How It Works – Frequently Asked Questions

Will I save money on food using BaySide Dinners?
With BaySide Dinners there's fewer trips to the grocery store, fewer impulse purchases, fewer stops for fast food, and less spoilage. In addition to saving time, you will save money. Our meals average $3.56 per serving.

A couple of this month's offerings sound really good, can I get 2 of these?
Yes, feel free to double up your family's favorites.

Six servings is a lot for my small family. Can I split each dish?
For most, yes. We will provide additional bags and foil pans FREE. For best results, we don't recommend splitting crock pot items.

How do you practice food safety at your store?
All of our workers have been trained in food safety. We follow our Health Department's recommendations for food safety and practice all Serve Safe recommendations. Hand washing is required before the session, after coughing or sneezing, after using the restroom, and between stations. All safety issues will be reviewed at the beginning of each session. Your safety and the safety of your families is very important to us.

Are the recipes at BaySide Dinners nutritious?
You can choose low fat or whole fat, white or whole grains. At BaySide Dinners our priority is to offer our customers the highest quality ingredients so that they can create healthy, delicious dinners. Fresh produce, fresh bread from local bakeries and the highest grades of fresh meat and poultry become part of your dinners. You know what's in your meals because you make them!

How will this make my meal planning easier?
BaySide Dinners makes the task of figuring out what to make for dinner less stressful. You'll love the convenience of having these nutritious, meals on hand in your refrigerator or freezer, ready to go when you are. Life is Hectic. Dinner doesn't have to be!

This sounds too good to be true. Can I really make 12 meals in 2 hours?
Yes you can! We've done all the chopping, slicing, grating, and other time consuming steps, so you simply assemble each of your dishes according to your family's tastes in just minutes.

I don't consider myself a cook. Can I do this?
Yes, you can! In addition to doing all the preparation, we provide simple step-by-step instructions. If you can scoop and stir, you can do this. Still not convinced, we're happy to demonstrate techniques and answer any questions. Just look for one of our staff, they are the ones wearing the hats!

I'm not sure if I would like this. Could I try it out?
Yes! You can come in to try out the process for a special introductory Try-It package. For new customers only. Please contact BaySide Dinners to sign up for your Try-It package today. You can also try one of our Freezer Favorite, pre-assembled meals at any time, just stop by and pick one up!

What do I need to bring to a session?
You'll need to bring a cooler, laundry basket or an insulated bag to carry home your dinners. We'll provide all the meal storage containers you'll need.

We hate (we love) onions or spicy food. Can I adjust the recipes?
Absolutely. One of the beauties of BaySide Dinners is everything can be customized. Start with our Family-Tested, Family-Approved recipes and make them your own with added this or less of that. Our staff is always available to assist and give suggestions. We have created recipes that are mildly spicy and will let you know if something varies from our standard spice level. Like things more spicy? Look for our spice bar to add just the right zing for your family!

My family has food allergies, can I still come to BaySide Dinners?
Please inform us of any allergies at registration time. Given our first hand experience with food allergies (we have a chicken and peanut allergy in one home), we know how serious they can be. All ingredient labels are available for you to review in the store before or during your session. We will assist you with substitutions or changes to recipes as needed. Please be aware that common food allergens such as milk and nuts are used in some of our recipes and will be present during most sessions.

How can I possibly fit all this food in my freezer?
Before you come to BaySide Dinners, take a few minutes to clean out your freezer, you're never going to use that mystery meat anyway. Your dinners will be stored in freezer friendly containers like Ziploc bags and foil pans. You'll be surprised how much you can fit on one shelf in your freezer. Also, place several dinners in the refrigerator right away to use that week.

Can I bring my kids or someone to help?
Consider your time at BaySide Dinners a chance to enjoy a little adult interaction. We've intentionally scheduled our daytime sessions to coincide with school and pre-school times to make things more convenient. Also, health department regulations don't allow young children to attend sessions. Older kids, are encouraged to join our BaySide Kids Club, so that they can enjoy the cooking process too!

I need to reschedule, what do I do?
Life happens, we understand. Food and the flu don't mix, if you're not feeling well, we encourage you to call and reschedule.

How do I defrost my entrees?
The proper way to defrost your entrees is in the refrigerator. We recommend on Sunday you pull entrees from your freezer and place them in your refrigerator. Each one will thaw at a different rate based upon their density and refrigerator temperature. Cook them throughout during the week and your dinners are taken care of.

I didn't defrost my entrée before cooking it. Can I cook it frozen?
We recommend that you completely defrost your entrees before cooking them. You will have to cook your entrée longer if it is not completely thawed. Our cooking instructions are for food that has been completely thawed in the refrigerator. A dish is not properly cooked until the internal temperature reaches at least 165 degrees.

I always forget to defrost my entrees in advance?
We recommend that you place the Menu Sheet we give you on the outside of your freezer so you know what's in your freezer. Every Sunday pull entrees and place them in your refrigerator to defrost. Don't forget to mark them off.

How long can I keep my entrees in the freezer?
Because we do not use any preservatives in our ingredients, we recommend you use them within 45 days of freezing for best results.


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