Batch Cooking Tips For Tentative Home Cooks
The term batch cooking brings fear to many as it seems like such a big undertaking. However, my good friend Alea recently published and allowed me to check out her wonderful cookbook called, Prep Ahead Meals From Scratch.
It takes all the mystery out of this method of preparing meals and provides you with some great new recipes. Nobody should fear the idea of batch cooking to save time and money.
In fact, it’s a great easy way to get people more excited about time in the kitchen.
Batch Cooking Tips For Tentative Home Cooks
Don’t cook items you won’t eat.
One of the biggest frustrations people have with freezer meals is that they are often for foods or recipes they just don’t care for. One huge thing to remember as you tackle batch cooking is that this is supposed to make it easier for you to cook healthy meals our family loves.
If you don’t eat pork, then, by all means, don’t add pork-based recipes to your menu just because they are perfect for batch cooking.
Utilize batch cooking to provide your family with the healthy foods they already love.
Add in new recipes on occasion as you find something you want to try.
Batch cooking itself, as outlined by Alea in this cookbook, is not about creating entire meals, but about cooking ahead a few commonly used ingredients like your proteins and some vegetables.
Choose a preferred cooking method.
Alea recommends several cooking methods. Pressure cookers, slow cookers or just roasting in the oven are all great ideas. You may choose to use each at different points for various things.
However, if you don’t already own a pressure cooker and are on a tight budget, you don’t need to invest in one to batch cook for future meals. You simply choose a different method as outlined in the book.
Recommended batch cooking methods:
- Broiling
- Roasting
- Grilling
- Pressure Cooker
- Slow Cooker
- Rotisserie
Invest in proper freezer storage.
As you batch cook to have things like chicken, pork, beef or beans ready to add to easy meals, you will want to make sure they are frozen in the right type of storage container.
Alea recommends and uses small portion controlled glass bowls that work great. However, for some, it may be better to use a vacuum seal storage bag.
If you know you’ll be using something that has been batch cooked within a short period (one month), you may even be okay with using things like butcher paper or freezer storage bags.
Start with just one item and work your way up to more.
Instead of trying to do everything recommended at once, why not start with just one thing? Next time there is a sale on your favorite meat product, grab a few packages and batch cook just that one item.
By doing so, it will keep you from being in the kitchen all day, and make it a little easier to manage as a beginner.
No matter what your fears have been when you think of batch cooking, Alea has totally taken those fears away in her first cookbook. Not only does she include amazing recipes, but she gives you useful batch cooking tips to make them even easier to prepare.
Honey Mustard Chicken Salad Wraps
Ingredients
Honey Mustard Dressing
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons mustard*
- 3 tablespoons honey
Filling
- 2 cups diced cooked chicken
- 1 cup diced apple
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
- 8 medium tortillas or wraps*
*use gluten-free mustard and tortillas to make this recipe gluten-free.
Instructions
- To make the dressing, combine the mayonnaise, mustard, and honey in a small bowl.
- To make the filling, combine the chicken, apple, onion, almonds, and celery in a medium bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the chicken salad. Stir to thoroughly coat.
- If you have time, place the chicken salad in the refrigerator for 2 hours to let it chill.
- Heat tortillas in the microwave if necessary to make them more pliable.
- Place 1/2 cup of chicken salad in the center of each wrap. Fold the bottom up to cover the chicken salad. Fold one side of the wrap over the chicken salad, then roll to close up the wrap.
Get the printable Honey Mustard Chicken Salad Wraps recipe below
Honey Mustard Chicken Salad Wrap
Ingredients
Honey Mustard Dressing
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons mustard*
- 3 tablespoons honey
Filling
- 2 cups diced cooked chicken
- 1 cup diced apple
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1 celery stalk thinly sliced
- 8 medium tortillas or wraps*
Instructions
- To make the dressing, combine the mayonnaise, mustard, and honey in a small bowl.
- To make the filling, combine the chicken, apple, onion, almonds and celery in a medium bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the chicken salad. Stir to thoroughly coat.
- If you have time, place the chicken salad in the refrigerator for 2 hours to let it chill.
- Heat tortillas in the microwave if necessary to make them more pliable.
- Place 1/2 cup of chicken salad in the center of each wrap. Fold the bottom up to cover the chicken salad. Fold one side of the wrap over the chicken salad, then roll to close up the wrap.
