Tips to saving grocery money: Freezer Soup

[vida130]

Your tips are incredible and so practical thank you so much! How long do you cook your soup in the crock pot and is it low or high?

[thewheatguy]

@vida130 ~ Hi!

Thanks for watching and I'm so delighted you find the videos useful!

Usually I put the pot on low early in the day (around 8-9AM) and leave it simmering all day until dinner (about 6PM).

Just don't add any starchy leftovers like rice or pasta until the last hour or they turn into mush and disappear! (o:

Best Blessings,

Donna

[jimmie200]

You are very, very clever to save money like this. Very informative video. What is the name of the intro music? It's familiar, but I don't know the name.

[thewheatguy]

@jimmie200 ~ Thank you for your kind words of encouragement!

I wish I could remember the name....I think it is something by Vivaldi.... but I'm not sure. My son kept the CDs, so I'm at a loss myself. Sorry.... )o:

Best Blessings!

Donna

[cherd1971]

very nice thanks for shareing this

we buy so much chicken now that prices are high

[thewheatguy]

@cherd1971 ~ Glad you enjoyed the tip.

All kinds of tid-bits of leftover meat can add to those veggies then you have a never ending option of types of soup!

Gotta stretch those food dollars!

[karl9x]

I save chicken necks and livers for my crockpot soup.

[thewheatguy]

@karl9x ~ Good idea!

Did you know that if you boil the entire chicken (or turkey) carcass bones and all(after most of the meat is eaten off of it) you actually ADD glucosamine to the stock which helps with joints and mobility. People buy those vitamins all the time! Especially after we pass 45 (o:

Best Blessings!

Donna

[chrislika1]

Love it! You have great great videos.

[thewheatguy]

@chrislika1 ~ Thank you! I hope to get more up soon...my son the videographer got married and is harder to get scheduled now that he isn't living at home... )o:

Best Blessings! Thanks again for the encouragement!

Donna

[thesixtycentstore]

Great ways to save time & money!

[thewheatguy]

@thesixtycentstore ~ Thank you! Sorry to be so slow on the reply. Seems that I wasn't getting youtube notices....hmmmm.....

This is my favorite for a fast hot meal for pennies!

Best Blessings!

Donna

[tiselput]

I love this idea!! We throw away so much food because none of us really like leftovers, much. This is a way to get fresh soup from stuff WE would normally throw out! THANKs SO MUCH!!!

[thewheatguy]

@tiselput - Oh I am so glad you liked it! (and I am sorry I am so slow in replying!!!)

It has been a life-saver for us in the winter when we just pop the whole thing in some broth and simmer all day! No waste an big savings!

Thanks for the kind words!!

Best Blessings!

Donna

[booboochachala]

Bravo!!! Great Idea. Thank you for the posting.

[thewheatguy]

@booboochachala -Thank you for your encouraging comment! Sorry so slow on the reply...notices were not getting emailed.

Best Blessings!

Donna

[Auntielle]

I really like this idea, but have to make a suggestion: Please wear a barette to hold your bangs back! You keep pulling your bangs out of your eyes with your fingers, and then you scraped the peas and corn out of the dish with your fingers and into the container. I realize that when the food gets frozen it probably kills any germs, but it still is NOT a good idea to be touching your hair or face when you're handling food - especially food that someone else will be eating. Great video though!

[thewheatguy]

Thank you for your kind and encouraging comments.

Best Blessings!

Donna

[mrbr549]

Nice, but aren't you worried about using food that is old tasting or maybe spoiled that could give you food poisoning?

[thewheatguy]

That's a fair question! Thanks for asking...

Nope, not worried at all.

I do this either after a meal knowing that the little bit left over isn't enough to just keep. If it has been in the fridge it's less than a week old. Each Wed we do a 'fridge purge & plan' so nothing is ever actually 'old'. I smell everything to be extra sure. When in doubt - don't save.

You have a good point, but if done weekly, there is no worry...monthly....would be gross. (o:

Best Blessings!

Donna

[winterskyshadow35]

you can freeze tomato pieces and even whole tomatos to keep for homemade sauce or soup. By the way, it is MUCH easier to peel a tomato when it is frozen, just run it under warm water and rub with your thumb. the skin will roll right off. I do this for making pasta sauce from "scratch"

[thewheatguy]

I love freezing a tomato vs. canning them! Too hot and messy for me.

Great reminder of an easy use for fresh sauces! Thanks!

Best Blessings!

Donna

[rinahil]

question..... can you make freezer soup out of other leftovers like i made curry chicken with mixed vegetables after we ate there was alot of vegetables and sauce leftover what can i do with this so that i dont have to toss it

[thewheatguy]

Great question!

You can use it in soup. I'd suggest that it be in it's own container (sauce, veggies, leftover cooked chicken) that is clearly labled so you know the flavors/spices you've already added and will have an idea of what type of soup it will work well in. Not sure if it would do well in a beef base, but in a cream or chicen base, yes.

We do this with left-over spaghetti meat-sauce. Save a small portion to put in vegetable soup. So it's a similar thing.

Best Blessings!

Donna

[imsailing2]

Donna, one question. We always have a lot of little cups of leftover beans. Mostly black beans and refried beans. Should I keep the bean separate like the pasta and rice, or throw the beans in with the veggies and everything else?

LOVE this idea....

[thewheatguy]

GREAT QUESTION!

If the beans are already cooked (as it sounds) then I would keep them separate partially for variation options and to add in like rice at the end so they don't get overly mushy.

If they are still pretty firm, they can go in with the veggies (I'd still keep them in their own jar though to give options).

Refried beans will add thickness (like mashed potatoes) so add them whenever.

GREAT topic!

Thanks for asking...wheels are now turning!

Best Blessings!

Donna

[thewheatguy]

Yep! Good idea!

One reason we don't put meat in is to have choices and use the veggies in a wide variety of ways - pot pies, shepards pie, soup, casseroles etc....

Done this for EVER.

Best Blessings!

Donna

[lulugemini]

A family friend who is almost 90 now taught me to do this on a camping trip in the 60's. She said she always cleaned out her frig/freezer before they head off to go winter-camping and use a big pot or dutch oven.

[canids]

great ideas cept I have an ice cream tub in our fridge. As I prepare our dogs dinner at home, ie I dont buy commercial dog food, all our scraps get added to the dogs dinner the next day to add to its meat or what ever else we cook up for the dog.

[thewheatguy]

That's a good idea too.

We have one (tin) in the freezer for the same type thing but we draw the line that if WE can eat it - we try that first...but the dog does get his fare share of really good treats!

Good idea too to feed animals REAL food!

Thanks!

Donna

[bonzaibb12]

I lived in Romania for a few years and I was shocked that no one buys dog food they all cook there scraps and old bread.

This is also Biblical , in the Bible it said to give the dogs only table scraps. I do not think people are even aware they can do this since dog food companies scare people into believing they could not meet the dogs nutritional needs. If you can cook for a human and keep them healthy than you can most certainly keep a dog healthy

[canids]

i'm proly hyjacking the thread, but it's all about keeping the basis covered. eg, protien, carbs, veg, grains. Even fruit. Give your dogs that kinda food you got healthy dogs

[thepuppywash]

That is such a cool idea!....I have been watching all your videos over the last few days and have received so many good tips....I look forward to seeing more

[thewheatguy]

Thank you for your kind and encouraging comment!

I hope to have a few more up soon, but my 'camera man' has finals coming up - so he's distracted (o:

More will be coming tho! Promise!

Best Blessings!

Donna

[Emanual0607]

Thank you and may God Bless you.

[thewheatguy]

Happy to be of service...and, He HAS (o:

Best Blessings!

Donna

[herbalcat]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the time you spend bringing us these great tips!

[thewheatguy]

It's my pleasure and joy to share...I hope to keep 'em coming! Thank you so much for the encouragement!

Best Blessings!

Donna

[logollady]

Great idea on the veggies! wow! I am going to try that this week... thank you!

[thewheatguy]

Thanks!

We also empty the jar for pot pies and other casseroles if soup is not on the menu!

Best Blessings!

Donna

[FrugalAli]

I do this same thing. But, there is another freezer meal that I do and that is Pasta Casserole. Most of the time my pasta gets mixed with my meat sauce, and I have left overs. I keep gallon plastic ice cream buckets for this reason. I throw all that left over pasta into one of those bowls and throw it in the freezer. When I get ready to use it, I thaw it out in the fridge, pour it into a casserole dish and sprinkle it with shredded cheese and bake it until hot and bubbly.

[thewheatguy]

That's a great idea too! A perpetual pasta bucket! I too like to use those ice cream tubs - they work great for a compost bucket for the counter too.

Thanks for more ideas FruglAli!

Best Blessings!

Donna

[siszam]

I've always done a form of what you're describing here. I never freeze items with air in the container. Don't you ever get freezer burn?

[thewheatguy]

Hi!

Thanks for the comment.

No, I've never really had trouble with freezer burn for this. Likely it's because I do use it up pretty regularly. I'll plan a soup the same week as a pot pie (or something esle needing mixed veggies) and use it all up after thawing.

Most of the items are actually submurged in their juice/broth already so it's like freezing solids inside liquids. Thus no burn.

Thanks again for commenting and subscribing!

Best Blessings!

Donna

[AnnieNM06]

Great video! I love your videos. I'm learning so much from them.

This maybe a dumb question but why can't you put the meat into the perpetual freezer soup bowl?

[thewheatguy]

You might be able to but I don't for two reasons:

1. The meat has to get room temp before chilling or freezing (after cooking and serving hot) so bacteria does not grow.

2. With no meat in the mix, the variety of choices is unlimited. I can use leftover turkey for pot pies (did this last night) or taco meat for soup.

Thanks for the encouraging words! Glad you're enjoying these. Any ideas I'd be happy to help!

Best Blessings!

Donna

[OhItsJustMe2]

I did not know you could freeze cooked rice. I will have to keep that in mind since we eat it often.

Another great video! Thanks!!

[thewheatguy]

Yep!

Just store in a baggie or container in the freezer and when you want to use it, make sure it's the last thing added (so it won't go mushy/obliterated) and it's the same. 

Also, you can steam it for just a few minutes and it's just like it was 'new' rice (O:

Lastly - it makes a great crust for savory pies or quiches. Thaw and put in pie tin like a graham cracker crust.

Best Blessings!

Donna

[OhItsJustMe2]

Thanks for the response! Would love to see you make a video the next time you make either the savory pies or quiches with the rice.

[thewheatguy]

Great idea! Thanks!

Will put this on the 'video to-do' list!

Best Blessings!

Donna

[thewheatguy]

HEY!

Just wanted to let you know we did one of these today...(o: So in a couple of weeks I should have it up!

Thanks for that idea!

Best Blessings,

Donna

[OhItsJustMe2]

Thanks, I will be looking forward to watching it.

[Onthegomom1]

Great idea for stretching our grocery dollars!

[thewheatguy]

Thank you for the kind encouragement!

We will be using some this week with left over turkey and broth! Yum! Perfect since it is getting colder now!

Best Blessings!

Donna

[mikeyx007]

that f n smart

[zzzzzzzandaz]

NO SOUP 4 U? GOOD IDEA

[thewheatguy]

Haha!

Sienfeld!

Blessings!

Donna

[thewheatguy]

Testing comments today. It hadn't been working