Batch cooking has become the biggest kitchen-based trend in recent years, with YouTubers and top chefs alike recommending this as ‘the’ solution for bringing ease to your meals. On the surface, the idea of being able to make everything in advance certainly seems like an appealing alternative on those nights when you’re feeling out of it.
Sadly, batch cooking isn’t always the easy solution we expect. In fact, given how long these batches of food take to make in the first place, they even risk costing you more time in the long-run. What’s more, the sheer quantities necessary can make cooking incredibly tricky, leaving you with excesses of washing up and an entire weekend spent in the kitchen.
That’s not to say that this is a total wash-out, of course. By merely facing up to the biggest batch cooking myths, you may, in fact, find that you can learn this skill with the following ease-focused pointers in mind.
Invest in the right equipment
Attempting to batch-cook things like rice in a standard pan is always going to add stress rather than removing it. Unless, of course, you invested in a rice cooker that really did bring ease to that easy teriyaki shrimp and rice dish you’ve been trying to master. Equally, a slow cooker can see you making large quantities of just about any meat dish with less than half the hassle. If you’re seeking effortless batch cooking without the slaving and washing at the end of it, then trust us when we say that the right equipment is the only way to go.
Double the meals you’re already cooking
Even with a slow cooker to hand, setting about unique recipes for batch purposes can still set you back. That’s why it’s also worth doubling up on meals you’re already making. This couldn’t be easier with that equipment behind you, yet it saves you from ever having to think about batch efforts. Instead, you’ll forever have food ready to go, all for much the same amount of effort you’d have put in anyway.
Always have a plan for batch meals
Many people also find that merely finding places to store that excess food isn’t easy, resulting in either crammed freezers or wasted fridge food. As such, our last pointer for actual ease here is always to know what you’re doing with those batch dishes. In general terms, fridge storage, especially of things like meat and rice, is only possible for three days. As such, you should only ever batch cook these if you know you’ll be eating them within that time. Equally, you should only put batch meals in your freezer if you have a set plan to eat them within a month. This ensures they stay fresh, while also guaranteeing these efforts don’t make your freezer impossible to manage.
They might have been lying when they said that all batch cooking was easy but, with these pointers, you should find that this is a skill that you’re still easily able to master!
Thank you for reading!
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