When it comes to food preservation and storage, one of the best ways to save food is in the freezer. Think of the freezer as a way to put a pause on the expiration date of any food you purchase. Of course, it’s better to follow instructions when storing food in your freezer. You just don’t put your food and forget about it. If you want to start buying bulk and freezing food, you will need to make good use of your freezer by learning how to organize freezer.
How to Organize Freezer: Start With an Empty Freezer
Learning how to organize freezer drawer would be hard if you already have many items inside. That’s why it’s better to organize food in your freezer by cleaning it out first.
Go through everything and throw away anything that is expired, and take the older food items that will spoil faster, and move it toward the front of your refrigerator. You can also invest in freezer organizer baskets.
In your freezer, throw out anything that is freezer burned or you know you will not use. Now that you have a clean slate, you will see what you’re working with.
Put Labels on Your Food
Every time you put something in the freezer that is homemade or put in a different package than the original packaging, it needs to have a label.
Whether you want to learn how to organize a deep freezer or a freezer drawer, label your items.
Trust me, no matter how much you think you will remember exactly what is in those storage containers or freezer bags, you will probably forget.
So, if you want to learn how to organize a freezer drawer or the whole fridge, start with labeling. Put the name, date cooked, and date purchased, so you know when to use it or throw it.
Freezer Organizer Ideas: Freeze Individual Items
You might buy items in bulk that you know you don’t want to use or defrost all at one time. It’s better to separate them in serving sizes so that you won’t have to thaw everything.
It’s one of our favorite freezer organizer ideas, and it’s very simple to do. Whether buying large boxes of items at Costco and other big box stores, or just awkwardly shaped boxes that don’t fit well.
If you love cooking meals in large batches, you can also do this. For example, if you make a lot of broccoli, which is one of the best vegetables to cook and freeze, you can put them in individual portion bags.
Store Them Flat, Vertical, or Side by Side
With all the things to put in freezer, sometimes you max out all the space, but did you know that if you organize side-by-side freezer, space can be maximized?
You can also choose to keep items as flat as possible and store them vertically and flat. Either vertical or choose to organize side-by-side freezer, the goal is to use silicone freezer bags and remove all air.
When you move items to freezer bags, you can fit a lot more since you don’t have that extra packaging that takes up space and is really unnecessary. Just be sure you label these bags so you know what is in them.
Stack them according to what works best for you.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to organize freezer can be a fun task. Invest in those silicone freezer bags, and don’t forget to label everything. Lay them flat or side by side and see how easy it would be to get what you need.