A mum has revealed how she’s cooking and freezing almost her entire Christmas dinner weeks in advance – and says it saves her both stress and cash.
Tahnee Beck, 35, has been batch-cooking for around five years and now applies her money-saving method to the festive season too.
Her approach was inspired by a nostalgic 1970s pamphlet gifted to her by her mother-in-law, called Freezing for Christmas by Home & Freezer Digest.
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“It walks you through freezing almost the entire Christmas dinner,” Tahnee, a writer and content creator from Norfolk, told What’s The Jam.
“That first year [cooking] was a breeze compared to years past.
“It stops stress and saves cash too.”
Tahnee says she learned the hard way last year, when kitchen renovations meant she couldn’t prep much in advance for Christmas.
She said: “I really regretted it.
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“My husband and I spent around three to four hours preparing Christmas lunch over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – and we didn’t even make all the dishes we normally have.”
This year, she says things will be different because the majority of her festive menu is already cooked, wrapped and frozen.
Tahnee is hosting two Christmas meals: a big family gathering on Christmas Day for 13 people, and a Boxing Day roast for seven.
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While other relatives are handling the meat, she has already prepared a long list of dishes.
So far, she has made and frozen two Christmas puddings, brandy butter, a pineapple and cherry fruit cake, roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, cranberry sauce, two stuffing logs, and walnut fudge.
She began with the Christmas puddings back on 6 October, and estimates she has spent around £80 so far with plenty of ingredients still left for other recipes.
Tahnee says storing food properly is key.
She explained: “As long as pre-prepped food is stored in appropriate containers baking paper and foil, glass containers with rubber seals, airtight tubs, freezer bags it won’t affect the taste.”
One of the biggest benefits, she says, is how relaxing Christmas morning becomes.
She added: “I’m looking forward to enjoying time with my family instead of spending my morning in the kitchen.
“Ticking Christmas food prep off my to-do list gives me so much peace of mind.
“A little preparation beforehand really goes a long way.”
Outside of the festive period, Tahnee is still an advid food prepper – which she says keeps her food shop between £50–£70 per week for her family-of-four, and she’s even able to skip a weekly shop once a month thanks to meals she has stored.
Tahnee said: “I save money by batch cooking.
“I buy some items in larger quantities, which works out cheaper per item.”
Chicken is an example, where buying in bulk dramatically reduces the price per kilo.
She added: “Having food ready to go in the freezer or cupboard also stops me doing lots of top-up shops or ordering a takeaway.”
READ MORE: Thrifty Brit makes Christmas dinner with all the trimmings for just £11 – here’s how
