How the heck do you organize your deep freeze?!??!

[annettemarie]

We got ours used and all it came with was a very small, shallow basket that sort of hooks on the top. I just went through and separated everything into plastic grocery bags, but that doesn't seem like a very workable solution. It's still messy and now it's even more difficult to see what we have. I love being able to stockpile, buy and cook in bulk, etc., but it's not a good deal if everything goes to waste because we can't find it or forget it's there! So how do you keep your deep freeze from becoming a hot mess?

[Alyantavid]

Ours came with a few of those wire racks so we use those and cardboard boxes to keep everything separated. We have everything grouped together. Like roasts in one boxes, steaks in another, hambuger, ribs, stew meat in another. Pork, fish and chicken are all in their own boxes. And one rack has breads and flour.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by Alyantavid

Ours came with a few of those wire racks so we use those and cardboard boxes to keep everything separated. We have everything grouped together. Like roasts in one boxes, steaks in another, hambuger, ribs, stew meat in another. Pork, fish and chicken are all in their own boxes. And one rack has breads and flour.

I hadn't thought of cardboard boxes. I tried plastic and it all cracked. The cardboard doesn't get yucky or anything? And is that a pain when you buy more stuff, or do you just get in the habit of sorting things as you put them away?

I really am trying to simplify my life as much as possible and that means making things so easy my kids can do it if needed.

Thanks for your ideas!

[rhiOrion]

ugh. i don't. it IS a hot mess.

[annettemarie]

Oh, also, can I buy more of those racks somewhere? Are they very expensive?

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by rhiOrion

ugh. i don't. it IS a hot mess.

We should start a tribe.

[Amys1st]

We have the largest freezer we could find. Should I post pics???

Its divided by the shelves and we keep a log what we have on the door divided with lines to show the shelves.

For example
ice cream maker bowl (needs to stay frozen)
3 chuck roasts
4 whole roasters
tray of veggie style lasagna
--------------------------------------- <--line means shelf
30 1 lb packs of hamburger
4 rib eyes
6 pork chops
20 chicken breasts
____________________________________
ice cream
cream of mushroom soup
gallon chicken stock x 6
22 2 lb packs of stew meat
______________________


you get the idea.
at the bottom of list is what is on the door too.


Also, when there is extra space in the freezer, take an old milk container and fill with water and put in freezer to use up space. It runs more effienct this way.

[annettemarie]

Pics would be awesome! And your freezer sounds much bigger than mine.

[Alyantavid]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

I hadn't thought of cardboard boxes. I tried plastic and it all cracked. The cardboard doesn't get yucky or anything? And is that a pain when you buy more stuff, or do you just get in the habit of sorting things as you put them away?

I really am trying to simplify my life as much as possible and that means making things so easy my kids can do it if needed.

Thanks for your ideas!

Nope, no yucky cardboard. We raise our own meat so it comes in bulk (in cardboard boxes) so before we put it all away, we sort it out.

[Denvergirlie]

I use plastic baskets, milk carton crates, wire baskets and card board boxes as well.

My plastic baskets and milk cartons have been in the freezer for several years now, and have not had any cracks, still as solid as day one. Perhaps a heavier plastic?
I got my wire baskets and plastic totes at the thrift store, milke carton crates have been picked up over the years from the alley's.

Card board boxes are good, because I can toss them if they get gross or something leaks or the like, but the plastic crates are washable, so not too hard there either.

I did the plastic bags method, what a hassle, things would slide out of them, the bag would break open and then sliding frozen missles get launched when trying to sort, etc.

[Kim Allen]

ohh this is me also. We have one of the small 7.0 Cu Ft chest freezers and its a pain because everything has to stack ontop of each other. Anyone organize a smaller one also? I do alot of stockpiling and freezer cooking.

[FillingMyQuiver]

We also use cardboard boxes. They're actually boxes left from our Costco purchases. So the box from the bulk crackers has all the steaks in it, or the box from the OJ 4pk has all ground beef pkgs in it.

I desperately want to have a running list on a wipe board of what's in there, I just haven't gotten around to it.

[annettemarie]

The planning board is an awesome idea!

Now, to score some boxes...

[Paxjourney]

We use plastic milk crates (we have family friends who are milkmen), but you can buy similar ones at most "big box" stores.

We can fit 4 crates

Crate 1 has frozen fruit and Veggies

Crate 2 has packaged meats (hot dogs, bacon, hot links) Cheeses and Butter

Crate 3 has Ground beef/turkey and meatballs

Crate 4 has other Meats

This then leaves space for frozen pizzas, and any frozen bags of chicken etc.

It does require moving two crates off each other however.

I'd prefer that our next freezer be a stand up one and not a chest freezer but this one was free so