My mother use to buy TV dinners back in the 70’s. After we had eaten the contents she would wash them up good and put any leftovers in them to make another TV dinner for my brother to take back to college with him. They would be well wrapped with foil and frozen, so he could ice them down to keep frozen and make it to his place at college. Back then, not everyone had transportation or could afford to eat out all the time. So, these came in handy and gave him some home cooked meals.
Hi Mel. Of all the videos I've watched I just love the paper plate and zip lock!! This is what I'll be doing from now on. Greetings from Port Elizabeth, South Africa🥰
These meals are similar to ones I used to make for my Dad. He called them his homemade hungry man dinners. Will definitely try these recipes. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for this!! It is exactly what I wanted to do. Classic complete meals to freeze in it's own paper plate & ready to heat up, just like that! 🌸🩷🩷🩷
Love that you are using paper plates! Going to make a bunch of these for postpartum do you recall roughly the heating time? Did you just pull them out of the bag and heat right on the paper plate or cover them
I want to try this method of freezer meals but I was wondering how well and how long will it last in the freezer and how long do you reheat in the microwave for . Thanks for this video it all looks delicious
They are good for a few months in the freezer. If you vacuumed sealed them they could probably last longer. With these meals, since they are larger servings I microwaved them for 4-5 minutes. The smaller meals I’ve done in other videos were for 3-3 1/2 minutes. Best of luck!
I think I love this! LOL Great for picky eaters. Great for grown kids working. Great for a family on the go (Soccer Practice, Football) or have them when you want them. I myself love this because I like Sweet and Sour Chicken, my son likes Teriyaki. My only concern would be about the plastic coating on those plates- transfer? Because you will be heating them up. Maybe instead using food grade freezer to microwave Amazon Food Containers. But I really do love the (no dishes) idea of paper plates.
I am going to try your recipes, they look delicious and Can you please tell me what Size paper plates you use? And I assume the freezer bags are gallon size? This is probably cheaper than buying the meal prep containers.
I love the idea of using paper plates for freezer meals! Quick question! I heard you say you vacuum sealed the bags using a straw. Was that with a sealing machine, or your mouth?? LOL!! I’m not kidding! How did you vacuum seal the meals?? Also, did the vegs actually get cooked enough while reheating meal I’m microwave?? I would have to cook the vegs first to make sure they were soft enough for me to eat. ( I have dental issues)! Great recipes! I’ll definitely try your method!! New subscriber here!! Good luck with your channel!! ❤❤❤ Blessing to you!!
Thank you and great questions. I just sucked the air out with my mouth and a straw. If you wanted to take the time to vacuum seal that would work well but I didn’t want to bother. We used them up pretty fast. I don’t remember having trouble with the veggies but you could totally used canned or precooked to make sure they are soft enough.
It's very interesting to me that you seem to prefer using paper plates instead of reusable containers. I personally prefer reusable containers because they're sturdier than paper plates and it saves money. Plus, reusable containers have lids which make it better for storage and stacking.
I chose paper plates because I wanted to be able to warm them up in the microwave and I don’t prefer to use plastic in the microwave. But you could definitely use reusable containers for any of these meals.
@@Caitlin1928yes I do like glass and use glass containers for leftovers and such but I didn’t have enough for all these meals. What is a hotlogic? I’m not familiar with it.
@@melcooks7457 A HotLogic is a portable oven/slow cooker. It's basically a lunch box with a heating pad that you plug in. It's awesome for reheating freezer meals or other prepped meals, although there are some things that do not reheat well in it. You do have to plan ahead with it, though, as it can take up to 3-4 hours to reheat, depending on the size of the container and amount of food.
My kids are older so sometimes they just make themselves something else. My son eats ramen sometimes. When they were younger I would try to make something that would have some part they would eat…like if I made spaghetti and they didn’t want sauce they could just add some Parmesan to their noddles. Keep ingredients separate so they can choose the parts they like to eat.
I think you’d slide the dinners onto an ordinary plate or micro cook ware. I was thinking how well do the paper plates freeze 🥶 must be ok. Great idea pre cooking meals, especially for busy people, and people who live alone.
We would put them in the microwave as is, with the ziplock bag open, for 4-5 minutes. But it would also work to transfer to another plate. I put them on paper plates so I could warm them up straight from the freezer. I prefer not to warm my food on plastic.
My mother use to buy TV dinners back in the 70’s. After we had eaten the contents she would wash them up good and put any leftovers in them to make another TV dinner for my brother to take back to college with him. They would be well wrapped with foil and frozen, so he could ice them down to keep frozen and make it to his place at college. Back then, not everyone had transportation or could afford to eat out all the time. So, these came in handy and gave him some home cooked meals.
Wow that is really cool! That is a great idea!
What a great idea to make individual dinner plates ready to go!
Thanks!
Hi Mel. Of all the videos I've watched I just love the paper plate and zip lock!! This is what I'll be doing from now on. Greetings from Port Elizabeth, South Africa🥰
I’m so glad the idea is helpful for you!
These meals are similar to ones I used to make for my Dad. He called them his homemade hungry man dinners. Will definitely try these recipes. Thank you for sharing.
Love that name 😊
I love the way you put them on paper plates. I've only seen people put them in containers. That was great
Thank you!
I know this is from a long time ago but I’m new to your channel and had to say how ingenious this plate method is! WOW! ❤
Thanks so much! 😊 And Welcome!
What kind of jedi are you? 😅😂 I have never seen freezer meals done like this. 👍🏾 😮😊
🤣 🤣
Indeed she is a Jedi!!! This is genius! I’m making plates for my grandma who lives alone 🥰
I want to come live with you!! They all looked great!
These look really good
Thank you!
Thank you for this!! It is exactly what I wanted to do. Classic complete meals to freeze in it's own paper plate & ready to heat up, just like that! 🌸🩷🩷🩷
I’m glad you found it helpful!
I love all these meals you made!!👍 I grew up eating Classic American meals! 🥰🥰🥰
Thank you!
Genius using the paper plates in ziplock. Game changing
Thank you!
Love that you are using paper plates! Going to make a bunch of these for postpartum do you recall roughly the heating time? Did you just pull them out of the bag and heat right on the paper plate or cover them
Love this recipes! Great inspiration for our dinners! Thanks 😊
Glad it’s helpful!
These look like easy and tasty meals, thanks! Do you have a video showing reheating them? I have never used paper plates this way.
I did not record that part but I just put them in the microwave for 4-5 minutes with the bag open but still on.
Glad you asked that question! I too have never used paper plates….
Very creative 💡 idea.... I'll try this with vacuum sealed machine
That’s a good idea!
This is such a fab idea
Thank you!
I want to try this method of freezer meals but I was wondering how well and how long will it last in the freezer and how long do you reheat in the microwave for . Thanks for this video it all looks delicious
They are good for a few months in the freezer. If you vacuumed sealed them they could probably last longer. With these meals, since they are larger servings I microwaved them for 4-5 minutes. The smaller meals I’ve done in other videos were for 3-3 1/2 minutes. Best of luck!
This would be great for work!
Yes for sure!
Great meal ideas and brilliant idea with the dishes! How do you re-heat them?
Thank you! I just microwave them for 3-4 minutes.
Thanks
I think I love this! LOL Great for picky eaters. Great for grown kids working. Great for a family on the go (Soccer Practice, Football) or have them when you want them. I myself love this because I like Sweet and Sour Chicken, my son likes Teriyaki. My only concern would be about the plastic coating on those plates- transfer? Because you will be heating them up. Maybe instead using food grade freezer to microwave Amazon Food Containers. But I really do love the (no dishes) idea of paper plates.
Yes I think there are lots of options for what to freeze them with. Let me know if you find something that works well 😊
This is so awesome thank u so much!!!
My pleasure!
I am going to try your recipes, they look delicious and Can you please tell me what Size paper plates you use? And I assume the freezer bags are gallon size? This is probably cheaper than buying the meal prep containers.
They were the larger size with taller sides. I think I got them at Walmart.
I love the idea of using paper plates for freezer meals! Quick question! I heard you say you vacuum sealed the bags using a straw. Was that with a sealing machine, or your mouth?? LOL!! I’m not kidding! How did you vacuum seal the meals?? Also, did the vegs actually get cooked enough while reheating meal I’m microwave?? I would have to cook the vegs first to make sure they were soft enough for me to eat. ( I have dental issues)! Great recipes! I’ll definitely try your method!! New subscriber here!! Good luck with your channel!!
❤❤❤ Blessing to you!!
Thank you and great questions. I just sucked the air out with my mouth and a straw. If you wanted to take the time to vacuum seal that would work well but I didn’t want to bother. We used them up pretty fast. I don’t remember having trouble with the veggies but you could totally used canned or precooked to make sure they are soft enough.
@@melcooks7457 thank you for your reply!! I’m going to try and vacuum seal using your method!! Mouth and straw!!
It's very interesting to me that you seem to prefer using paper plates instead of reusable containers. I personally prefer reusable containers because they're sturdier than paper plates and it saves money. Plus, reusable containers have lids which make it better for storage and stacking.
I chose paper plates because I wanted to be able to warm them up in the microwave and I don’t prefer to use plastic in the microwave. But you could definitely use reusable containers for any of these meals.
@@melcooks7457 Don't the glass containers go in the microwave as well? I normally just put them in my HotLogic.
@@Caitlin1928yes I do like glass and use glass containers for leftovers and such but I didn’t have enough for all these meals. What is a hotlogic? I’m not familiar with it.
@@melcooks7457 A HotLogic is a portable oven/slow cooker. It's basically a lunch box with a heating pad that you plug in. It's awesome for reheating freezer meals or other prepped meals, although there are some things that do not reheat well in it. You do have to plan ahead with it, though, as it can take up to 3-4 hours to reheat, depending on the size of the container and amount of food.
New here ,really enjoyed ❤❤❤❤
Welcome!!
What is the tool you use to microwave the rice? All of this looks great! Thank you for sharing
I use higher quality silicone bakeware from bonCOOK.com
Here is video for just the rice ua-cam.com/video/xptT344E93s/v-deo.htmlsi=mRSBmnN3AP9-qyBz
They make small plastic rice cookers for Microwaves.
Hi new subbie here 👋 thanks for sharing 👍 Could you please tell me the measurements of the ingredients ?
Welcome!! I will add recipes in the description box later tonight!
How does the plates hold up from defrosting and reheating
I would double the plates because they did get a little soft.
Does the paper plates get all soggy when reheated?!
It does get a little soft but holds together enough to use for eating off of.
What are you cooking the rice in.
Round silicone mold shop.boncook.com/products/380984
What meals do you eat when the fussy ones eat these? My fussy ones won't even eat those!
My kids are older so sometimes they just make themselves something else. My son eats ramen sometimes. When they were younger I would try to make something that would have some part they would eat…like if I made spaghetti and they didn’t want sauce they could just add some Parmesan to their noddles. Keep ingredients separate so they can choose the parts they like to eat.
This is great. I love it. Do you ever do any sandwiches?
Not yet! But I sometimes do like a breakfast egg cups b
How do you rewarm those in a paper plate
I think you’d slide the dinners onto an ordinary plate or micro cook ware. I was thinking how well do the paper plates freeze 🥶 must be ok. Great idea pre cooking meals, especially for busy people, and people who live alone.
We would put them in the microwave as is, with the ziplock bag open, for 4-5 minutes. But it would also work to transfer to another plate. I put them on paper plates so I could warm them up straight from the freezer. I prefer not to warm my food on plastic.
Lose the music. It’s not necessary