Freezer Organization Ideas
April showers lead to May flowers, but March brings us Frozen Food Month. As you might expect, the Merry Maids team is always eager to get behind any occasion that gives us an excuse to clean or organize.
Therefore, in honor of Frozen Food Month, we’re pleased to present you with the instructions you need to figure out how to organize a chest freezer or regular freezer, including some important health and safety info.
Safe Frozen Food Storage
Safety is key when it comes to freezer organization, so we’ll start here. Have a look at a few steps you can take to lessen your chances of serving ingredients that have gone bad.
Safety is key when it comes to freezer organization, so we’ll start here. Have a look at a few steps you can take to lessen your chances of serving ingredients that have gone bad.
- Know when food expires — The amount of time frozen items will stay good will vary widely depending on what the foods are and how they’ve been portioned or prepared. When it comes to safe freezer organization, we recommend relying on this helpful chart from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration
- Label everything — Don’t let any freezer organizer bins or bags pass that chilly door until you’ve properly labelled them. Be certain to list the contents of the storage containers as well as the date you packaged the food. (For example: “Uncooked chicken thighs, 03/01/2019.”)
- Keep stock of freezer contents — Track what’s coming and going in your freezer with a magnetic dry erase board, a chalkboard, a spreadsheet or whichever organizational tool floats your boat. As you did when labelling, list the names of food items and their packing dates, so you know at a glance when something needs to be tossed out.
Basic Freezer Organization
The good thing about the freezer is that it comes together pretty quickly once you have your labelling and inventory systems sorted out. In addition, freezer organization can be customized based on your needs and preferences. Check out the following ideas for a little icebox inspiration.
- Use clear containers so you can easily see what foods are inside.
- Pour the ingredients for dump dinners, soups, smoothies and so forth into reusable plastic bags and freeze them flat to make the most of storage space. Be certain to get all the air out of the bags before placing them in the freezer so they’re as slim as possible. (Bonus tip: Tape a note with cooking directions on the bag so you don’t have to dig up recipes when it’s time to eat.)
- Store frozen foods in portions. (We’re talking everything from tablespoons of tomato paste to single-serve smoothies.)
- Maximize precious freezer space by keeping like products together in labeled freezer organization bins or magazine holders.
How to Organize a Chest Freezer
Chest freezer organization is also a fairly easy task, though you’ll want to make sure your inventory tracking addresses any stacking you might do. Aside from that, these suggestions can help you think outside of the icebox.
- Ditch the cartons veggie burgers and popsicles came in and place them in labelled reusable storage bags instead. This will save room and spare you the headache of rummaging through dilapidated cardboard boxes.
- Color code your food by type. For instance, beef could be kept in a red container while frozen veggies could chill in a green bin. (Take this to the next level by color coding your inventory list to follow suit.)
- Stick to square or rectangular freezer organization bins as they’re more economical in terms of space.
- Make sure your freezer organization bins have handles so you can lift them out of the chest unit. You also want to avoid oversized bins, which can be heavy when filled. (There’s no need to injure your back when looking for a bag of frozen peas!)
While you’re reorganizing your freezer, you might as well give it a little TLC. We’ve got the instructions you need to clean your freezer like a professional. Better yet, contact your local Merry Maids
