Streamlining PB&J sandwich prep

Dad (who's raising4boys) optimizes his peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich assembly line by making an entire loaf's-worth and then freezing them. I queried him further, because my experience with frozen pre-made sandwiches was terrible, but he swears that with a good-quality bread, they turn out wonderfully. (If you try this hack, let us know how it goes.)

He uses this technique to ease the morning lunch-packing crunch before school, but it's equally helpful during the summer for spur-of-the-moment picnics.

Tags: Feeding kids, Parenting

Comments

[momma2mingbu]

My midwife suggested making up a whole loaf like this and then putting it in the fridge post-partum for quick, protein snacks for the older kids and for me while so busy nursing a newborn. (But when you have kids who all like it made DIFFERENTLY...what do you do? Plain PB vs. Crunchy PB...jelly or no jelly...blah blah blah!)

[dad]

By the way... The 'good' bread that we use is EarthGrains Honey Wheatberry.

[simplykelly]

Absolutely! Throw a frozen sandwhich in the lunch sack & it's thawed by lunch time. It's not any different than the Smucker's PB&J that sell in the frozen food section --they're good, too.

[Pam]

To keep the bread from getting soggy with jelly as the sandwich thaws, spread a thin layer of peanut butter on both pieces of bread first.

Also, most lunch meats / deli meats freeze just fine, although ham releases more water as it thaws than some other kinds.

[Madeleine]

Super idea!! Just wish they hadn't all but outlawed peanut butter at schools, camps, etc.

[Graham]

Yep, it works great; when I worked as a naturalist I would do this all the time for myself. I found they stayed a little better (and I avoided garbage) by using Wrap-N-Mats: http://www.reusablebags.com/store/wrapnmat-p-2.html

My girl's still in the no-peanut-butter phase, but as soon as she's allowed I'll be breaking out this hack.

[Katy]

My parents used to do this for school lunches for me and my brothers -- two or three loaves worth made once a month really cut down on getting-ready-for-school hassle.

Another good combination is cream cheese on raisin bread.

[Jennifer]

I just wanted to add that if you store your all-natural Peanut Butter upside down the oil mixes in all by itself--no stirring and no mess. It also seems to keep that last inch from turning rock hard (but then you don't get to use the honey hack, which I might try anyway because it sounds yummy!)

Hubby also makes really delicious PB and banana sandwiches by mushing half an overripe banana in a custard cup with a big spoonful of peanut butter--mixing the banana in disguises any little brown spots that the kids would normally turn their noses up at.

[Kathleen]

I do this, too. If you have kids who like different versions (grape v. strawberry or creamy v. crunchy), store them in separate labeled gallon zip-top bags in the freezer.

http://sandwiched.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/wfmw-uncrustables-be-gone/