Bottom of the freezer horror!

ALIBOBSY

Well not quite horror lol. When I first joined MSE we were really short on money and both MSE and the old style boards helped me to get sorted.
Now a few years later we are in a much better position money wise, stuff paid off OH on a much higher wage.
So although we are growing our own and I cook most meals from scratch we had let things slip a little and I wasn't meal planning as I used to and the shopping bills crept up.

Now although we can afford this extra I would rather strike a balance between eating well and saving money as i would rather the cash went towards something else (christmas/hols/savings/pay mortgage off).

So I decided first things first see what stuff I have "in stock" so to speak.
Think I must have a thing for cheap beans and tuna as we have loads, both in the kitchen and in "the store" in my cupboard (have really run this down so want to get that back up and running).

But the worst was the freezers absolutely packed with stuff and in a mess. Needed a good sort and a list so I know whats in there and where.

Also had been batch baking again from last month and now have all the frozen HM goodies in one drawer of one of the freezers.
I am ashamed to say had to throw out a carrier bag of stuff (only a small one honest ). Some items were very degraded and in some cases VERY old-years not months :eek: .

Even OH said he felt bad throwing stuff away, but at least now I am sorted and can make a fresh start. Got my baking/dry goods cupboard to sort now. Got some saved jars and tubs, plus some cheap £1 ones from ASDA.
Want to get organised before christmas and fill up the freezer with all those homademade goodies ready for the big day.

Fired up and ready to get back to some serious oldstyle.


Anyone else got some dodgy stuff in the bottom of the freezer?
Think my worst was the 3 year old bag of brownies :mad:

ali x

BTW used to look on MSE for many years before actually joining-just realised only actually registered in 2007.

debtmuncher

maybe a pea lol

but no, our freezer is just a normal fridge freezer so no chance of delving into the back of beyond!!:p:D

Olliebeak

You've all frightened me now :eek: - think I need to get out the explorer's outfit, ice pick and dig deep - to quote Captain Oates, "I may be some time ..............."

ariba10

Stick a strip of masking tape on the containers with the date on it.

The masking tape seems to stick better.

valk_scot

Stick a strip of masking tape on the inside of the freezer and write on it when you last sorted it out. Then aim for a good reshuffle every three months or so. I keep one basket (or drawer) for the "use up asap" stuff and try to clear that before I start batch baking or bulk buying again.

Before I got into the habit of this yup, get some horrors. The time I found not one but seven stripped chicken carcases in there is fresh in my memory! Mind you, they did make an amazing batch of stock.

purpleivy

valk_scot wrote: »

Stick a strip of masking tape on the inside of the freezer and write on it when you last sorted it out. Then aim for a good reshuffle every three months or so. I keep one basket (or drawer) for the "use up asap" stuff and try to clear that before I start batch baking or bulk buying again.

Before I got into the habit of this yup, get some horrors. The time I found not one but seven stripped chicken carcases in there is fresh in my memory! Mind you, they did make an amazing batch of stock.

You couldn't define a recipe for that sort of stock and repeat it, could you?

I just seem to be miscalculating the food supply at the moment. It didn't help that I went out and did the fresh stuff shopping on Thursday afternoon, then decided at 6pm to spend a couple of days at mum & Dad's. I did manage to take my salad leaves with me, as I knew noone else would touch them. Having done that shopping, kids were away for the weekend as well, so still making things from what's there. THen there's the freezer!

ALIBOBSY

All organised now with a neat list (even put dates of either expiry or when frozen on my list). Not much wasn't labeled to be honest just packed in and not getting used up.
One freezer is a front opener with drawers so fairly easy to sort and now much tidier and organised (even added which drawer items were in on my master list).
The other freezer was the main issue. Its one of those lift up the lid and "fall in" types rofl never get to the bottom of.
Gave them both a wipe down whilst there and with the chest one in particular a good ice scrapeing. But yes loads of stray peas and odd bits in the bottom.
All items that went back were either rebagged or fastened up properly and all labels checked or redone or done fresh. Only one small pot of what I am sure was some leftover fahita mix from earlier this year that had no label at all (although some were undated or the labels were fast dissappearing). Will defrost and check it in the next couple of weeks as if OK will do a lunch for me or OH (not enough for all 5 of us).

ali x