Emptying out my freezer

JodyBPM

Hi guys, I hope you can help.

I have two fridge freezers, the freezer sections of both are full to capacity, and yet I still keep buying more! I'm a sucker for yellow stickered items, which I put straight in the freezer and then tend to forget about. I've gone through the freezers and listed what I've got, and its a lot! This isn't so much about only eating out of the freezer, more about using it up, before it gets so old that I need to waste it. I also have a full fridge of general foods, a normal store cupboard- herbs and spices, loads of tinned stuff like tomatoes, pulses, coconut milk, pastas and rice, and an endless supply of eggs from our chickens - so we're certainly not short on food, I just want to use up what we have before buying more.

So these are the contents of my freezer...
1x ready meal for 2 - spanish chicken, chorizo and patatas bravas
1x ready meal for 1 -tandoori chicken and pilau rice
Bag of oven chips
1/3 bag of spinach
2 packs of swedish meatballs
4x 2-pack pork steaks
couple of bags chopped up french bread - use these for pack ups
350g bacon
600g pack pigs liver
500g pack pigs liver
3 x 400g beef mince
1 x 400g lamb mince
3 x 6-pack of petit filou
1 x 6-pack tortilla wraps
5 x potato waffles
1 x 2-pack of crispy chicken fillets
2 x 2 person beef madras ready meal
2 x smoked basa fillets
1 x 2 person ready meal - pork & chorizo meatballs
200g smoked peppered mackerel fillets
1 x pack sandwich ham
1 x 350g pack meat free mince
1 x pack prawn sesame toasts
2 x 4 pack chunky fish fillets in breadcrumbs
1 x 1.8kg frozen chicken
1 x roasted root veg and creme fraiche flan.
various bread rolls/ciabattas for pack ups
handful frozen blueberries-use these in porridge
tub of frozen mixed berries - also for porridge
1 x 2 person ready meal chicken vindaloo
1 x tub of unidentified mince based stuff seems to be marked T. Will check to see if OH knows what it is, otherwise will ditch
1 x children's 1 person roast dinner ready meal
3 x individual bakery meat pies (DH takes for lunch sometimes)
1 x individual/maybe 2 person cheese and onion quiche - prob best in lunchboxes
1 x salmon fillet
5 x packs of sandwich chicken
1 x garlic bread
1 x 350g pack of frozen mixed seafood
frozen garlic
4 x small white fish fillets
4 x fishfingers
1 x tub sliced gammon from xmas
2 x bags sliced turkey from xmas
4 x mackerel fillets
2 x small frozen chicken thighs
1 x large frozen yellow fish fillet - probably smoked haddock, but not labelled
1/2 bag frozen peas
1 bag frozen mixed veg
1/2 bag frozen roast pots
1 bag pork pie portions (bought ys and chopped and frozen for lunchboxes)
2 kipper fillets
1 kg chicken breasts
1/2 bag onion rings
1 pack sandwich beef
1/2 pack chicken dippers
1 pack pork sausages - bog standard Walls ones, so prob would use in casserole/toad in the hole rather than just eat as they are.


Quite a lot of stuff there! I can see that my main problems are - buying ready meals when they are reduced right down, thinking they will come in handy, and then never using them, and not using up the last odds and ends of packets of stuff - ie 1 salmon fillet, 2 chicken thighs or 4 fish fingers!

So what meals would you plan with that lot? We're a family of 4, children generally unfussy, but not keen on liver, and can be hit and miss on some fish (which might be why I have so much fish in the freezer!)

Happy to buy bits to go with if I don't already have them in the cupboards, but the main objective is to use up all that stuff before it gets too old to use. Some of it is older than I'd like to say :eek:

jedsonack2

Whoooo, planing a party for this weekend?

whiteguineapig

i am so jealous reading what you have in your freezer, as usual mines half empty!

madnotstupid

Wow - that must feel a bit overwhelming! If it was me I would make two/three week long plan and rotate what you have for main meals i.e. mince-based, fish, chicken, ready meal. As you say yourself you have lots for lunches and some breakfast as well so fit them in. Then I wouldn't go near the supermarket at all - so that you can't be tempted!! If you find you need stuff do a small online shop maybe?

I'd do - bolognese, chilli, burgers with the 3 x beef mince
either doner or kofte kebabs with the lamb mince - good to BBQ
use the piece salmon, smoked basa and mixed seafood for fish pie, or in white sauce with rice
kedgeree with smoked fish & fish fingers for kids
liver and bacon? - sorry not a fan of liver so not very inspired
turkey and gammon pie
roast chicken - doesn't have to be a roast dinner it's nice this time of year if you season it well before cooking, let it cool and serve with salad and bread. Add extra chicken thighs to cooking and use all the leftovers for risotto or fried rice.
chicken breasts to make curry or stir-fry
Pork steaks with sweet and sour sauce with rice / noodles, prawn toasts as a side dish
breaded fish and chips - can't go wrong
meatballs with spaghetti and tomato sauce

If every fifth day or so you have a 'ready meal' or 'other' day - where you don't all eat the same thing it should all go.

With eggs you could make frittata or quiche - can fling all sorts in there - cooked meat, chicken, fish, veggies including the spinach. Nice hot or cold for lunch next day

bargainbetty

Wow! Just wow.

Why not start by taking out the sliced meats, plus the rolls/bread you use for pack ups, and actually use them for pack ups next week? Also think about using the gammon in pasta dishes (basically bacon sub) and the turkey shredded into stir fries.

Start getting in the habit of pulling something for tomorrow out as you cook tonight - I never remember otherwise. Let the kids have a pick-and-mix night (within reason) based around the veg and potato sides that you have in there, or everyone gets a 'Random ready meal' night.

If the kids are a bit random about fish, how about fisherman's pie? With the mince and tortillas, make burritos, or just use it for shepherds pies, lasagnes etc.

Beware, I did the 'use it up' thing. I would take out a pack of mince and put back in four shepherds pies, having eaten one. A chicken would turn into sliced meats, a couple of curries and soups. For a while, you will put back more home made ready meals than you take out, so make sure you use up all the pre-packaged stuff first! Oh, chicken dippers, baked, chopped and wrapped in tortillas with spinach/salad, a bit of chilli sauce etc etc make a lovely pack up lunch too.

Good luck

JodyBPM

Thanks guys, some really good ideas.

We're away to our caravan at the weekend (where I have a whole other stash of food of the tinned/dried type!:eek:) so today I am sorting out some stuff for dinner tonight, and defrosting one of the ready meals to take with us.

I'm going to make spicy enchiladas for DH and I to eat once we arrive tonight, and feed the children the crispy chicken escalopes with potato waffles and frozen peas before we leave. Then I'm taking the spanish chicken and chorizo ready meal with us for DH and I to have sat night, while the children eat "caravan food" (i.e something out of a tin such as tinned hotdogs with tinned sweetcorn and instant mash etc blergh, but they love it!)

Then just before we leave, I will take a couple of packs of pork steaks out of the freezer, so they defrost in the fridge during Saturday, and I will make sweet and sour pork and rice for Sunday. So that's a few things used up.

I like the idea of fish pie to use up random pieces of fish. And I love the idea of the gammon and turkey pie, as that really needs using up as its been there since Xmas.

I will need to go to the shops for fresh fruit and milk, but am going to try to buy nothing else until the freezer is at manageable levels, I'm not even going to LOOK at the reduced section!

calleyw

I have a household of one. And have a chest freezer and three drawers in the fridge freezer jam packed.

And I rarely cook!!!

I keep telling my ex that I am running it down and looks at me and rolls his eyes lol!!!!!!!

All the best

Yours

Calley

PollyOnAMission

I suffer from exactly the same affliction: filling the freezer with yellow stickered items, then either forgetting they are there or (even worse), forgetting to take them out to defrost so I buy more (often not reduced) of the things I already have, that are ready to use!

I have some very similar things to you in my stash so I'll be following this thread with interest.

Excellent point made about putting more back in when you take out to start with; I was very proud of myself the other day for using up a guinea fowl (!) I'd picked up cheap, then making stock with the carcass. The only problem is that I now have loads of stock to freeze, which takes up more space than the bird did to start with. For this reason, using up ready meals first is a great idea.

[Deleted User]

Lock up your purse and stay away from the shops for at least a fortnight or two.I am working my one slowly down as I want to defrost it before winter and by staying away from the shops for 10 days at a time its working I can at least get the drawers shut without resorting to a hammer :):)

quidsy

Because I am a giant geek I have reordered your list;

Ready meals

1x ready meal for 2 - spanish chicken, chorizo and patatas bravas
1x ready meal for 1 -tandoori chicken and pilau rice
2 x 2 person beef madras ready meal
1 x 2 person ready meal - pork & chorizo meatballs
1 x roasted root veg and creme fraiche flan.
1 x children's 1 person roast dinner ready meal
1 x 2 person ready meal chicken vindaloo


Meat

4x 2-pack pork steaks
600g pack pigs liver
500g pack pigs liver
3 x 400g beef mince
1 x 400g lamb mince
1 x 1.8kg frozen chicken
1 x 350g pack meat free mince
2 x small frozen chicken thighs
1 kg chicken breasts
350g bacon
1 pack pork sausages - bog standard Walls ones, so prob would use in casserole/toad in the hole rather than just eat as they are.


Convenience meats

2 packs of swedish meatballs
1 x 2-pack of crispy chicken fillets
1/2 pack chicken dippers


Lunch/snack items

3 x individual bakery meat pies (DH takes for lunch sometimes)
1 x individual/maybe 2 person cheese and onion quiche - prob best in lunchboxes
1 x pack sandwich ham
5 x packs of sandwich chicken
1 bag pork pie portions (bought ys and chopped and frozen for lunchboxes)
1 pack sandwich beef


Fish
2 x 4 pack chunky fish fillets in breadcrumbs
2 x smoked basa fillets
200g smoked peppered mackerel fillets
1 x salmon fillet
1 x 350g pack of frozen mixed seafood
4 x small white fish fillets
4 x fishfingers
4 x mackerel fillets
1 x large frozen yellow fish fillet - probably smoked haddock, but not labelled
2 kipper fillets
1 x pack prawn sesame toasts

Veg & Chips

Bag of oven chips
1/3 bag of spinach
5 x potato waffles
frozen garlic
1/2 bag frozen peas
1 bag frozen mixed veg
1/2 bag frozen roast pots
1/2 bag onion rings

Bread

couple of bags chopped up french bread - use these for pack ups
1 x 6-pack tortilla wraps
various bread rolls/ciabattas for pack ups
1 x garlic bread


Fruit/Desserts

handful frozen blueberries-use these in porridge
tub of frozen mixed berries - also for porridge


Stuff to chuck away

[STRIKE]
1 x tub of unidentified mince based stuff seems to be marked T. Will check to see if OH knows what it is, otherwise will ditch
1 x tub sliced gammon from xmas
2 x bags sliced turkey from xmas
3 x 6-pack of petit filou
[/STRIKE]

Anything that you can't id or from Christmas I would chuck away.

Week 1: A couple of nights of pot luck ready meals with some frozen veg &/or chips to accompany. That should clear the ready meals.

I would do a roast with the chicken with frozen roast pots, peas & whatever tinned veg you might have, carrots etc.

One night swedish meatballs & mash & gravy.

Tortillas, meat free mince sauteed in garlic & spinach, onion & topped with grated cheese. Served with potato waffles & baked beans with some bbq on them.

Flan with a salad.

Defrost the ham & quiche & porkpies breadrolls & french bread over the week & have them for lunches & snacks.

That leaves you with useful dinner items that can be made up either into bolognaises, stews etc & served with fresh veg, salads, potatos over the next few weeks.

JodyBPM

Right, I've done myself a 4 week meal planner (sorry about the dodgy formatting, am trying to copy and paste from excel, but it keeps going all over the place)

Wk 1
Fri enchiladas, crispy chicken, waffles, peas
Sat RM & caravan food
Sun sweet and sour pork and rice
Mon beef madras ready meal
Tues fish pie & peas
Weds spaghetti and meatballs
Thurs paella & ciabatta

Wk2
Fri fish , chips and peas
Sat turkey and gammon pie, veg and mash (also chuck in the 2 chick thighs to make it enough for 2 meals)
Sun beef lasagne & veg & garlic bread
Mon toad in the hole and veg
Tues shepherds pie and veg
Weds fish pie & mixed veg
Thurs RM spanish meatballs

Wk3
Friday beef madras rm, fish fingers, chips and veg
Saturday caravan food
Sun caravan food
Mon chicken fajitas
Tues chicken dippers, onion rings, veg and mash
Wed roasted veg and creme fraiche flan
Thurs chicken vindaloo rm, bulked out with spinach & potato to make it less hot

wk 4
Fri beef (mince) spinach and chickpea curry
Sat chicken fajitas
Sun roast chicken dinner
Mon sweet and sour pork and rice, prawn sesame toasts
Tues spaghetti and meatballs
Wed turkey and gammon pie, veg and mash
Thurs liver and bacon

Children eat at grandmas on a Thursday, and some Mondays.

I'm definitely going to need to buy more veg by end, but not til I've used up what I already have!

Menu is a bit repetitive tbh, but for 4 wks I'm sure we can handle it!

I've separated out the lunch stuff, which we can use for lunches (and we are generally quite good at using this stuff) The same with the fruit for breakfasts.

I'm then left with the following

1x ready meal for 1 -tandoori chicken and pilau rice - could be useful, will keep in freezer
200g smoked peppered mackerel fillets - could add to fish pie, or ditch - have been hanging around for a while
1 x 350g pack meat free mince - useful, will keep. Just wanted to use up the real meat first
1 x tub of unidentified mince based stuff seems to be marked T. Will check to see if OH knows what it is, otherwise will ditch -ditch
1 x children's 1 person roast dinner ready meal - ditch. It needs cooking in the oven for 30mins, which is why its still there. I don't really want to heat an oven for 1 child's ready meal
frozen garlic - keep, this is something I use all the time
1 pack of liver - might ditch as I rarely use this as children don't like

Feeling quite proud of myself now. As long as I stick to my meal plan, I should be able to almost empty my freezers and save a fair bit of money too:)