How to Make Frozen Food Your Secret Weapon for Just4Me Cooking

 Let's be honest - most of us have played "freezer archaeology," discovering long-forgotten items buried under layers of frost. Here's how to avoid that: 

• Use clear containers or freezer bags labelled with contents and date
• Keep a freezer inventory on your phone or stuck to the freezer door
• Organise items by category (proteins, vegetables, ready meals)
• Follow the "first in, first out" rule

Smart Freezing for Just4Me Portions

 One of the biggest challenges for Just4Me cooks is dealing with family-sized packaging. Here's my solution:

 Proteins

• Separate large packs of meat into individual portions before freezing
• Wrap each portion in cling film, then place in a freezer bag
• Remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn
• Label with weight and date

Vegetables

Buy quality frozen veggies,  my preferred way.

or

• Blanch fresh vegetables before freezing
• Spread on a tray to freeze individually before bagging
• Store in small portions you'll use in one meal

Here are some of my favourite ways to create delicious meals from frozen ingredients:

1. Instant Stir-Fry

•    Frozen protein + frozen vegetables + your favourite sauce
•    Ready in under 15 minutes!

2. Soup in a Flash

• Frozen vegetable mix + stock + frozen herbs
• Thermomix tip: Place frozen ingredients in TM bowl, chop 3 sec/speed 5, then cook 15 min/100°C/speed 1.

3. Quick Curry

•   Frozen protein + curry paste + coconut milk
•   Add frozen peas or spinach at the end

 Tips for Successful Freezer Cooking

• Portion Control: Freeze in amounts you'll actually use
•  Air is the Enemy: Remove as much air as possible when packaging
• Label Everything: Include contents, date, and basic cooking instructions
• Quick-Freeze Technique: Spread items on a tray to freeze individually before bagging

For Thermomix Users

• Freeze herbs and garlic in ice cube trays with a little water or oil
• Make and freeze portion-sized spice pastes in silicon moulds
• Freeze leftover sauces in ice cube trays for instant flavour bombs.

Spend one hour every few weeks preparing items for your freezer:

• Portion out bulk purchases
• Prep and freeze fresh vegetables about to turn
• Make double portions when cooking and freeze half

Five Common Freezer Mistakes to Avoid

1. Freezing without a plan
2. Not labelling properly
3. Keeping things too long
4. Refreezing thawed food
5. Overcrowding your freezer, you can never find anything!Cookingjust4Me, my taste, no waste 6 part video series

Remember, your freezer is there to help you create delicious Just4Me meals, not to become a food museum! By following these tips and watching my TV series episode about cooking from frozen, you'll discover how easy it is always to have good food ready to go.

Want to learn more about making the most of your freezer? Check out Episode One of my TV series "Cooking Just4Me: My Taste No Waste" where I demonstrate these techniques and share more freezer-friendly recipes perfect for Just4Me cooks.

 Let me share a little secret that transformed my Just4Me cooking life: keeping a curated selection of frozen ingredients ready to go. Forget about filling your freezer with pre-made meals – though they have their place! Instead, think of your freezer as your personal sous chef, stocked with ingredients ready to become whatever you fancy.

 My Non-Negotiable Frozen Friends

Picture this: It's Wednesday night, you're tired, but you still want something homemade and delicious. Here's where your frozen VIPs come to the rescue!

Let me introduce you to my freezer's most valuable players:

Frozen Onions: My absolute game-changer! No more crying while chopping onions or having half an onion slowly dying in the fridge. Just grab a handful and throw them straight into your pan. Perfect for everything from quick curries to midnight fried rice.

Frozen Spinach: This little green hero has saved my dinner plans countless times. It's fantastic for adding instant nutrition to soups, pasta, or curry. Thermomix tip: Add frozen spinach directly to your pasta sauce in the last minute of cooking for an instant nutrient boost!

Frozen Stir-Fry Veggies: When fresh produce is looking sad at the supermarket (or when that \$11 lettuce incident happens again!), these are your best friends. They're already chopped and ready to go – just add your favourite protein and sauce.

Frozen Meatballs: Talk about versatility! These little rounds of joy can become Italian (in tomato sauce), Swedish (with gravy), or Asian (with sweet chilli sauce), depending on your mood. Keep a bag in the freezer for those "I need protein now" moments.

Frozen Prawns: My favourite "fancy meal in minutes" ingredient. They thaw quickly and can turn a simple pasta or stir-fry into something that feels special. Because yes, Just4Me cooks deserve special meals too!

 Three Mix-and-Match Magic

Here's how I play with these ingredients to create quick, delicious meals:

1. Frozen prawns + stir-fry veggies + sweet chili sauce = 10-minute dinner
2. Frozen meatballs + spinach + pasta = Easy weeknight comfort food
3. Frozen onions + any protein + curry paste = Curry in a hurry

Remember, Just4Me cooking isn't about spending hours in the kitchen or eating the same thing for days. It's about having a strategy that makes cooking for yourself easy, enjoyable, and waste-free. Stocked with these versatile ingredients, your freezer is key to making that happen.

What are your freezer VIPs? Share your must-have frozen ingredients in the comments below!

Let me share something that changed my Just4Me cooking forever: you can cook many meats straight from frozen! I know it sounds almost too good to be true, but let me walk you through this game-changing approach.

 The Frozen-to-Fork Method

Picture this: You've just walked in the door, hungry and tired, and remembered you forgot to defrost anything. Before you reach for that takeout menu, here's what you need to know about cooking from frozen.

First, The Safety Talk (Because I care about you!)

• Not all meats can be cooked from frozen - stick to individual portions
• The cooking time will be about 50% longer than thawed meat
• You'll need a meat thermometer to ensure it's properly cooked
• The internal temperature should reach 75°C (165°F)

What Works Well?

Star Performers:

• Individual chicken breasts
• Fish fillets
• Thin-cut pork chops
• Single steaks
• Pre-made burger patties
• Individual lamb chops

Not So Much:

• Large roasts
• Whole chickens
• Thick cuts of meat
• Anything stuffed

The How-To Guide

Let me walk you through my favourite methods:

Oven Method:

1. Preheat to 180°C (350°F)

2. Place frozen meat on a rack over a baking tray

3. Season well (yes, even frozen meat needs love!)

4. Cook for approximately 50% longer than thawed meat

5. Check the temperature in the thickest part

Pan-Frying:

1. Start with a very hot pan

2. Add a little oil

3. Cook on medium-high heat

4. Turn more frequently than you would with thawed meat

5. Be patient - it will take longer

Air Fryer Champions:

(My personal favourite for Just4Me portions!)

1. Preheat your air fryer

2. Spray or brush with oil

3. Season generously

4. Cook at 200°C (390°F)

5. Shake/turn halfway through

Pro Tips from My Kitchen to Yours

The Seasoning Secret: Season more generously than usual - some will fall off during cooking

The Oil Trick: A light coating of oil helps seasonings stick to frozen meat

The Moisture Matter: Pat the surface dry with paper towels as it starts to thaw during cooking

The Temperature Tale: Let the meat rest after cooking (yes, even when cooked from frozen!)

Thermomix Tip: While you can't cook the meat in your Thermomix, it's perfect for making sauces to accompany your frozen-to-fork creations. Try my 3-minute peppercorn sauce: butter, cream, stock, and peppercorns, 3 min/90°C/speed 2.

et me tell you about the dinner party I saved using this method. There I was, meant to cook for unexpected guests when I discovered my "thawed" chicken was still frozen solid. Instead of panicking, I pulled out my air fryer, some frozen chicken breasts, and 25 minutes later, served up the perfectly cooked, juicy chicken with a quick Thermomix sauce. Nobody knew it started frozen!

Remember, Just4Me cooks, cooking from frozen isn't just a backup plan - it's a brilliant strategy for enjoying home-cooked meals without the pre-planning stress. Keep those individual portions ready in your freezer, and you'll always be prepared for a delicious meal!

Have you tried cooking meat from frozen? Share your experiences in the comments below!