The opposite of what we said yesterday when we
discussed how
to organise the inside of your Fridge - The freezer functions best when it is fully stocked.
However, to find the food that you're looking for, you must still maintain
organisation.
You're less likely to lose food in the back or under
other items, and you'll be able to keep track of all the
food you have, in addition to making it easier to grab items out of an
organised freezer. I created a FREE freezer inventory
when I organized my freezer; if you're interested, you
can download it. You can also get a copy of the fridge
inventory from yesterday.
Gather Your Supplies
I recommend that you gather a few supplies before starting today’s
challenge:
· Rubbish bag – for discarding old and expired food
· Sink of hot soapy water
· Cleaning supplies for cleaning the fridge and freezer
· Label Maker or labels and a marker
Empty the contents
Begin
by emptying the freezer. Take everything
out. Check to see if any of the items
are expired or have suffered from freezer burn, if so, remove and discard these
items.
Remove the shelves
If you have removable shelves remove them and clean them off
with soapy water and leave them to dry. Whilst they are drying, it’s the
perfect time to wipe down the inside of the freezer.
Categorise Your Items
Once you have decluttered your freezer, you will want to categorise
the items in your freezer.
Some categories you could consider for your freezer organisation
are:
· Meat and Poultry
· Seafood
· Baked goods
· Fruits and Vegetables
· Ready-made meals
When you are returning your items back in your freezer, it
is the perfect time to complete a freezer inventory. This humble little form is a game
changer. It will help you keep track of
the items you've got in your freezer, so you know what you've got to eat, and
the date you need to eat it by - for it to taste its best. Click the link here for
more hints and tips on how to use a freezer
inventory and to download your FREE copy.
Containerise
The best way to keep your freezer organised is to containerise
the items, when you start this – try and buy containers that are the same size
and shape so that they will stack on top of each other.
I have my items in large containers, this way I don’t have
to worry that they will fall out when I open the door.
I have my containers labelled:
· Breads
· Meats
· Potatoes and Veg
I have been using this system for about 12-18 months in my
freezer, and I love it. Its so simple to
find what I need.
Using Labels is Key to Freezer Organisation
The first rule of freezer organization is to keep everything
in plain sight because, if you can see it, you'll defrost and eat it. However,
you might not be able to see what's inside of containers and freezer bags.
Labels are useful in this situation.
The contents of the bag, the number of servings, and the
date it was frozen can all be noted on freezer bags using a Sharpie. The same
details may be written on the containers as well. You are more likely to use
something if you are aware of what is inside and how long it has been there.
Additionally, you will know which items should be thrown away the next time you
clean out the freezer.
You can get more tips
for organizing a chest freezer here.
I would love to hear how you organise your
freezer, why not drop me a message in the comments and let me know? Why not tag me in your progress