Batch Cooking

‘Batch Cooking’ is a meal preparation method that involves cooking larger quantities of food at once and storing some for later use – a brilliant time and money saver! Portions can be frozen and then defrosted whenever needed.

This is a great way to reduce food waste and make mealtimes simpler, safer, and more enjoyable for the people you support.

Three Ways to Batch Cook

 

 

 

 

1. Batch Cook Whole Meals

Encourage the person you support to divide meals into portions and freeze them. For example, they could double the quantity they usually cook— eat half tonight and freeze half for another day!

2. Prepare Whole Meals and Freeze to Cook Later

If the person supported has more food than they need, suggest preparing it to be cooked another time, such as washing and chopping all the ingredients for a stew or soup. See our top tips on leftovers, here…

3. Store Leftover Ingredients

If there’s half an onion spare or too much chopped carrot, they can be stored in the freezer. This saves time and money when cooking future meals!

Safety Tips for Batch Cooking

  • Cool hot food quickly (within 90 minutes) before refrigerating or freezing.

  • Label clearly with your name, date, and meal type.

  • Arrange your freezer so older meals are at the front (First-in, First-out).

  • Defrost meals safely—overnight in the fridge or using the microwave’s defrost setting.

  • Reheat meals thoroughly until steaming hot throughout (≥75°C).

See our top tips on food storage, here…

 

 

Why Batch Cooking Matters

  • Saves Time: Batch cooking gives people more time to enjoy other activities.
  • Healthier meals: We can cook healthier meals for when we have a busy day, instead of unhealthy takeaways or ready meals.
  • Reduces Waste: Buying ingredients in bulk and freezing leftovers cuts down food waste.
  • Gives More Choice: A freezer stocked with homemade meals offers independence and flexibility.
  • Supports families and care teams: Batch cooking enables people to spend more time with the people they support.

 

Oliver’s Top Tip: ‘One of the simplest ways to batch cook is by making one base recipe which can be adapted into different dishes. For example, tomato and mince which can be used in a ragu pasta sauce, chilli con carne or cottage pie.’

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