Prep 7 Slow Cooker Freezer Bag Dump Meals to Prep in 1 Hour
Busy evenings are so much easier when dinner has already been prepared.
With this simple batch-cooking plan, you can prepare seven healthy slow cooker freezer bag meals in around one hour. Each recipe makes up to four servings, giving you a freezer full of convenient family dinners for the weeks ahead.
I developed, tested and timed these recipes to make the preparation process as straightforward as possible. Once the bags are assembled, all you need to do is defrost your chosen meal safely, transfer it to the slow cooker and prepare any pasta, rice or vegetables you would like to serve alongside it.
At a glance:
What are slow cooker freezer bag meals?
Slow cooker freezer bags—sometimes called freezer dump bags—are uncooked meals that are assembled in advance and frozen in clearly labelled bags or containers.
Instead of cooking seven complete meals during your batch-prep session, you prepare the ingredients and sauces, place them in the freezer and cook each meal only when you need it.
They are particularly useful when you want to:
spend less time preparing food after work;
reduce last-minute takeaway orders;
make meal planning easier;
prepare several family dinners in one session;
keep convenient homemade meals in the freezer.
The seven freezer meals
This batch-cooking plan includes:
Turkey BologneseChilli Con Carne
BBQ Bacon-Wrapped Chicken
Garlic and Lemon Chicken Casserole
Teriyaki Beef
Vegetable Curry
Sausage and Bean Casserole
There is a good mixture of chicken, beef, turkey, sausage and vegetarian recipes, so you do not feel as though you are eating the same meal every evening.
What you will need
Before beginning, gather:
- seven large freezer-safe bags or leakproof containers- a permanent marker or freezer labels
- chopping boards and sharp knives
- measuring spoons
- the ingredients from the shopping list
- enough clear freezer space to store the bags flat
Reusable freezer containers can also be used, provided they are suitable for freezing and can be sealed securely.
How to prepare seven freezer meals in one hour
1. Check your ingredients
Read through all seven recipes before starting and compare the shopping list with the ingredients you already have.
Place everything on your worktop so you do not have to search through cupboards while preparing the bags.
2. Label every bag first
Write the following information on each bag or container:
- recipe name- date prepared
- any ingredients that must be added later
- defrosting instructions
- cooking time and setting
- suggested side dishes.
It is much easier to label an empty freezer bag than a full one.
3. Prepare one recipe at a time
Although preparing all the onions or peppers together may appear quicker, completing one recipe at a time reduces the risk of missing ingredients or adding something to the wrong bag.
Keep raw meat separate from fresh ingredients and clean your hands, utensils and preparation surfaces thoroughly between recipes.
4. Remove excess air
Once a bag is filled, carefully press out as much air as possible before sealing it. Check that the closure is secure and that no sauce can leak.
5. Freeze the bags flat
Lay each meal flat in the freezer until solid. Flat bags take up less space, stack neatly and usually defrost more evenly than large, irregular blocks.
6. Defrost before cooking
Move the chosen meal into the fridge the day before you intend to cook it. Place it inside a bowl or container to catch any possible drips.
The Food Standards Agency recommends defrosting food fully in the fridge and using it within 24 hours of complete defrosting. Partly frozen food may cook unevenly, allowing harmful bacteria to survive.
7. Cook thoroughly
Transfer the defrosted ingredients to your slow cooker and follow the cooking instructions on the relevant recipe card.
Cooking times vary between appliances, so follow your slow cooker manufacturer’s guidance. Meat, poultry, sausages and mince must be cooked thoroughly and should be steaming hot through the centre. The Food Standards Agency advises that the middle should reach 70°C for two minutes, or an equivalent time-and-temperature combination.
Important freezer and food-safety information
Keep your freezer at approximately −18°C and your fridge between 0°C and 5°C. Freeze fresh ingredients before their use-by dates and follow the storage instructions on their packaging.
For best quality, meat is generally best used within two to three months of freezing. Label every meal with its preparation date so older bags can be used first.]
Do not place a solid frozen block containing raw meat directly into a slow cooker unless both the recipe and the appliance manufacturer specifically state that this is safe.
Fully defrosting the meal in the fridge is the safest default method.
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