Eating out of the freezer and cupboards challenge - part two

Hopeless_Case

dannie wrote: »

Finished using up my last batch cooked recipe. Will now try to reduce the drawer space to 3.5 empty but in only 3 days means it is unlikely.

Can I just ask, are you planning to leave them empty or downsize freezer? I'm just trying to get my head around what I'm trying to accomplish, and wondering if I should be aiming to get a smaller freezer rather than pay to run an almost empty one!

I've still got a lot of cr*p in mine, and it's overfull, so I've got a long way to go, but I'm not sure what I'm ultimately aiming for

Out: salmon fillet, chicken breast, portion of left over quorn mince, a few carrots and bit of kale, a blini, 2 pittas, and some bread rolls! (over 3 days)

In: 2 magnums

Suffolk_lass

Hopeless Case,

We are all aiming for different things, and at different times. I try to empty a drawer or two ready to take garden produce at this time of year (soft fruit season) but I also end up with "forgotten bargains" and unidentified leftovers/ready meals and I like to work through these regularly so as not to repeat the five year old fish episode (we are not going there). Then there are down-sizers, people looking to stop storing the supermarket's produce for them (and paying for the privilege) and de-frosters. We're all here, reading and taking our inspiration, but not always posting.

maisymoo5

In
Nothing

Out
2 X pizzas
Garlic bread

maisymoo5

I agree Suffolk lass. I use this forum to help me focus on using up what I already have before buying more. I'm not trying to downsize but while I have food in the freezer, will use that first and only buy bargains on food we eat regularly.

caronc

I'm not trying to downsize either, I use this thread to stop me needlessly stocking up.Since I started posting my freezers/cupboards are still laden but I'm much better at using up/rotating so waste much less.

In: aubergine slices, ham stock

Out: breaded haddock, oven chips
Used up: nothing

maisymoo5

In
nothing

Out
1 pack of bacon
1 chicken breast
1 pack of wholemeal wraps
5 sausages

Need2bthrifty

I hope you don't mind if join in, I did a freezer inventory last week and shamefully realised there are some meal portions that have been in there for about 6 months :eek:. So, I'm being a bit more disciplined about planning my meals using up freezer stock, I've got at least 40-50 meal portions in there, depending on how I use up the uncooked meats so if I want to defrost by September I need to be a bit more organised.

I bought broccoli a few days ago, because it's good for me and I hate frozen florets, but I only managed to eat ¼ of the bunch before it started going jaundiced - so soup for the freezer it is

This week so far
In - broccoli soup portions x 3
Out - turkey and quinoa loaf, tomato sauce cubes, lentil bolognaise, moussaka mix, cooked aubergine slices, portion of white sauce, 2 chicken breasts.

I don't tend to stockpile tins/packets, so my store cupboard supplies are at manageable levels and well within BB dates.

Not very often but I do have moments of madness and make preserves, I decided to make some rhubarb jam recently and whilst putting it away I found some 3½ year old marmalade and some of last year's blackcurrant jelly, I don't eat jams and jelly very often so I'm trying to be inventive on how to use it up - today its slow cooker marmalade chicken

maddiemay

Another newbie who who like to join in please. I took delivery of a smallish order of GF bread today, and for the life of me cannot see how I will fit it in the freezer. I had been doing well at using things up, but have been away in our caravan for 5 out of the last 7 weeks, and although I like to take away some HM ready meals and GF bread it is only a freezer box at top of fridge in there.

Going off now to rejig my meal plan for the next week or so:)

Despardo

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

Hopeless Case,

We are all aiming for different things, and at different times. I try to empty a drawer or two ready to take garden produce at this time of year (soft fruit season) but I also end up with "forgotten bargains" and unidentified leftovers/ready meals and I like to work through these regularly so as not to repeat the five year old fish episode (we are not going there). Then there are down-sizers, people looking to stop storing the supermarket's produce for them (and paying for the privilege) and de-frosters. We're all here, reading and taking our inspiration, but not always posting.

Most of the time I think I'm almost all of the above :rotfl:

dannie

Hi Hopeless Case,

Sorry for the delay in replying to your query.

No, I am not planning to leave the freezer drawers empty "or downsize freezer". I suppose what I am doing is trying to change my habits around food and expenditure on food to what I feel "comfortable" with. I've been doing this challenge for a long time now. I tend to set myself mini challenges thus the two this month.