Tiny Freezer- Priority questions

[eloise24]

So the only freezer space I have is the traditional "above the fridge" space. Because of where we live/work, a chest (or additional) freezer is out of the question for now, so I have to make-do with what I have. Here's my question- what to prioritize in the freezer to help save money?

I don't make meals ahead, so that's not a problem.

I did just buy 12 pints of blueberries to freeze. Usually in the fall I buy cranberries to freeze & use all year. But then I start to wonder what to store next. What I have in the freezer now (approx):

whole wheat flour
random cuts of meat that I get on sale
a few small bags of "stuff" for soup stock
frozen veggies (I got 4 dozen ears of corn free, cut and froze them)
ice cubes (just two trays)
a few treats like ice cream
extra butter
chocolate chips/nuts for baking
6 bags of cranberries


Should I save the space for meat that's on sale? In-season finds like the blueberries or cranberries? Can I store the flour elsewhere?

Thanks!

[noobmom]

I don't store chocolate in the freezer at all. Nuts I only keep in the freezer if I have a lot of them (like when my ILs send us bags of pecans). Smaller amounts I just keep in the pantry and try to remember to use them. Whole wheat flour can last a month or two in the pantry so it depends on how quickly you use it up.

In terms of saving money, I would definitely reserve some space for meat when it goes on sale.

[Alyantavid]

I don't freeze flour, but I go through it pretty fast. I'd stock up on in season produce and use the space for that. Its hard to get good blueberries in December (at least here).

[cristeen]

I would be reserving space for a few things... the seasonal cuts of meat that go on sale during the summer (for BBQs), but are expensive the rest of the year. And seasonal fruits that you can't really find during the winter. Blueberries are not on that list for me. I do freeze them, but I have enough freezer space to do so. I can also buy them already frozen easily enough.

Cranberries, chestnuts, asparagus, peaches are seasonal produce that I can't find in the off season - frozen or fresh.

[Magelet]

eloise, your freezer sounds pretty much like my freezer!

things I prioritize:
good deals on meat (not so common for me since I buy pastured. but for instance, if I'm out where one farm has a farm stand, its much cheaper, so I'll buy several pounds of ground beef, some organ meat, and other meat), or meat that gets to a date where I need to cook it or freeze it and I'm not in the mood to cook it (it happens. "lets have chicken for dinner tonight. oh wait, ma invited us over. chicken, later."
stock-I freeze the fat seperately, and freeze them in plastic bags (after they cool), flat on a cookie sheet. Then I stand them up. They take up less room than not flat, and defrost much faster. (I can take stock out when I make dinner, smack it on the counter, and pop the peices into a pot. whoopee, stock, which will defrost really fast over the stove, without heating plastic).
chicken feet- I can only buy a couple pounds at a time, and only use 2-4 at a time.
organ meat-I won't eat a whole liver in one sitting, I only use it mixed with ground meat. hearts, are often in the good deal category.
veggies for stock.
animal fat-rendered chicken, turkey, and beef fat (and any other type I get/make. rendered from fat peices and skin, skimmed from stock. some goes back on top when I use the stock, some is saved for cooking.) I don't use this fast enough to not freeze it.
frozen fruit-not my fave method of storage, it takes up too much space. But then again, its delicious, and has no added sugar, unlike jam. only the best strawberries, peaches, blackberries, etc. I don't really freeze veggies for eating (only stock.) I can live without asparagus when its not in season. I can use canned and dried tomatoes only in winter. I'd rather make pickles than freeze cukes.
bags with bread crumbs, ice cubes of herbs, etc
1 extra ice tray (for freezeing herbs, etc.)
oh and ww flour.

butter-no real need for me to freeze this, its never more than a week or two from buying to eating, and it can last that long in the fridge.


I wonder if the chocolate chips and nuts would do just fine in the fridge? depending on how fast you use/often you buy butter, I would say don't freeze it just fridge it. If you have the glut of food (like the corn), definitely freeze it, but maybe try some other methods of preserving too.

A full freezer is the least expensive to keep, so stuff it to the gills (mine is. though it could use to be organized while stuffed........).

It sounds like your doing a pretty good job. Seasonal items (which are better and less expensive in one season) that you want throughout the year, big sale/deal items, and items that perish easily.

[reducereuserecycle]

maybe you could cut the corn off the cob before you freeze it next time

[reducereuserecycle]

Cranberries, chestnuts, asparagus, peaches are seasonal produce that I cant find in the off season - frozen or fresh. 


how do you freeze chestnuts? do you cook them or grind them or anything? or just freeze whole?