I’ve been making these Freezer to Slow Cooker Meals for the past couple of years. I’ve had a great time doing it, too! Throughout those years, I’ve had many questions from readers like you regarding the recipes I’ve been sharing. Many of them have been repeated several times.
For some reason, when I write them out, I must think that you think exactly like me. LOL, I know, that’s impossible, right?
In an effort to keep us all on the same page, here are the answers to many of the questions that are asked. If you have more questions that you feel would benefit others for you to ask, please feel free to leave me a comment here and I will answer it! Please keep in mind that I am only human. 😉
FAQ for Crockpot Freezer Meals
- How many servings do your recipes typically feed?
We have 8 people in our family. My kids are aged 16 down to 2. Each recipe varies, but I usually say that my recipes feed about 6 adults. We have 3 children who eat very small portions. Of course, you can get an idea if you will need more or less by seeing the amount of meat being cooked in the recipe. If it is a lot more than your family would normally eat, adjust accordingly. Or of course you can use it for another meal if you prefer.
- Do I have to defrost the meal before I cook it?
It’s better if you do, but you sure don’t have to. The only problem I have with making slow cooker meals is the fact that I often forget to put it in the crockpot and/or get it out the night before. In most cases, you can either quickly defrost the contents of your bag in the microwave or throw it in frozen. If you’re cooking it from frozen, you need to add cooking time of about 30 minutes to an hour.
- What do t. and T. mean?
Oh yeah, I forgot you weren’t raised in my mom’s kitchen were you? I’ve since been learning to spell out the words so that I don’t confuse you, but I know I need to go back and change some of the recipes. If I have a lowecase t., I mean teaspoon. If I have an upper case T., I mean Tablespoon.
- Is there an easy way to print the recipes?
Well, there’s a couple of options. You can copy and paste them into a word document or you can just print it from your browser’s print tab. I am planning to convert my menus into an e-cookbook that you’ll be able to buy for easier printing if you wish, but obviously that is not necessary to enjoy the benefits of the recipes.
- Do I have to cook the ground beef first?
I know, I hate recipes with extra steps in them, too. Believe me, if I felt that we could leave this step out, I definitely would. In the past, I tried precooking my ground beef by putting large amounts in the slow cooker. It turned out slightly pink, even though it was fully cooked and it had a bad aftertaste. Because of this, I’ve decided that browning my ground beef beforehand is important to me. If you really don’t want to, try it in one recipe to see how it goes. Of course, if you decide to do this, make sure that you buy a cut with little to no fat, as you don’t want your whole recipe turning into a grease bomb!
- How much do you spend on these meals?
Each week varies, depending on how many cuts of meat I am having to buy. Plus, I live in a region with zero grocery competitors and hardly any sales. I think you’ll find that I spent less on the first few weeks (near $100 or so), but as you dive into more menus later, I’ve probably spent a little more, trying to be more diverse. I have never kept track of the price of each week’s meals though, as I’ve always bought other items at the same time.
- When you say to buy a bag of Chicken Breast, how big is that?
Um….good question. Why would I leave that off of a recipe? 🙂 3 pounds is the typical size that I buy from the freezer section.
If you find errors in my meal plans, I’m not surprised. 🙂 Sometimes I’m documenting these recipes for you after midnight. While I do my thinking well after midnight, I still have been known to make plenty of mistakes! If you find an error, feel free to email me at [email protected] and I will do my best to correct them as soon as possible!
Thank you for joining me in this Freezer to Slow Cooker journey! If you have any recipes you’d like me to consider in my next meal plan, please email it to me, as well, at [email protected].
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