Eating out of the freezer and cupboards challenge - part two

carinjo

In: finally managed a shop after work. Chicken wings, turkey mince, couple of steaks, beef and pork, chips. Various types of beans tins.
Out: this morning. Chicken wings for tonight, whole chicken for tomorrow. Sweetcorn for salad f lunchbox

Wraithlady

In: the obligatory loaf of bread, remains of the lamb curry, 8 rashers bacon (in 2 packs of 4)
Out: The loaf of bread put in last week, lamb for curry, meatballs, goats cheese, small tub grated ginger, half the orange sorbet from Christmas, 4 pitta bread.
Quite pleased we can now put the wire basket back in the outside freezer

joedenise

In:  nothing
Out:  one wholemeal roll for my lunch; DH makes and eats sourdough

elisamoose

I have finally managed to order a freezer for the garage to expand my storage ( I have a 3 drawer one in the kitchen). The new one is 250 litre so quite big .There are just the 2 of us at the moment although usually we have our granddaughters every other weekend.
What would you suggest we start fillling it with?

joedenise

Depends how much you want to spend!  If you don't want to spend too much then I'd suggest things like bread which are quite bulky but cheap.  Milk freezes well too; again cheap & bulky.

I'd go with batch cooking some things like bolognaise sauce and freeze in portions.  Buy 'building blocks' like chicken which you can make loads of meals from.  Mince again making loads of different things from.

If you find it it costing you too much to fill as a temporary measure turn empty cardboard boxes upside down to fill a bit a space, removing them as and when you can afford to fill your freezer with lots of meats; vegetables and HM ready meals.

pamsdish

Elisamoose, what foods you eat on a regular basis is a good start, I have a fridge freezer, 3 drawers, top drawer is veg, bought and frozen from fresh, middle drawer is random, butter, cheeses, whatevers, bottom drawer is not so wide, so fish, only eat under protest. Upright freezer has 6 drawers, from the top, fruits again bought and home frozen, next drawer is breads, nan, garlic, sliced variety of rolls and some random pastry sheets, lower drawers are,  chicken in various bits, lamb and beef, pork inc sausage and bacon, anything from a pig, this is a double depth drawer,  bottom drawer is again narrower so quite random stuff. 
I am starting to get excited about the gaps appearing in my meat drawers, looking forward to restocking from my butcher.

Any

First I would start filling with building blocks as mentioned-chicken, mince, fish fingers, chips. Depends on what you eat. 
I buy whatever is on offer and we like and you'll see you will fill it up soon! I don't buy much unless it's financially advantageous on offer or bulk (Costco, Aldi super 6 for meat etc).
Out: 4 chicken breasts yesterday, pork roast for today
In: cubed courgette that looked it won't last until I will need it, in return of those 4 ch breasts I took out I returned in 2 portions of chick jalfrezi for another day. Also bought piri piri chicken kebab from Aldi on recommendation and put it in with 2 corn on the cobs. 

carinjo

elisamoose I am a big fan of slowcooker meals, makes my life so much easier. Bulk buy on special and portioning as others suggested helps for me too. But, don't end up with 2kg of something you not a fan of! 
Another idea i would like to add is labelling and keeping track of what is where. I got some great ideas from pinterest (and lost a whole afternoon clicking away!) I also move meals for the week from shed freezer to house once a week or so, easier especially in winter!

joedenise

That's a great idea caring about moving meals from freezer into the house freezer!  Why didn't I think of that?  Such a simple idea but so useful.  Thank you.

Any

Out: 2 lemon soles, 2 hot cross buns
In: 15 thick slices of haggis🙈