Save Money, Energy and Time
By terilee79720
@terilee79720 (3621)
United States
July 18, 2008 8:57am CST
For those who cook, there's a simple way to save money, energy and time.
You're going to cook anyway, Right?
While you're cooking one meal, why not cook enough for two meals? Take the extra and place it into divided plates, cover it and put the extra meals into the freezer. Be sure and mark on top what is in the dish.
The next time you open the freezer and wonder what you're going to cook and or if you're a bit tired or hurried, just take out the home cooked T.V. Dinner you already made, remove the cover and set the timer on the microwave for defrost.
You'll pat yourself on the back for taking the time to make those extra meals. If you don't have room in the freezer, just be sure you eat the extra meals within a few days. Don't waste it.
It really does save money, energy and time.
6 people like this
22 responses
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
18 Jul 08
I try to do this as much as possible. I said this before in
another post. I especially like to do this with chopped meat
since it is my boyfriends favorite meat. I buy double size packs
of chopped meat which are cheaper and make 1/2 the pack a meat loaf
and 1/2 hambergers, hamberhelper, sloppy joes, or meat sauce.
This usually will make between 3-4 meals if I'm lucky.
I always try to make extra in whatever I'm cooking so that saves
cooking for at least 2 other nights. It took awhile for my
boyfriend/roomate to enjoy "leftovers". He now loves having
something already prepared since I get home after him and he likes
to eat early.
2 people like this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
19 Jul 08
Way to go Opal. I'm a freak when it comes to saving money and food. I like to see how far I can really stretch it. My husband stays amazed.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
18 Jul 08
Are you familiar with OAMC (Once a Month Cooking)? I've heard a lot about it and have online friends that do it, but I've never tried it myself.
It's the same concept as you just described, but on a much larger scale. Basically instead of cooking for one meal, you cook for many and freeze it.
It's a great idea, but I know I don't have the discipline for anything close. The best I can usually do is put some of my baked goods in the freezer, but occasionally when I'm making a meatloaf, I'll make enough for two and freeze one.
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
18 Jul 08
I haven't hear od OAMC, although I sometimes feel like I invented OAWC, Once a week cooking. I don't always do it. Usually I separate my meats into two servings when I come home from the grocery, but if I have packages that can't be divided and have to cook it all within days of unthawing it, I will go ahead and cook ahead.
You don't have to be disciplined. You're cooking anyway so why not cook extra?
@34momma (13882)
• United States
18 Jul 08
honey that is the best way to cook. there is nothing better then left overs to me. and being that my family doesn't like them. i do just that. i take what ever is left over a freeze, so next week when they are talking about what's for dinner, they are eating what they just loved so much last week!
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
19 Jul 08
Hey momma...what ever works - saves time - saves money or anything like that. They don't have to know.....
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
19 Jul 08
I always prepared for more than one meal - often all week! I'd make 2-3 dozen burritos and freeze them and they were the best after school snack. I'd make a huge pot of chili and freeze it into meal size portions or snack size protions. I make breakfast sandwiches (sausage on a biscuit with cheese and salsa!) 20 at a time (10 biscuits to a roll!) and freeze them and they are the best breakfast in 45 seconds. I made enchillads and froze them in the dish I would cook them in (before microwaves!) and the list goes on. It was so much easier to cook a couple hours during the weekend and have more time during the week for the kids when they needed homework help and just time with the family daily. Also helps with the budget - buy in bulk.
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
19 Jul 08
You sound like me coffee.....Sounds as if I would written this response. I do the same things.
@Pitgull (1522)
• United States
18 Jul 08
Wait, you have a wonderful idea here, but what was the suggestion if you don't have enough room in the freezer? Or do you mean be sure to eat them in a couple days if you have to resort to the fridge?
I'm dumb, have a great day.....
Good idea :)
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
18 Jul 08
Thanks pitgull. If you don't have a freezer, and have to just put them in the fridge, you have to be sure and eat them before they spoil.....
I'm lucky. I have a freezer. Some people don't or don't have the extra space in their freezer.
@abhishek71832 (470)
• India
18 Jul 08
Freat tip. Only freezer's space problem if 1 don't have enough.
By the wasy I am new to Mylot, so , Hellooooo to everybody
@gothic03 (55)
• Philippines
19 Jul 08
hi terilee ..
you have a good idea for a way to save money and time. That's terrific!
do you have suggestions for an idea cooking easy meals especially Japanese foods?/
thanks
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
19 Jul 08
I love asian foods - Japanese/Chinese or anything else like that.
I try to cook meals throughout the week that bring variety and that are different. When I cook oriental foods I usually cook enough for one meal because they don't make good leftovers.
Asian cooking is so easy and fast.....The longest it takes on anything is cooking the rice or noodles. So - when I see that I'm going to have a meal with rice, I cook enough rice for two or three extra meals. Rice freezes very well and besides, when it's frozen it cookes up fluffier....so it doesn't hurt to cook and freeze extra rice. Noodles, I only cook enough for the meal.
It all depends on what Japanese dish you are thinking about as to how easy it is, but for the most part, most Japanese dishes are fairly easy, simple and quick.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
18 Jul 08
I will make enough spaghetti and meatballs for two meals, and also macaroni or other casserole dishes. I also have some hamburgers in the freezer, but they are not cooked, and if I have some fries left over, I will put them in the freezer as well. This does work when you are making a casserole dish, but not that much when you are cooking pork chops. Still it does save if you want something in a hurry.
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
18 Jul 08
Yes it does suspenseful. And another thing I like to do when I have left over vegetables is this;
If you have leftover chicken broth (which I do always), or if you don't put two chicken bouillion cubes in a cup of water and heat. Then, put the leftover vegetables into the chicken bouillion - voila - instant vegetable soup, which I love.
Or you can put it all into a blender and mix it up. I like that a lot.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
18 Jul 08
that is a great idea for people that find it hard to cook for themselves. i have heard of cooking over a weekend for a whole week, but found that too difficult. i have done what you have suggested when cooking a roast or whatnot, but not in the summer.
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
19 Jul 08
I haven't cooked for a whole week. That would ruin my whole day...lol
@winewhisky (345)
•
18 Jul 08
I used to cook big pots of chilli and freeze the leftovers but I just don't have enough room in my freezer at the moment. If I leave it in the fridge, it might get eaten before it gets used for a meal again. So if I'm short on time for the evening meal I just do a stir fry which is really quick to prepare and cook but is still fresh.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169935)
• United States
18 Jul 08
That is a good idea, but I usually like cooking everyday. if there is a day that I'm not in the mood I just make something like a frozen pizza. I do not have a regular job but people that do somethimes make meals on the weekends to last all week. Sometimes cooking one meal is a hassle also, doing two would be a bit much.
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
19 Jul 08
I cook every day too snowy. At least twice a day. But sometimes, I like to surprise myself by not having to cook - just looks like it.
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
18 Jul 08
Thats a good idea terilee...I oftentimes cook too much food, and if we don't eat it all it ends up being thrown out. I hate wasting food, with the rising prices these days. Next time, I will remember that, to freeze the extras. Thanks
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
19 Jul 08
This day and age, I hate waste......so I do what I have to do to at least make me feel like I'm saving something. More of a necessity now.
@dhangski (3194)
• Philippines
18 Jul 08
What a great idea. Actually, I am practicing this kind of saving tip. Whenever I cook meals for lunch, I also include for dinner. In that way, I don't have to do it in the evening and I could spend more quality time for my kids when they got home from school. 
[/b][/i]Happy postings! HUGZ![i][b]
[/b][/i]Happy postings! HUGZ![i][b]1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
19 Jul 08
We do what we can to save time and energy eihdra. Anything that works is good for me.
@yenwie84 (1344)
• Malaysia
18 Jul 08
It's a good idea but people it's not healthy to eat leftovers even though it is kept in fridge. I think to not be waste,just don't cook extra,so that we are not waste money on our food. I think in term of saving energy and time, we can just good simple meals.
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
19 Jul 08
People have been eating leftovers for hundreds of years yenwie. It never killed anyone to eat leftovers. I'll do anything to save money and time.
@brimia (6581)
• United States
18 Jul 08
I usually make extra though I don't freeze it...we end up eating the leftovers within a couple of days. Freezing it is a good idea. I always intend to do a big cooking day ...making enough dinners for the week, which I've heard others do...but I still haven't.
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
18 Jul 08
It really does save me time and energy brimia. When I cook, I cook two or three meals at once. Then I can breeze through the days when I just don't feel like cooking or if I'm in a hurry.
@nengs10 (3180)
• Philippines
19 Jul 08
Tips like this is indeed very important nowadays. As we all undergo the global oil crises which affects the prices of the commodities, it's really necessary to be thrifty and be more innovative in budgeting. This is such a good idea. Thank you for this tip.
@crazypumpkin (501)
• Philippines
18 Jul 08
I do the same, makes my life easier and yes no need to cook daily. At the same time this strategy gives me an idea on how long my stock in the freezer will last me till I need to cook or visit the market again.
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
18 Jul 08
I agree pumpkin. Makes life easier at times and really does save time, energy and money. It's great to know you have extra food in the freezer if you need it too.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
18 Jul 08
good idea. i use to have a friend that would cook extra & make her own tv dinners. that way u don't have ti\o eat it for 3 or4 days like i do. you do get tired of it after awhile.
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
18 Jul 08
I fix tv dinners all the time. It's so easy to pop them in the microwave when you don't feel like cooking. My husband hates leftovers but doesn't look at it as leftovers if I put stuff in divided plates as tv dinners.
@prince217 (58)
•
19 Jul 08
yeh man u r right money energy time are the three essential things u should care for that for eg;if u r not in ur room just switch off all th eelectrical instrument with that u can save ur electricity bill and save money also .like that there are more than enough that if u care litle one u will be perfect in saving
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
19 Jul 08
hey thats great. im surprised i didnt post this since i've been doing that for years. ever since i worked for this elderly couple that had me do it for them for on my days off or if they got hungry while i wasnt there. very good post.
