90 Cheap and Healthy Freezer Meal Recipes That Save Time and Money (2024)

FAQs

Does making freezer meals save money? ›

I have found that eating home-cooked vegetable-filled meals is not only healthier for me and my family, but also cheaper. Having a well-stocked freezer saves even more money by removing the temptation of takeout. It also saves prep, cooking, and cleanup time during the week so you can enjoy time with your family.

Great news, according to the USDA, frozen meals are safe to eat indefinitely. However, after about three months, the quality (i.e. flavor and texture) of food can degrade. Therefore, we recommend eating foods within three months of stashing them in the freezer.

Whether it's a frozen single-serve meal or a combination of frozen prepared whole food ingredients like frozen fish, veggies and brown rice, frozen meals can provide a healthy, quick meal when there's no time to prep and cook.

In some cases, the cost of each individual spice, vegetable and meat for a recipe will outweigh the cost of frozen pre-made meals. On the other hand, some frozen ready meals might work out slightly costlier than the ingredients on their own.

Can You Freeze Anything for Meal Prep? The short answer is that pretty much any food can be frozen. The US Department of Agriculture explains that you can freeze almost any food, except eggs in their shell and canned products. However, you may not want to eat every food after it has been frozen.

How long can you store chicken in your freezer? According to the USDA, frozen chicken will be "safe indefinitely" as long as you keep it continuously frozen (i.e., you're not unfreezing it and then re-freezing it because you didn't have a chance to cook or eat it).

Rigid containers and flexible bags or wrapping are two general types of packaging materials that are safe for freezing. Rigid containers made of plastic or glass are suitable for all packs and are especially good for liquid packs. Straight sides on rigid containers make the frozen food much easier to remove.

On most days of the week, you'll want to rely on fresh meals — or tasty leftovers. “At the end of the day, I would limit frozen meals to no more than twice a week,” notes Taylor. But when you need the convenience of a frozen entrée, these tips can guide your choices.

They're probably going to be better than fast food especially lean cuisine but it's still a packaged and manufactured food that can contain alot of additives and inferior ingredients. it's not going to be better than a real whole food meal but if you were stuck probably better than fast food.

While grocery shopping turned out to be a hair cheaper than even the cheapest meal kits, it's nearly even. If you consider the time and energy you save by forgoing long trips to the supermarket, meal kits might present the better value.

Do meal plans really save money? ›

One of the big advantages of meal planning, they explained, is you don't end up overbuying or purchasing too many of some ingredients and having to throw them all away a few months later. They say planning each meal in advance can save a hundred dollars or more on groceries each month.

Freezing food can save food, time and money! As long as it's done properly, freezing food will lock in nutrients and freshness so your items are just as good as the day they went in the freezer. Freezing is a natural process of preservation.

Eating out is almost always more expensive than cooking at home, so cutting back on restaurant meals can help you save a significant amount of money over time. Better health outcomes: Cooking at home can also lead to better health outcomes, which can save you money on healthcare costs in the long run.