Organising your freezer: first time
Why should I organise my freezer?
As a busy parent I soon realised that my freezer needed to be as organised as the cupboard I keep the plates or the mugs in. Why did I organise my fridge or pantry after a shop but not my freezer? It frustrated me at the end of the day when I had to search for the item I knew was in the freezer. I would be late home from work and the children would be asking ‘what’s for tea.’ Often, I would give up looking for it, change my plans and of course then find the item. I was organised as a single person and would often meal plan so why not as a family? How much time was I wasting each day that I could spend on something else?
Where do I start when organising it for the first time?
I was tired of never being able to locate what was in my freezer and one day I snapped and I took everything out. I also had allergies and my son had also now developed them so I thought enough was enough. Time to get organised. The whole process doesn’t actually take that long but I found it saved me a lot of time the following week and made meal preparation and planning so much easier.
Take everything out, clean the freezer and discard items you don’t recognise!
One of the items we sell online are labels. We also customise labels for individuals on a regular basis so if this is something your interested in the contact us via the online form below. The freezer was opened, and everything was taken out. If you have them then get some freezer boxes ready for this job and put everything in them (or do drawer by drawer). Work quickly as we don’t want things to defrost.
Clean the freezer area and then look at what you have. For me freezer meals I had once frozen and now had no idea what they were or more importantly what the ingredients were got thrown into the rubbish bin. The breaded fish we could no longer eat but still in date was donated to neighbours and the freezer items sorted into groups.
How do I put it all back in?
Before you start placing things back in decide how you want to organise it. I have 4 drawers in my freezer, so I put meat products in one tray, fruit and vegetables in another, bakery items in another and prepared meals I have created in another. I will discuss in a later episode how you can further organise how your freezer contents looks.
Note pad and pen is required
Get a note pad and pen and decide what drawer will hold what and then write the item down on the notepad as you put it back in. Place this on the freezer door so everyone in your family can see it. With the use of a notepad you know when you are getting low on an item and it can go on the shopping list. It also means you don’t have to read minds and know when the children’s favourite ice cream is low - if they haven’t written it down then that is why it wasn’t purchased at the shops! I use a whiteboard for this as I can then rub items out and add easily but a notepad also works well.
Freezer not full?
A freezer needs to be kept nice and tidy. I know it’s tempting to pack it in, but the air doesn’t circulate throughout the unit. Keep the items you use often in the front so they're more readily accessible. Remember each time you open the freezer warm air enters so also don’t pack it too little. I keep cold blocks at hand and when some areas are looking empty, I will place them in the freezer. If you don’t have these then just fill some freezer bags or containers with water and place these in the freezer.
How often do I need to do this?
If everyone is on board and puts things back correctly then just once! Mistakes happen though and once a month I less than half an hour on a Saturday and take everything out, clean down the sides of the freezer and then check the notes on what the contents are is correct. A minute after each shop putting away correctly and listing what you have saves you so much time later in the week. Perhaps enough time to get your nails done?
If you require any further information or help then please get in contact with me via the form online.
I hope you have enjoyed this information. Until next time!
Emma Alexander-Cook.
