So I really, really wanted a second freezer to expand my freezer meals. But how “frugal” is it to run off and spend several hundred dollars on a freezer so I can save money? Anyhow, I’m glad I didn’t race out and buy one because a friend of mine recently told me she had an extra she was hoping to get rid of and would I want it? Um, YES! It’s actually a combination fridge/freezer which I think will be perfect once we start our gardening adventures (I hope in the next month or two…stay tuned, veggie lovers!).
A few days ago I decided it was high time to organize my freezer space. So my first step was to take EVERYTHING out of the freezer and put it on my counter. It really shocked me how much I’d stuffed in there. I even found a pack of frozen breastmilk from my nursing days (which ended about a year ago! YIKES!).
I really have accumulated a nice stockpile of frozen dinners – it was good to see everything out like that so I could sort through it. Some of the older meats were…um…questionable, and they didn’t make the cut.
Here is my kitchen freezer after being all tidied up:
So here’s what I left upstairs: about 3 meals that I can easily pull out for the week, butter/cheese, fruits/vegetables, and quick lunch foods (burritos, chicken nuggest, vegetarian/vegan choices). Oh, and ice cream of course!
And here is my new fridge/freezer down in the garage:
I moved the bulk of my freezer meals here. The box is full of burritos my husband made recently and that I’m nagging him to blog here about soon…we’ll see if my nagging produces any results! (Wish me luck!)
If you want to learn more about freezer cooking and why I think it’s such a great idea, be sure to read posts from my Freezer Cooking category. I am actually participating in another swap next week and can’t wait to pack my freezers with even more good food!
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I was wondering why you were freezing a pair of Nike’s…
Way to go! Our freezer does NOT look like that! Motivation for this weekend perhaps.
I usually only have about 1/3 to 1/2 of my house organized and how I want it at any given time!! While the freezers are neat and tidy right now, my room is a disaster! Oh well, you take what you can get, right?! Even a smaller project like this can do wonders to lift the spirit!
I would never think to freeze butter and a friend recently told me she freezes milk too! Any special instructions for freezing daity products? What about herbs? Sometimes I buy fresh herbs for a recipie…then life happens or we have more leftovers than planned, and I see the herbs wasting away before they are used! ugh- I really hate wasting fresh food—freezeable?
Lindsey…there is product out there (sorry, I can’t remember the name!) that will solve your herb dilemma. I have the same problem, especially with cilantro. You can buy certain herbs in a tube-looks like a green tube of toothpaste-and keep it in the fridge. In our area, it’s sold at Safeway and Albertson’s. Find it in the produce section. It’s a little pricy, but has a long shelf life. HTH!
Lindsay, I’m no expert, but I’ve been able to freeze butter (it comes out perfect!) and shredded cheese. I’ve not had luck in freezing milk, though it apparently can be done. Sour cream can’t be frozen with any success.
As far as herbs, I once read a tip about freezing fresh herbs with a lil’ water in ice cube trays, then popping them out when frozen and storing in bags. We are planning a garden this year and I’m sure we’ll be trying some of these techniques ourselves! But yes, it’s my understanding fresh herbs can be frozen, as well as dried.
Please tell your husband, my husband would like the recipe for the burritos so I can make him some