Your freezer is like a time capsule for food, keeping things fresh until you're ready. But there's a knack to using it right. From avoiding freezer burn to maximizing space, a few tips can turn your freezer into your best kitchen ally. Ready to learn how to make the most of this chilly treasure chest?
AUTHOR: Stephanie Allen
Table of Contents
- 1. Use Photos and Labels
- 2. Try Stackable Crates and a Whiteboard
- 3. Keep Organized With Chalkboard Paint
- 4. Create Sections
- 5. Label and Portion
- 6. Use a Vacuum Sealer
- 7. Make Use of Grocery Bags
- 8. Keep a Running List
- 9. Try Purposeful Stacking
- 10. Stack Items Left to Right (Or Vice Versa)
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1. Use Photos and Labels
When adding items to the chest freezer for long-term storage, label each item with the name, date of purchase, and the date to use it. Next, please place it in the freezer and take photos of where it is placed. Create a file on your phone to hold these freezer photos. This way, you can track what foods are there and where they are located.
2. Try Stackable Crates and a Whiteboard
An alternative to using cardboard boxes to organize your frozen goods is to use stackable crates inside your chest freezer. These crates come in wood and plastic and are available in different sizes. Use these crates to store and organize your food in the freezer. Keep a whiteboard nearby to keep an inventory of what you have in the freezer, and erase the items on the list as needed.
3. Keep Organized With Chalkboard Paint
Another creative way to keep a current running inventory of items in your chest freezer is to coat the appliance's lid with chalkboard paint. The paint supplies and chalk are all relatively inexpensive to buy. Use the chalkboard to track what you have, where it's in the freezer, and what you need to buy. You can use liquid chalk markers to color code the different types of food.
4. Create Sections
Assign each food item to a different freezer section to keep all your frozen foodstuffs together by type. Store frozen bread in one area, store seafood in another area, and place red meats in a different part of the freezer. This keeps your food items well organized and easy to find. Just make sure to label and date everything.
5. Label and Portion
Labeling your food for deep freeze storage helps remove the guesswork of a particular item. Portioning your food before putting it into deep storage allows you to select the exact amount of food you want to prepare when it comes. You won't make too little food, and you won't make too much, eliminating meal shortages and food waste.
6. Use a Vacuum Sealer
Having to throw away freezer-burned food is an annoyance that can be costly, especially for more expensive meats and seafood products. Invest in a quality vacuum sealer to save money and avoid food waste. The device helps food last longer and stave off freezer burn. Several models of vacuum sealers don't cost a lot, but they are worth the money.
7. Make Use of Grocery Bags
A great way to recycle plastic grocery store bags is to use them to separate food that is stored in the deep freezer. You can put chicken in one bag, steaks in another, pork in a third bag, etc. Label each pack so you know what's in it before thawing it out. If they are heavy-duty grocery bags, you can reuse them if they're in good shape.
8. Keep a Running List
It's impossible to remember every single thing that's in your chest freezer. Keeping an up-to-date list of its contents lets you know its current inventory and what you need to buy; make sure you cross items out as you use them. A running list helps to avoid buying duplicate items for cold storage. It can also double as part of your grocery list.
9. Try Purposeful Stacking
When filling up your chest freezer for the first time or cleaning it out and reorganizing it, be thoughtful in how you stack your items. If there are foods that you cook infrequently or know that you won't be making for a while, like that giant pot roast for Christmas dinner, store those items at the bottom of the freezer. Store foods that you cook more often at the top of the freezer.
10. Stack Items Left to Right (Or Vice Versa)
Instead of stacking your frozen foods from top to bottom, you can also try storing them in a left-to-right or right-to-left direction. This technique lets you neatly move the food around while keeping it organized. You won't have to dig through a stack of food, so you'll shift it from side to side like you're playing a game of Tetris.
Source: Reddit.
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