Are you a FLOP? Who has the most organised freezer?

chardonnay_2

we use the takeaway foil tubs from poundland aswell. they are great for controlling portion size and freezing hm readymeals or leftovers.

earner

I have a small freezer atop the fridge. This is good because I really have to think what bargains I am buying on the cheap because I have to eat everything in the freezer or I'd run out of space. So nothing is ever bought and not wanted; nothing ever lurks.

I keep vegetables on the shelf. Breads, meats, meals on the base.

I pierce plastic bags before they go in the freezer, to get rid of spare air; I remove all boxes and cut out the instructions to save space.

I know what's in my freezer because it's so small so nothing needs to be labelled as I remember what it is and most things are eaten within 2-3 weeks.

Tip: If you have space in your freezer, fill that space with sealed containers. The air inside them goes cold then when you open the door less cold air can escape, making the freezer cheaper to run.

chardonnay_2

earner good tip about piercing the bags to let air out - might try it. i take it it doesn't affect the quality at all as it is only a pinhole?

TKP_3

frugalfairy wrote:

...Anyway last year I bought a pack of three A4 wipe off magnetic sheets from somewhere online (will have to Google to find a link for you) fairly cheaply. Defrosted and cleaned the freezer, then listed everything in the freezer, drawer by drawer on the sheets which are now stuck to the front of it. It's dead easy just to wipe off the entry when I take something out, and just add whatever I put in after I've been shopping. It's worked really well for me.
I'll post a link when I find the place I bought the sheets from:o
FF
Found it!
http://www.magnetic-paper.com/shop.asp?ID=9

Hey frugalfairy - thank you SO much for this :A . I ordered the pack of 3 wipe off magnetic sheets, and put them up on my freezer (about 2 weeks ago) and have kept it up to date with the freezer contents. It makes life SO much easier when meal planning/shopping/looking for inspration/using up. Today I am ordering a set for my sister as she wants to do the same. :T

vfairbrass

I've had my chest freezer for nearly 30 years and it is still going strong. I have been following Tightwad's instructions to keep the freezer full even if it isn't full of food as it runs most economically that way. I find it empties during the winter when I'm nor filling it with garden produce. I fill old juice or milk tetrapaks with water and freeze them to fill up the space. I also bulk produce ice cubes to fill the space. They come out in the summer to use as ice for drinks etc. If I need the space for food I just remove the tetrapaks/cubes and place them in the fridge (if there's space). I also bulk produce ice lollies ready for the summer as these are good fillers for the empty winter space in the freezer.
I run my freezer food contents completely down once a year to clean it.
Valerie

frugalfairy_3

TKP wrote:

Hey frugalfairy - thank you SO much for this :A . I ordered the pack of 3 wipe off magnetic sheets, and put them up on my freezer (about 2 weeks ago) and have kept it up to date with the freezer contents. It makes life SO much easier when meal planning/shopping/looking for inspration/using up. Today I am ordering a set for my sister as she wants to do the same. :T

You're very welcome! It's amazing how such a simple thing can make such a difference, isn't it? I just love not having to rootle about in a freezing cabinet for something I KNOW was there months ago and also not buying six more of the same thing that's already in the freezer!

FF xx

mah_jong

I put polystyrene blocks in my freezer as it runs down to keep it energy efficient!

[Deleted User]

culpepper wrote:

<<I use the plastic containers you get chinese takeaway in. >>
I do crafting with cards, and find these excellent for using for embellishments/ peel-offs/tea-bag folding bits,and they're see through so you can see whats in 'em best thing since sliced bread,and they are FREE:j :j

Cazzdevil

My freezer's a mess. Full of bits of stuff and peas scattered everywhere... I'm trying to empty it but OH always wants frozen pizzas and potato waffles and stuff so it's never really empty!

MessyTessie

I defrosed my freezers just after Christmas and have a list of everything in them, my next task is to make meals up using what's in them, when everything is crossed out I'll know that everything left is fresh.

We have a pudding drawer (mmmm) chicken/fish, veggie, other meat, and bread stuff, our small freezer has all the opened packages to save me having to go to the garage to the big freezer too often.

Thats a good tip about polystrene, I'll have a root about in the loft and see what I can find, we're bound to have some packaging left over from buying bigger items, thanks.