How to Organize Your Freezer and Keep it that Way

Have you ever been digging through you freezer all day to find that bag of chicken you put there last week? The key to being able to find what you are looking for is organization. Whether you have a chest type freezer or an upright, if it is not organized you will have problems keeping up with the food in there.

Organizing your freezer is not very difficult and once it is first organized, keeping it that way is a cinch. The first thing to do is construct a plan, and stick to it. What is going to take up the most space? Whether it is meats, or vegetables this should be placed to one side.

All meats should be bagged in the proper freezer bags or wrapped in freezer paper. Meat containers should be clearly labeled with the type and date frozen. Labeling can be a fun process especially when it is bought in bulk. Separate your meats in containers that will hold portions for one meal or serving. Neatly stack your meats to save space, and aid in searching later on. The neater the meats are stacked, the easier it is to find them when you are ready to prepare them. Place meats to one side or one shelf in your freezer.

Vegetables are organized in basically the same manner as meats. Put them into bags that are large enough for one meal or serving. Clearly label each bag with contents and date frozen. Place vegetables on opposite side or shelf than meats. Neatly stack your vegetables, and be careful not to puncture the bag. Don't just throw them in your freezer. When neatly stacked, space is saved, and it is a lot simpler to find what you are looking for. Whether you buy pre frozen vegetables or fresh they are organized in the same manner. The only difference is the fresh veggies will have to be bagged in zip lock type bags as they are not going to be pre bagged for you.

Now for the space left in the middle. After all of the meats are placed to one side and the vegetables are on the other, there will be a space in the middle. This space is for the miscellaneous items such as frozen pizzas, and frozen dinners. Ice cream will also go into this space. A freezer is not complete without ice cream.

Once you have got your freezer organized, you will notice that it is a lot easier to find what you are looking for. Keeping your freezer organized should be simple. When ever you purchase something new simply put it in its proper place. Keeping your freezer neat and organized is as simple as buying the food from the grocery store. A well organized freezer will not only aid in finding items, but also in preventing freezer burn. If you can find it you will use it, thus preventing it from getting freezer burn.