8 Better Ways to Keep Your Freezer Super Organized
Never lose your frozen chili way in the back again.
Never lose your frozen chili way in the back again.
Vacuum Seal Produce
Use a vacuum sealer to compress produce into space-saving packages that also put the foods on full display. Then, you won't have to wonder what that bag of random red stuff is again (they're strawberries, of course!).
Employ Milk Crates
It's a little bit of a puzzle figuring out the best layout for a combo of big and small crates, but once finished you'll have a bird's eye view of all the food in your freezer drawer. Plus, you can remove sections as needed, to avoid endless stooping.
Freeze By Serving Size
Use this storage idea for things like tomato paste or hamburger meat to minimize baggie usage, but still create divided portions. When you want to use a serving, push it out of the baggie, then zip and store the rest for later.
Label Like Crazy
Everything in your freezer should have a label that says what kind of food it is and the date you made or bought it. Make sure this important info faces outward (there's even room on those flat frozen bags!) so you don't have to rummage through your food to find dinner.
Use Clear Containers
Keeping your storage transparent is important for when you (heaven forbid) forget to label something. Peep inside your container before pulling it from the shelf. Bonus: To optimize space pick out units that stack on top of each other.
Make Built-In Cubbies
Ice chests are basically deep freezers that don't have any shelves (a.k.a a total pain to organize). Use wooden planks to create compartments and add process to an otherwise disheveled pile of frozen goodies.
Try a Filing System
To make this work you have to freeze items flat so you can stack 'em from the back. Use shoe boxes for quart-size bags and a slightly bigger container for gallon bags with in-your-face labels and suddenly your freezer is as streamlined as a filing cabinet.
Group Foods By Category
Even if your freezer is packed to perfection, finding what you're looking for can take up precious time. Store foods within the same category together — like meats, sauces, and baking supplies — so you know where to look as soon as you open the door.
Lauren is a senior editor at Hearst. She was previously the senior editor at WomansDay.com and the home editor at GoodHousekeeping.com and HouseBeautiful.com. Her book club, ramen, and jean jackets are a few of her favorite things.
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