Comments on: Organizing Your Kitchen: The Freezer http://www.simpleproductivityblog.com/organize-the-freezer/ Because a fulfilling life doesn't have to be complicated. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:37:03 +0000 hourly 1 By: LJ http://www.simpleproductivityblog.com/organize-the-freezer/#comment-1179 LJ Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:57:17 +0000 http://www.simpleproductivityblog.com/organizing-your-kitchen-the-freezer/#comment-1179 Thanks for the comments. I never thought of having a chest freezer as being frugal (because my mom always had one), but you are right. Having the extra freezer space allows me to stock up on on-sale items, as well as doing freezer meals. On to your questions: 1. The boxes to the right are for indicating what I have. A single diagonal mark means it is in the freezer, an X in the box means it's been used. So if I had 5 pounds of ground beef, but used three, the boxes would look like //XXX. I always work back from the end, so if I would add another 5 packages of ground beef in, I would know there are two older bags of meat to be used before the ones at the end, and it would look like this: //XXX///// 2. I date my items on the freezer paper or bags I use to hold the items. I use freezer paper mostly because it does best at preventing freezer burn. But I have been known to double-zipper bag items. Every item is identified by what it is and when it went in the freezer. (Except when my husband decides to store cut bait in the freezer and I discover the unlabeled baggie with tentacles showing through...) I inventory the freezers every three months. That way I know what needs to be used, and I can plan a two-week menu cycle on what is coming "due". It's important to stay on top of what you have, because even with an inventory sheet, things may get out of whack if someone else accesses the freezer. HTH! Thanks for the comments. I never thought of having a chest freezer as being frugal (because my mom always had one), but you are right. Having the extra freezer space allows me to stock up on on-sale items, as well as doing freezer meals.

On to your questions:
1. The boxes to the right are for indicating what I have. A single diagonal mark means it is in the freezer, an X in the box means it’s been used. So if I had 5 pounds of ground beef, but used three, the boxes would look like //XXX. I always work back from the end, so if I would add another 5 packages of ground beef in, I would know there are two older bags of meat to be used before the ones at the end, and it would look like this: //XXX/////

2. I date my items on the freezer paper or bags I use to hold the items. I use freezer paper mostly because it does best at preventing freezer burn. But I have been known to double-zipper bag items. Every item is identified by what it is and when it went in the freezer.

(Except when my husband decides to store cut bait in the freezer and I discover the unlabeled baggie with tentacles showing through…)

I inventory the freezers every three months. That way I know what needs to be used, and I can plan a two-week menu cycle on what is coming “due”. It’s important to stay on top of what you have, because even with an inventory sheet, things may get out of whack if someone else accesses the freezer.

HTH!

]]> By: AL http://www.simpleproductivityblog.com/organize-the-freezer/#comment-1178 AL Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:51:38 +0000 http://www.simpleproductivityblog.com/organizing-your-kitchen-the-freezer/#comment-1178 Nice post and well thought out. you can definitely tell that your mother taught you well. i do a similar organizing technique for my fridge. but i've never had enough stuff to have to actually make a list for it. I'm also impressed that you have a chest freezer. it's always an indicator of someone who is frugal with their money. i've got several questions for you. 1. what is the purpose of the 12 boxes that are to the right of the main box on your pdf? i'm guessing that the large box would be the area to put a description. 2. Have you considered dating your items? you alluded to it, but i'm curious, especially since you have a chest freezer, as to how you keep track of how old your frozen food is. For me, i often repackage food for the freezer. So these items don't have a date on it. i've considered just using a sharpie to date the items. i plan on storing more food in a freezer to save money, but my primary concern is making sure everything is dated so that i can rotate food every six months to prevent freezer burn. Thanks for your post and I look forward to reading more of your articles. Nice post and well thought out. you can definitely tell that your mother taught you well. i do a similar organizing technique for my fridge. but i’ve never had enough stuff to have to actually make a list for it.

I’m also impressed that you have a chest freezer. it’s always an indicator of someone who is frugal with their money.

i’ve got several questions for you. 1. what is the purpose of the 12 boxes that are to the right of the main box on your pdf? i’m guessing that the large box would be the area to put a description. 2. Have you considered dating your items? you alluded to it, but i’m curious, especially since you have a chest freezer, as to how you keep track of how old your frozen food is. For me, i often repackage food for the freezer. So these items don’t have a date on it. i’ve considered just using a sharpie to date the items.

i plan on storing more food in a freezer to save money, but my primary concern is making sure everything is dated so that i can rotate food every six months to prevent freezer burn.

Thanks for your post and I look forward to reading more of your articles.

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