I don’t know about you, but I would be nothing without my freezer. This is where I store all my leftovers, and it helps me prepare meals for weeks (and sometimes even months), so I’m not stuck with the never-ending question: What do I cook? But one thing I hate is how messy My freezer is always there.
I have been inspired lately What people with an organized fridge always haveAnd it made a huge difference in the space available and the freshness of my food. And while these products and tools have been transformative, it’s fair to say they’ve made my freezer worse — especially since everything has been moved in there, and the drawers get stuck every time I try to open them.
So, I made it my mission Organize my freezer And those with an organized freezer always invest in what they have on hand. And I thought I’d share it with you too.
1. Freezer bag
(Image credit: Future plc)
I was recently introduced to Kate Hall, a home food waste expert, who shares her freezer tips and tricks. @thefullfreezer. And the one thing she swears by in her enviable freezer? Freezer bags! He uses it to freeze everything from fresh fruit and vegetables For the almonds and hummus.
The beauty of reusable freezer bags is that you can freeze solids or liquids (as long as you freeze them flat first) and then store everything vertically – almost like a filing cabinet of freezables – to maximize space and also improve visibility. Then, when you want to defrost the contents, you should be able to pull the bag out without moving anything out and messing up the process.
To make this as efficient as possible, however, it’s a good idea to file it by expiration date or category. For example, vegetables with vegetables, meat with meat and sweet stuff with sweet stuff. I would also recommend having a freezer thermometer – like this one Pack of 2 LCD Digital Fridge Freezer Thermometers (£7.49 at Amazon) – to make sure everything there lasts as long as possible.
125 Pick a Bag Flat Freezer Bags – Various Sizes
These freezer bags are extremely affordable and have a tear-off header that makes bagging up your food easier than ever.
1 Liter Freezer Bags with Glide Closure, Pack of 20 by Amazon
Ideal for bulk purchases, this freezer bag offers a 1L capacity and also has a label field to help you keep track of what each item is.
IDEATECH Reusable Freezer Bags, 20 Pack
Made from silicone, these reusable freezer bags are stronger than thin plastic. They also come with a zip for maximum freshness.
2. Labels
(Image credit: Future plc)
Let’s be honest, frozen foods can be a mystery. The spaghetti bolognese you cooked three weeks ago looks like a fuzzy orange mess when it’s frozen, and basically all look the same when frozen soup is taken. But labels can help you remove what you need from your freezer without knocking everything over.
I’m a big fan of labeling anyway and Label Maker is one of them The best tools for declutteringSo using it in your freezer is a no-brainer. Especially when you can label easily and cheaply with a freezer-safe marker pen like this one Fine Tip Freezer and Label Permanent Marker (£3.99 at Lakeland).
There are many different ways to label your freezer as well. You can label each frozen item—like each freezer bag—so you know exactly what the food is, when it was cooked, and when it expires. Or, if you organize your freezer items by drawer, you can label each drawer with its contents so you always know where everything is.
250 Freezyzy Plain White Adhesive Freezer Labels
Because it’s a pack of 250, this pack of labels should last you months—if not years. They also peel off easily after use.
Nelco Label Maker P21 Portable Bluetooth Sticker Printer
If you want to make your own labels for your freezer, this label maker is cheap and cheerful. And can be used around the house.
If you want to label your freezer drawers yourself, these guys will add some personality to the mix.
3. Rectangular container
(Image credit: Future plc/Philip Lauterbach)
If freezer bags aren’t your thing, food containers can also help keep the freezer organized – and they come in many different forms, too. Soup Storage Ideal Home Team Swear to this Lakeland 10 Stack A Box Food Storage Container (£11.99 at Amazon) For chunkier or more delicate foods that you don’t want to damage in the freezer.
But while there are many different food storage containers out there, the key to an organized freezer is choosing rectangular containers that can not only be easily slotted next to each other, but can also be stacked on top of each other to maximize freezer space.
An airtight container also reduces the chance of freezer burn, which you often get with freezer bags, because it keeps air out and also traps any moisture inside. Plus, the beauty of these containers is that you can use them elsewhere when you’re done with them. including Organize your kitchen cupboards.
LocknLock 6 Piece Freezer Fit Container Set
This container is ideal for the freezer and offers a stackable modular system and index labels for easy storage.
Lakeland 2-Part Freeze Pod
Freeze pods like these are ideal for storing soups and curries, and can be put straight into the microwave or oven to minimize washing up.
Argos Home Pack of 3 900ml Clip Lock Storage Set
These three sturdy containers come with a clip locking system to keep your frozen food fresh and free from freezer burn.
4. Dividers and bins
(Image credit: Future plc)
Whether you have a traditional freezer with drawers or a deep chest freezer, these spaces are often much larger than the items inside them, which means the contents jumble around and look messy. That’s where dividers and bins can help.
Yes, as you wish Organize the fridge Or Organize your clothes drawersThese dividers and bins allow you to bundle similar foods together and break up a large space so you can always stack them and keep them organized without them falling over or encroaching on other foods.
Food storage bins also make it easier to get your frozen items out of the freezer, as you can remove smaller bins instead of removing an entire drawer and potentially exposing your other foods to hotter indoor temperatures.
UMDONX 4 Pack Chest Freezer Baskets
Ideal for chest freezers, this basket sits inside the freezer and allows you to sort your food. These four baskets are combined, but can be separated.
Stackable Fridge Organizer, Pack of 6
Although designed for the fridge, there’s nothing stopping you from using this storage basket in your freezer. They are also stackable.
Joseph Joseph Fridgestore – Movable fridge shelf divider
If you want to divide up your freezer drawers, this might do the trick. However, they are not permanent, so you can move them as you see fit.
5. List
(Image credit: Future plc/B Homes)
I know for a fact that my freezer is full of things that have been there for years, because it’s so easy to forget about them when they get stuck in the back. But that’s why people with organized freezers always keep a list – or inventory – of the contents inside the appliance. That way, they always know what’s there.
If you have a magnetic freezer, you can use something like this Sweetzer & Orange S&O Magnetic Notepad (£5.99 on Amazon) Adhering to the freezer door, noting the food in there and any relevant cooking or expiry dates. When you have a list to watch, you should stop buying any duplicates and wasting any money – and it can even inspire your weekly meal plans.
The downside is that unless you have an empty freezer right now, you have to spend some time going through the contents and backdating everything in there. But once that list is compiled, it should be pretty easy to add items to it when you’re cooking the next batch or meal prep.
Freezer Inventory List: Fridge and Freezer Kitchen Stock Supply Tracker
This book will allow you to track and manage the contents of your freezer, making meal planning and supermarket shopping easier.
Say goodbye to your messy freezer!
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