LIFE

The meat-free ingredients every family needs in their freezer

Last modified on Monday 30 January 2023

When it comes to your family finances, every penny counts. And as the cost of living crisis deepens, finding ways to make savings is a top priority. Which is why your freezer is your new kitchen go-to...

Research shows we bin an eye-watering £2,675 worth of food every year. And a big part of that is because we often leave things on the kitchen counter that should actually go in the fridge.

Buying frozen food means no more chucking out wilted veggies or anything else that's past its use-by date. Instead, you'll have a freezer full of ingredients ready to whip up all your family favourites.

And with an Oxford University study showing you could save a third on food bills by ditching meat, why not do both?! Here are the frozen meat-free essentials to pop in your freezer...

1. Quorn Mince

Spag bol , chilli … mince is a staple ingredient in loads of family meals.

Using Quorn Meat Free Mince (which is available chilled or frozen) means you can make your fave suppers AND reduce the amount of meat your family eats. Win, win!

2. Vegetable base mix

From sauces to soups, there are three key ingredients you ALWAYS need: onion, celery and carrot. Rather than hunting round your fridge for the veggies, simply keep a mix in your freezer.

You can pick up packs of chopped vegetable base mix from most supermarkets. And if you've got a pack in your freezer, try whipping up this Vegetarian Cottage Pie which contains frozen veg. The best bit? It costs just 80p per serving.

3. Noodles

Fancy whipping up a yummy stir fry or warming noodle soup that the whole family will love? Keep a pack of noodles in your freezer ready for a quick teatime treat.

You can even make your own homemade Pot Noodles !

4. Potatoes

Chips, waffles, roasties. No matter how you like your potatoes, you can find them in a frozen version.

They're a brilliant addition to family meals – from Sunday roasts to kids' teas – so it’s definitely worth keeping them in stock.

Especially as a study found potato-based meals are more filling than other side dishes like bread.

5. Sausages

All kids love sausages, right? Give them a health kick by swapping out your usual bangers for meat-free Quorn Sausages .

Keep a pack (or two!) in your freezer for sausage and mash, toad in the hole or this budget-friendly Pearl Barley, Quorn Sausages and Winter Lentils casserole.

6. Herbs

According to the food waste study by Samsung, herbs are one of the ingredients we chuck out the most. Forget buying fresh and opt for frozen herbs instead. Or, buy fresh, then chop and freeze in oil to keep the flavour locked in. Ice cube trays work a treat for this!

Parsley makes a great addition to fish pie, oregano is tasty in pasta dishes and try adding some chopped coriander to your homemade curry.

7. Pizza bases

Another way to keep costs down is by making your own fakeaway. Keep some pizza bases in the freezer that you can whip out for this family favourite.

Your kids will love creating their own pizza by loading on their favourite toppings. Check out our easy veggie pizza recipe for inspiration