When I picture economical cooking, my mind often drifts to beans and rice.
While I appreciate a well-made pot of rice and beans, I’ve discovered another simple approach to save money in the kitchen: storing prepared meals and ingredients in my freezer.
This method doesn’t depend on extreme penny-pinching, special culinary skills or solely on buying clearance bread and produce (though I sometimes do that!). Rather, I rely on my freezer to get more value from my grocery dollars and reduce the time I spend on meal prep, helping me save at least $65 each month while easing the everyday burden of cooking.
But what exactly is “freezer cooking”? It’s the practice of using a freezer to keep ready-to-use main dishes, sides and components for later. By using my freezer intentionally, I’m never without meals and building blocks to keep my cooking flavorful and cost-effective.
1. It Stops Impulse Dining Out
I enjoy dining out for special occasions, not because I’m too tired to cook. On those evenings, I prefer meals that are already prepared and only need reheating in the oven or a quick pan finish.
Freezer cooking also lowers the cost and decision fatigue of eating well. I can thoughtfully plan and budget for meals that meet my nutrition goals, instead of dashing to the store at the last minute to grab ingredients for a “healthy” dinner when I really crave macaroni and cheese and cookies.
Lunch can be tricky to organize, and it’s easy to end up eating out with coworkers if you don’t have last night’s leftovers saved.
My husband typically brings lunch to work, so I prepare several single-serving options he can toss into his lunch bag. Things like cheesy refried bean burritos and soups can thaw during the morning and be microwaved by noon.
Savings: $30 a month
2. It Boosts Your Grocery Savings
Have you ever spotted a fantastic deal at the grocery store but hesitated to buy in bulk because you weren’t sure how to use a large amount of one ingredient?
Freezer cooking helps me capitalize on sales and promotions because I plan batches of recipes that use the discounted item.
The reverse is true too. If I plan to prepare dishes that need a specific ingredient, I monitor sales so I can stock up. I’ve bought multiple pork loins at half price to make pork ragout and large amounts of reduced shredded cheddar for quiche.
If you’re a farmers market frequent visitor or part of a CSA, make the most of seasonal produce. Are sweet peppers abundant and cheap right now? Look up recipes like red pepper pesto and pepper steak, buy in bulk, cook, and freeze the results.
Savings: $10 a month
3. It Keeps Kitchen Staples Ready
I strive to keep several convenience-style items frozen so meal prep is quick and painless.
Things like pizza dough, naan, chicken stock and cooked beans are much cheaper to prepare yourself than to buy pre-made, and they keep well in the freezer until you need them. For instance, I make multiple batches of naan and freeze it for Thai-style pizzas or coconut curry nights.
Every few months I prepare a couple of pounds of cookie dough and freeze it in one-pound portions. Each package becomes a perfect last-minute dessert for guests or a cozy treat at home.
Savings: $15 a month
4. It Reduces Food Waste
Do you ever toss out scraps from recipes (half a can of tomato paste, anyone?) or leftovers because they spoil before you can eat them?
My freezer has turned into my go-to storage for perishable items I might otherwise shove to the back of the fridge and forget.
I freeze small amounts of things like leftover tomato paste, extra buttermilk or home-roasted peppers to pull out for later recipes. If I have leftovers I don’t think we’ll finish in time, I freeze them for future lunches or dinners.
Savings: $10 a month
By making smart use of my average-size freezer, I’ve managed to eat well at home, stretch my grocery budget and cut down on food waste without living solely on rice and beans.
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Your Turn: How do you use your freezer to keep your food budget in check? Any tricks or favorite recipes?
