Police estimate the burglars took an estimated 100 kilograms of food, much of which was cooked up and eaten at the house.

Police are investigating after at least two burglars broke into a South Canterbury house and cooked an enormous meal using food from the freezer.

Sergeant Ian Howard, of Timaru police, said the owners of the Talbot St, Geraldine, house had lost an estimated 100 kilograms of food from their freezer after the raid about 8am on Saturday.

Much of that appeared to have been cooked up and eaten by the burglars while they were still inside the house, Howard said.

They had chosen a bottle of expensive Pinot Noir wine from the house to wash the meal down.

Howard said a car was spotted leaving the address that matched the description of one found burnt out on the Opihi River shortly after the burglary was reported.

Police had yet to identify the owner of the car but had a few leads, he said.

"Several items left behind in the house have been taken for fingerprinting."

No further information about the burglary was available on Monday. Geraldine police were unable to be reached for comment.