Cook Ahead for Faster Meal Prep

I do not have much time for cooking in the evening after work. So I try to cook some things ahead, like ground round and chicken.

When visiting the wholesale club, I buy 90% lean in quantities of 10 pounds. When I get home I make a few patties, then cook the remaining meat in a Dutch oven on top of the stove. When the meat is thoroughly cooked, I drain it, cook it, then separate into freezer bags in quantities of 1 to 1 1/2 pounds.

When I am ready to cook, I simply put a bag of beef into the microwave to thaw and my meal prep time is cut down dramatically.

With chicken, I shred the cooked chicken and freeze in bags to use in soups and casseroles.

By Lori from Fishers, IN

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Debbie Dzurilla
Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 696 Feedbacks

February 23, 20080 found this helpful

This is a great tip! I don't work outside the home but I am always for getting a meal on the table as quick as I can. We buy the large package of ground chuck at Sam's Club and my husband fries up half of it with chopped onion. I portion out the other half to keep raw and put in freezer bags. The cooked meat also goes in freezer bags in about 1 lb portions and ea bag is marked with the date.

It really is a great convenience to be that much ahead when I start dinner.

I also like to boil up eggs to use throughout the week and anytime I have leftover cooked chicken, turkey or ham, I dice up and put in freezer bags for future recipes.

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