The freezer had always been a forbidden fortress in our house. As soon as we'd go to reach for a carton of ice cream, an avalanche of frozen chuncks of meat and frost bitten veggies would fall to our feet, if not ON our feet! Packages were unidentified and it was a mystery how long that loosely packaged tri-tip had been residing within the cold freezer walls.
When I began stocking the freezer with make ahead post-pardum meals, I knew things would have to change in order to make the most out of my freezer and to avoid throwing food away! First things first..
Get organized!
Pull everything out of the freezer (Since you have done this, you may as well scrub it really good!) If it has been awhile since you have done this, get your trash can ready.
Anything that has been in the freezer longer than a year, throw away! Some items need to be thrown away sooner... check out this chart for a more extensive list on what to keep and for how long on FoodSaftey.gov
Rotate
Keep older food up front so you use them first. When in a hurry to make dinner, sometimes it's easier to grab what is right infront of you rather than searching towards the back. Always keep your freezer food rotated!
Label Foods
When adding new items in the freezer write...
The date you are freezing it
What it is (if not obvious)
The expiration date
The serving size/quantity
Portion Foods When Freezing
When freezing leftovers, broths, soups, etc... portion these items out so its easier for you when you go to re-heat them. If you know that you are going to re-heat single size portions, freeze the leftover's that way! Use various size freezer bags to fit the quantity your freezing.
Ice cube trays also work well when freezing smaller quantities. (Ex: Broth, milk, cream, eggs, etc...) When they are frozen, pop them out, put them in a freezer bag, and label accordingly.
Wrap Food Well
When wrapping food to freeze, wrap it tight enough to get out as much air as possible. Vacuum sealing your food is also a great way to keep your food fresh! However, if you're not storing your frozen food for an extended amount of time, tightly rapping them in plastic wrap should be enough to prevent freezer burn and maintain the freshness of your food.
Keep Freezer Door Closed
Don't keep the freezer door open longer than needed! This will keep your food from warming up and becoming frost bitten or even spoiling. Make sure kids understand the importance of this as well!
Set Freezer at the Right Temp
Make sure you have your freezer set at or below 0°F. This will stop bacteria from growing, while allowing your food to maintain the same color, taste and nutrients.
Cool Food First
Before putting recently cooked items in the freezer. Put them in the refrigerator first to allow them to cool completely. This will prevent your freezer from warming up.
Save Space
When possible, lay items (soups, sauce, ground meat, etc...) your freezing flat! This way you can stack the bags nicely on top of each other.
Take items out of big bulky boxes and if necessary, write the cooking instructions on the item with a Sharpie.
When really in a pinch, take out bulky ice packs to make room for incoming food. (Just don't forget to leave ones that you use on a daily basis!)
Follow these tips and your sure to make the most of your freezer while keeping your food as fresh as possible! There is nothing worse than stockpiling your freezer then months down the road realize that your food is spoiled or full of freezer burn!
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