Need to save time in the kitchen? Try the frozen meal prep method

If you want to save time in the kitchen while still enjoying nutritious home-cooked meals, the frozen meal prep method might be for you.

The premise is simple: Cook large portions of multiple dishes and store them in portioned containers in the freezer to extend their shelf life for up to three months.

In an “Unang Balita” report by Katrina Son, Dr. Rafael Cabo-Chan Martires, a general medicine physician and medical director of Doki Medical Clinic, said frozen meal prep is ideal because the nutritional value of dishes does not easily degrade.

“Ang pag-meal prep nang ganito ay maganda dahil ito ay tipid at actually maganda rin at masustansiya dahil ang mga pagkain na frozen, madalas hindi agad nasisira at nade-degrade ang nutrition nito,” Martires said.

[This kind of meal-prep is good because apart from being more affordable, it maintains the nutritional value of the foods. When food is frozen, its nutritional value doesn't degrade.]

However, the doctor advised that preparing such meals should be done meticulously.

“Dapat malinis ang kusina sa preparasyon ng pagkain,” he said.

[Your kitchen should be clean when you prep your food]

Food containers should be airtight and freezer-safe, he added.

Another safety tip is to check the freezer’s temperature. It should be at -18°C to prevent food from spoiling and to avoid the growth of microbes or germs.

Once you take out a frozen dish to eat, you may reheat it using a microwave or oven and consume it immediately.

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