With more and more of us having to self-isolate in the coming weeks, rather than panic-buying more loo rolls than you could ever possibly use, some clever batch-cooking and storage tips to ensure you make the most of your freezer space might come in more handy.
With that in mind, Grazia picked the brains of Suzanne Mulholland, otherwise known as The Batch Lady, whose space-saving storage hacks, delicious and simple batch-cook recipes and smart kitchen hacks are what we need right now. Read on for her nine top tips for ensuring self-isolation isn't all rice, rice, porridge...
How to batch cook in preparation for self-isolation
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1. Buy a few extra tins of food
Suzanne stresses that there's no point in going OTT, but recommends tinned beans and tuna as tinned essentials. 'It's always good to have store cupboard staples,' she says. Plus, you'll likely use them up whether you end up self-isolating or not.
2. Fill your basket with long-lasting carbohydrate sources
Essentials like baking potatoes and sweet potatoes last a long time, Suzanne says, plus also make super speedy, easy meals when combined with tinned food, like beans, tomatoes and legumes.
3. Stock your freezer with the right ingredients
Give it a proper sort out and you'll feel miles better. 'Make room for a few extra staples, then no matter if shops run low, you will always have a bit extra to keep you going'. You can freeze lots of food, but generally speaking avoid freezing the following:
Fresh tomatoes (they defrost slimy)
Salad (this also defrosts slimy)
Previously frozen meat (it dries the meat out)
Deep-fried food (they defrost mushy)
Sour cream (it separates after freezing)
Instead, try to freeze the following:
Fruit (top tip: remember to peel your bananas pre-freezing)
Vegetables
Butter
Grated cheese
Bread
Meat
Fish
Eggs (top tip: crack before freezing or they can expand and explode in their shells)
Herbs
Stock
Wine
Milk
Suzanne's advice for freezer foods? 'Buy a few bags of frozen fruit and vegetables, so even if you can’t get out to get fresh veg, you can still enjoy a heathy plate. Plus, you can never go wrong with buying an extra loaf of bread and a few one-pint cartons of milk. Both freeze well and will be a godsend if you can’t get out.'
4. Think about batch cooking some meals to freeze
Think about it – if you're ill, sometimes the last thing you want to do is cook, and if you live alone or your whole house falls ill, you won't have anyone to cook for you.
'Even if you end up not self-isolating, freezing a few extra meals is always a plus,' says Suzanne. 'I always advise simply cooking double when you're making one of your favourite meals this week and popping away for another evening – just make sure they're freezable recipes.'
5. Use simple kitchen hacks to prep smart
On the long lasting carbohydrate note, Suzanne says pasta is a great store cupboard ingredient to have to hand. Again, don't go overboard, but making sure you've got a bag or two in the cupboard won't harm. She recommends making a few different pasta sauce bags, including the protein source and vegetables, and popping in the freezer.
'That way they're ready to add to your cooked pasta and you don't need to worry about having ingredients in the fridge, like garlic and onions.'
6. Don't stress if you've only got a small freezer
A real worry, especially for those of us who live in London in flat shares. Suzanne's top tip for limited freezer space? 'Freeze your extra meals flat in sealed bags and they take up very little space, not to mention defrost quickly when needed.'
7. Don't forget lunch
Are you a parent worrying that schools may close? You're not alone, and having lunch to hand to feed hungry mouths is a legitimate worry, too.
Suzanne advises filling sandwiches and bagels with cheese and ham, peanut butter and tuna mayo and freezing. 'You may be surprised to find they all freeze well. The key is to make sure your filling is not too wet.' Lunch never looked so easy.
8. Get inventive with your freezing
Did you know that simple pastas, such as pesto pasta, can last up to five days in the fridge, if just made as a simple pesto and pasta mix? Suzanne stresses that a small bowl of pre-made pasta is ideal for when you or the kids are starving and you need something to heat up quickly.
9. Don't panic buy
'It's much better to have a prepared approach, such as the above,' she says. 'That way, you know you have adequate supplies to keep you going no matter what happens.'
Plus, she adds that if normal life continues and you aren't asked to stay home, this way you'll just have a super supply of organised lunches and dinners ready to go that'll make your life easier anyway.
Keen for more delicious batch recipes that don't cost the earth and taste delicious, too? The Batch Ladyby Suzanne Mulholland is out now, published by HQ, available for £20.
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