.

Well if you cooked the meat and veggies you're storing, I'm sure you could find room

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by riverwed070707

Well if you cooked the meat and veggies you're storing, I'm sure you could find room

At this point I'd have to thaw, cook and refreeze. Maybe in the future.

[Redraidernurse]

Right now I am in the process of doing lots of freezer meals as I prepare for the birth of our 2nd child. Thanks for the link to the website! I like the idea of doubling a recipe to freeze, especially if the recipe calls for something that you won't use all of in that specific recipe and that isn't easily freezable, like fresh cilantro or parsley. It feels like you waste less food. I love cooking - but for nights when it isn't possible to start thinking about making a nice meal around 3:30 it's wonderful to have some yummy healthy, homemade dish already frozen and ready to warm up!

The idea of making a whole months of meals in one day sounds EXHAUSTING but I'm sure it would be worth it!

[marvholly]

i don't do once a month cooking because of the real amount of time needed-about 2 dedicated days. One to shop and prep and the 2nd to actually cook.

Instead I tend to do once a week cooking. It takes FAR less time (after shopping) and I am able to take advantage of the weekly meat & fresh produce specials.

Right now I have a HUGE list of things I have most of the ingredients to make and want to make. In fact I just added 2 recipes to my list as I ran into a normally VERY $$$ ingredient on end of code clearance on Tue. I popped it into the freezer for now.

[riverwed070707]

Originally Posted by marvholly

i don't do once a month cooking because of the real amount of time needed-about 2 dedicated days. One to shop and prep and the 2nd to actually cook.

Instead I tend to do once a week cooking. It takes FAR less time (after shopping) and I am able to take advantage of the weekly meat & fresh produce specials.

Right now I have a HUGE list of things I have most of the ingredients to make and want to make. In fact I just added 2 recipes to my list as I ran into a normally VERY $$$ ingredient on end of code clearance on Tue. I popped it into the freezer for now.

Its funny you say this because I considered once a week and felt like I didn't have time for it - lol. I see it as 2 days a month rather than 8 (2/week). Maybe weekly grocery shopping doesn't take a whole day but I hate the grocery store and I'd rather just have one big trip with small trips for produce and milk in between. Do you follow any blogs or anything that help with the recipe planning? At one point I had a whole file of freezer meals I collected when I was pregnant with DD but I can't find it

I also still do shop the sales, primarily on meat. I know the low points and when something goes on sale, I stock up. DH tells people I'm the crazy chicken lady because I will walk out of the store with every whole chicken they have left when it's $.55/lb

[PetMom]

Thanks for that link riverwed.

Our food bill at a big box store is just getting huge.

Maybe it is time for freezer cooking to save some money.

I read the original book about freezer meals or once a month cooking and thought the time to prepare it was a bit much.

Then some people recommended smaller steps as some have mentioned such as just doubling up a recipe and freezing it.

I ended up just freezing ready to cook items such as diced onions, shredded cheese, pizza crusts, the dogs' cooked chicken, etc...

I do like the options of different types of eating plans on the link - the original once a month cooking concept had way too many casseroles and meat based recipes.

Also, there should be actual forums devoted to once a month cooking (just google it) and tips available there if anyone is interested.

FlyLady (dodge the for sale items) has a freezer meal section - google flylady and freezer meals.

[NetSkyBlue]

I tried it about a year ago. The cooking wasn't so bad, but I did not enjoy eating a frozen meal every night. I made lasagna, meatballs, chili, and I don't remember what else. It saved money, but it didn't taste fresh.

[LuckyRobin]

I've done the once a month cooking, and I think it works all right if you have other people involved in helping you. My husband and daughter both helped with the prep (son is old enough to help now, too, if I still did it). For one person it is very overwhelming. I found every two weeks was easier to do if you had no one to help you. But really, these days I just make double or triple batches and throw the extras in the freezer. I have found using the reusable Ziploc or Glad plastic containers work better for me than aluminum foil or freezer bags for keeping away that frozen taste. And they stack.

[daynarankin]

I would try this if it I didn’t enjoy cooking so much. It really relaxes me.

[marvholly]

Last Sun I cooked a turkey breast and the meat was enough for 5 3 oz servings. I cooked up the bones with some veggie scraps to make stock on Fri.

Thur I made a batch of black beans & rice-enough for 4 sservings.

Plan for Sun is to make a pot of chicken stew. I have everything on hand: leg quarters in the freezer, green pepper, carrots, mushrooms, chicken broth and half a large can of tomatoes left from the beans & rice. Things like onion, garlic and wine are an ALWAYS around here. I can do it either in the over or in the crock-pot. I’ll decide if I want it over potato, rice or pasta when I eat each serving.

[wjisitt]

i have previously done amc and it is great

[smith121]

I am also not gonna cook for whole month, I do cooking once, freeze it and take them out when there is no time to cook.

[flipyourdebt]

Cooking in large quantities is a good way to save time and money.

[vips]

Well I never tried to cook, my mom wants me to learn cook but I am not at all interested in cooking. My mom is best cook ever for each and every type of food.

[2bfrugal]

I have done this off and on. I find it saves heating up the kitchen during the summer. I do it quite often during the winter when I make soups. I might make 3 or 4 different soups in one day and freeze.

[MKKShah]

I have actually practiced this for a while. While not once a month, I did it once a week. I used to plan every meal for every day of the week, and then shop, and then cook and package them in daily portions (with each mean in it's own container). So if I cook on a Sunday, I will refrigerate Monday and Tuesday's food, and freeze the rest, thawing them a day earlier.

This was a time when I was getting back into shape, and this helped he a lot. Incidentally, it reduced my monthly budget from $1000 for food and dining to just under $200 (eating good cuts of meat, fresh veggies and fruits).

Great way to save money, time and eat healthy.

Once a month might be a stretch, but if you have a large enough a freezer, and cook enough variety in a day for a whole month, then go for it. But if you are trying to go from daily cooking, I would say try once a week before you go to once a month.