Freezer
Inventory: How to Keep Track of What You’ve Got.
Don’t let good food go to waste! By Keeping a freezer
inventory so you can keep track of what you’ve got — and use it before it loses
its freshness.
Whether you do batch cooking or stock up on Ready Meals, you will know what you have so that you can use it up within good time.
Do you ever go to the freezer thinking you’ve some chicken breasts which you plan to use for dinner, only to find, NOPE, you used them last week and forgot to replace them or buy a few packs of burgers, which were on sale, ready for the summer BBQ, when you get home, you find that you have 3 packs already in the freezer - Is it just me?
If this sounds like you, then a freezer inventory is what you need.
Why do I need an inventory?
Taking a food inventory is the first step to meal
planning and shopping your kitchen. Keeping good track of
what’s in your freezer with a freezer inventory can help you save money, eat
well, and avoid food waste.
How do I keep track of the food I have in my freezer?
There are several ways to track your freezer inventory.
Apps: There are several different apps that you can download (either for free/paid) that will help you track what you have in the fridge or freezer. A number of these work by having you scan the barcode on products. Whilst this is great if you have a lot of packaged foods, but not so helpful if you’re freezing: meat from the butchers or handmade meals. Make sure to check whether the app allows for the manual entry of custom items.
On a dry-erase board: You can write your freezer inventory on a magnetic dry-erase board that attaches to your fridge/freezer or on a regular board that hangs on the kitchen wall.
Paper Inventory: Personally, I like using a paper template. I laminate it and put it in my Home Management Binder. Here’s one I made for my kitchen – if you want a FREE copy of the Freezer Inventory feel free to download it.
Here’s what a Freezer Inventory Sheet can look
like:
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
If your freezer is full, it would be best to empty the
freezer completely to understand exactly what you have. The details you should include are
- Date it was frozen
- Item – What it is and how many portions
- Use by date
- The quantity you have
Cross out, and replace the number when you use items in your
inventory, this way you will always know how many you have left, without having
to dig around the freezer. As long as
you remember to cross off the item each time you use something from the
freezer, you’ll have a great record of what’s left to eat.
You can keep this inventory on the front of your fridge or
freezer or in your Home Management Binder
This is not only helpful with meal planning, but it will
help you make good use of things on sale, as you will know exactly what you
have and what you need.
I found this freezer inventory so helpful, that I made one to
keep track of my fridge inventory too, as always, I have made one for you too.
What food items do you keep in a freezer?
There are so many foods you can freeze. You can
freeze sauces, rice, soups, casseroles, and many cooked fruits and vegetables,
baked goods, and so loads! Avoid items with mayonnaise as well as fresh
vegetables that you want to stay crisp, such as lettuce or cucumbers.
Do you use a freezer inventory? Is it something that you plan to do? Let me know in the comments below. Thank you for stopping by today, it means a lot to me, and I appreciate you, because without you - I wouldn't be here.
Believe in yourself, you got this - Now GO Declutter!