Having a sensible freezer stash of a number of the finest wholesome frozen meals could be a nice security internet for tremendous busy days—or weeks when you possibly can’t make it to the grocery retailer. Listed below are my go-to family-friendly frozen meals.
Finest Frozen Meals
You definitely don’t must maintain all of those frozen meals readily available, however having just a few of them readily available for fast meals, every day cooking, and even again up meals in case sickness retains you at residence for an prolonged interval might help. I really like how frozen meals are processed at their peak ripeness, so frozen produce is commonly higher tasting than what we are able to discover on the grocery retailer.
And frozen meals could be so useful, both as full meal choices or simply elements of the meal. There are many choices as of late from retailer manufacturers to call manufacturers that may be ready within the oven, microwave, or put proper into the blender to organize.
Learn on for my picks for the most effective frozen meals for households to make faster work of meals and snacks.
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Frozen Fruit
- Frozen diced avocado: That is nice to mix into smoothies or to thaw as a straightforward finger meals for infants when thawed.
- Frozen berries akin to strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are excellent for smoothies, muffins, oatmeal, and extra.
- Frozen mango: This makes smoothies tremendous creamy and you can even merely let it thaw and serve it to the youngsters such as you would contemporary fruit.
- Frozen pineapple: We love this in smoothie but in addition we let it thaw and eat it as a snack.
Use Frozen Fruit
I really like retaining frozen fruit readily available so as to add to recipes and to thaw and serve to my children like I’d contemporary fruit. The chart above has my most popular methods to make use of the ten commonest sorts of frozen fruit. That is how I favor to make use of frozen fruit and you will have completely different ideas on what’s finest to make use of with every methodology and that it’s 100% okay! That is meant to assist in giving you choices and feed your children meals they’ll really need to eat.
Thawed frozen pineapple and mango are normally actually good in taste and comparable in texture! I like frozen raspberries nearly thawed utterly, however not a lot that they get tremendous mushy. Infants and one 12 months olds (a few of them anyway) could also be high-quality with consuming thawed berries and peaches, although the feel could also be too mushy for the likes of older children. With frozen bananas, allow them to thaw earlier than baking them.
TIP: You’ll be able to freeze nearly any fruit, although you’d nonetheless need to comply with the chart above for the most effective methods to take pleasure in it from frozen.
Finest Recipes for Frozen Fruit
These are my favourite straightforward recipes for utilizing frozen fruit each for meals only for the youngsters and meals for the entire household.
These fast range prime Cinnamon Apples cook dinner in beneath 10 minutes, are completely tender, and could be served with or with out added sugar. They seem to be a scrumptious snack or topping for yogurt or oatmeal—and so they style like apple pie filling!
We like these apples heat or chilly out of the fridge, so see what your children like finest!
Remodel contemporary or frozen berries into the yummiest Blueberry Sauce to prime oatmeal, pancakes, and yogurt. It is prepared in beneath quarter-hour and might even be frozen for simple meal prep!
Remodel contemporary or frozen berries into the yummiest Strawberry Sauce to prime yogurt, oatmeal, pancakes, and yogurt. It is prepared in beneath quarter-hour and might even be frozen for simple meal prep!
Refreshing, easy, and prepared in minutes, this Mango Sorbet is a severely delish recipe to share with the youngsters. You do not want an ice cream maker and but, it is completely creamy! Plan to serve proper after making.
Make a batch of the best Banana Ice Cream to share with the youngsters with simply two elements and the creamiest texture! It takes about 5 minutes, there are straightforward methods to customise it in your preferences, and it’s simply so good.
This tastes finest with raspberries that style good to you, so style one earlier than you begin! (See the Notes for solutions on what to do in the event that they’re a bit of tart.)
This fast and straightforward Blueberry Banana Smoothie is a good choice for breakfast, snack time, and even dessert. (Frozen banana will create a barely thicker smoothie, so in case you plan to serve this by way of a straw, I like to recommend doing both frozen blueberries OR bananas, however not each. See the Notes on the finish for extra suggestions.)
With simply 3 elements and no churning or particular strategies required, this Blueberry Ice Cream is a quick deal with that at all times hits the spot.
With a straightforward methodology, full-fruit taste, and infinite variations, these Fruit Popsicles are refreshing and scrumptious for any age.
Frozen Greens
These are my favourite frozen greens to maintain readily available to make it simpler to make them proper once you want them.
- Frozen broccoli florets: For a easy aspect or so as to add to pasta, stir fries, or soup.
- Frozen greens: Mix frozen spinach or kale into smoothies, Spinach Pancakes, or Spinach Banana Muffins.
- Frozen cauliflower florets: For a easy aspect or so as to add to pasta, stir fries, or soup. You can too mix them into smoothies and use in cheese sauce for mac and cheese.
- Frozen inexperienced beans: For a easy aspect or so as to add to pasta, stir fries, or soup
- Frozen ginger: Retailer a knob of contemporary ginger in a small freezer bag and grate on a microplane, nonetheless frozen with the pores and skin, into stir fries so as to add taste.
- Frozen peas: A staple to make use of in pasta or as a easy aspect dish.
Use Frozen Veggies
Cooking with frozen veggies is a good way to supply up vitamin and never fear in regards to the produce going unhealthy. They comprise the identical (if no more) vitamins as contemporary since they’re preserved on the time of peak ripeness and they’re normally very straightforward to make use of. Our go-tos are frozen broccoli, corn, cauliflower, riced cauliflower, cubed candy potatoes, peas, and sliced pepers.
Finest Recipes for Frozen Greens
Listed below are a few of my finest kid-friendly recipes that work properly with frozen veggies.
Roast a bag of frozen broccoli to make cooking simpler and serve up probably the most scrumptious aspect dish. That is significantly nice topped with grated Parmesan cheese!
Good for dipping and dunking veggies, this recipe makes sufficient for 2-3 servings, so you possibly can retailer any leftovers within the fridge in an hermetic container. Reheat it for 15-30 seconds within the microwave to serve. You can too toss any leftovers with pasta for a fast and wholesome mac and cheese.
Use as a lot cauliflower as you should feed your loved ones. Retailer any raw florets in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
This vivid inexperienced pesto is tacky and gentle, making it an ideal sauce for a fast dinner of pasta and peas!
You should use ABC pasta, orzo, pastina, or ditalini—or some other very small pasta form on this Alphabet Soup recipe. And you can begin with contemporary or frozen veggies. See under for choices.
With a fast cooking time and streamlined approach, this Rice Noodle Soup is stuffed with taste and a straightforward household meal.
Made with principally pantry and freezer staples, this cozy Macaroni Soup is simple and flavorful—and so nourishing. I like to make this with elbows, however different small pasta shapes akin to wagon wheels would work properly, too.
Select one veggie so as to add from the flavour choices under in line with what you may have readily available or what your loved ones likes finest.
We like these dipped in bitter cream guacamole, salsa, or Cucumber Sauce.
The serving measurement for child meals can differ extensively based mostly on the age and urge for food of the newborn, so comply with child’s cues for being completed—they are going to shut their mouth and/or flip their head or begin to fuss. Finish the meal once you see these issues occur.
Frozen Bread and Carbohydrates
- Frozen muffins: Stash half of a batch of muffins right into a freezer bag to be used in future weeks.
- Freezer waffles and French Toast
- Frozen bread: For toast, sandwiches, and French toast.
- Frozen rice and quinoa: You should purchase entire grains together with absolutely cooked rice (white rice or brown rice) within the freezer aisle or cook dinner it, let it cool utterly, and freeze in a container or bag to make use of in future meals.
Frozen Meat and Poultry
- Frozen floor beef, burger patties, or different cuts of beef
- Frozen hen tenders, thighs, or breast
- Frozen breakfast sausage
Frozen Ready Meals
- Frozen burritos: I just like the Amy’s model Cheese and Bean Burritos.
- Frozen meatballs: Make them selfmade or choose up a bag on the retailer. Simmer in sauce and serve in sandwiches or with pasta.
- Frozen hen nuggets make a quick protein choice and are nice with Caesar Salad.
- Potstickers, fried rice, fish sticks, mac and cheese, bean or cheese enchiladas, pizza, lasagna …all nice choices for quick meals.
You can too discover my full information for Freezing Meals for extra concepts.
Pantry Staples
It could additionally assist to assume by way of your pantry and choose up just a few extras to have readily available as properly. Right here’s my information to family-friendly pantry staples.
Associated Recipes
What do you wish to maintain in your freezer? Remark under so I can add your concepts to my checklist!
This submit was first revealed March 2020.
