I got back with the shopping the other day and decided that while I was in a 'foody mood' I would finally get around to doing a freezer inventory.
I had been meaning to do it right at the start of the year, but the freezer was so packed full of extra things pushed in there after Christmas that it was simply off-putting. Now that the drawers could actually be pulled out without too much of a struggle it seemed a good time to do it.
As usual there was more than I thought ... and it was nice to see a few old friends. 😄
It didn't take me long to do, and straight away I could see that menu planning from it over the next couple of weeks will bring it all down to a much more sensible and organisable level. I want to be able to have a drawer for vegetables, a drawer for meal components and another drawer with a loaf of bread and any miscellaneous items in.
Writing this weeks menu out was a doddle with my inventory next to me, the little red asterisks are the items from the freezer, so now I know exactly what I will be having each evening ... and exactly where I can find it.
And the furry gang slept through it all.
Sue xx
What lovely writing you've got, Sue. Made me smile to see all 3 of the furries snuggled up together.
ReplyDeleteThank you, funnily I seem to write neater in pencil than I do in pen. :-) They all love the newest bed, it's as furry as they are.
DeleteThat is a priceless photo of the furry kids . . .
ReplyDeleteI organise my freezer the same way, cannot keep track otherwise :-). I’ve definitely found that doing a menu plan makes my life not only easier but I am sure I eat better - none of the 5.30pm “oh hell, what can I defrost quickly?” which leads to not eating so healthily.
It's a good photo isn't it, usually by the time I pick up my phone or the camera someone has moved completely. I'm turning into a stealth photographer. :-)
DeleteIt does make life a lot easier having a plan and gives me something to look forward too, especially as tonight's tea is a nice easy option.
I had a carefully printed list in the freezer over Christmas with "IF YOU USE IT, CROSS IT OFF PLEASE" in big letters. It's lovely when the family help with meals, but you do need to keep track. I seem to have a surfeit of frozen pastry (bought on offer at very low price) I must make some Pies and quiches
ReplyDeleteMy downfall is always not keeping track ... I must do better this time. Lots of frozen pastry is a really good thing, and of course you can always bake pies or pasties and then refreeze as a ready to eat meal.
DeleteWe have a large upright freezer which I organise the way you have just described. Unfortunately the other person who lives here seems to have missed the memo! Our online delivery came an hour early on Saturday while I was out so there is stuff everywhere in both fridge and freezer!! I’ll be having a sort out tomorrow when he’s at the Mens Shed. Catriona
ReplyDeleteOh well he did his best ... I guess. ;-) The Mens Shed is a brilliant organisation isn't it, I need to find Alan one.
DeleteThat's such a lovely photo of your gorgeous pets!
ReplyDeleteExcept for half the ratatouille I made on Xmas day, I've no idea what's in our freezer, I leave all that to Jon! xxx
Oh you are so lucky, we should all have a Lord Jon. :-)
DeleteThat reminds me I need to audit the marmalade stock as the local veg man has Seville oranges in stock. I used to audit the freezer when the children were home and we had a chest freezer but now we have the same sized upright one and there is just two of us, I don’t bother. I think it must be easier to open drawers and see at a glance although the upright one doesn’t seem to hold as much!
ReplyDeleteI much prefer the upright small SMEG freezer that I have now, I used to struggle with inventorying the large chest freezer when we lived in Wales. There was so much in there I would get frostbite before I finished. Just before we moved I stumbled on the 'Bag for Life' bag system and that made things a bit easier.
DeleteI really shouldn't be surprised each time at how much food can be stored in a freezer - but I always am! AT least it is all easier to find now I have everything organised and in bags that are easy to lift out.
ReplyDeletexx
Using the bag system is a game-changer isn't it. Things can still get a bit forgotten about, but at least it gives you a fighting chance at knowing where things are and what you have.
DeleteAbsolutely - and so much easier to audit too - just one bag at a time. And defrosting takes a fraction of the time. xx
DeleteFreezer sorting is one of those tasks that I don't excel at 😉 When freezing leftovers or splitting packs of food to freeze I always forget that that once frozen the food looks different. My food labelling tends to be rudimentary, twisting the polybags to seal them often instantly covers up the handwritten label.......ah well, frustrating rather than life threatening!
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
Oh I have had many UFOs in my time ... unidentified freezer objects. It can be annoying when what you thought was a curry turns out to be a chunky, cinnamon-y apple sauce, can you tell I speak from experience!!
DeleteI have too much in the fridge freezer right now so over the next couple of weeks we will be using things up in there and then once under control I will move on to the big freezers. I seem to be doing this so very often.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It's nice to bring things back under control isn't it, especially after the holiday season when things get stuffed into every available space.
DeleteI so love the photo of the furry gang♥ Job well done with the freezer inventory:)
ReplyDeleteThey're a cuddly bunch in this photo aren't they. :-)
DeleteMy freezer is completely full and completely disorganised!! I have some things in bags but I'm just not organised! Well done on working out a meal plan, something I am absolutely terrible at doing!! Really cute furry photo :-) xxx
ReplyDeleteIt's oh so much harder to even think about trying to sort out and organise a freezer when it's really full isn't it ... especially in this cold weather. ❄️❄️❄️
DeleteThanks for the inspiration. I should do my freezers.
ReplyDeleteGo for it, once I got stuck in it didn't take me long at all. It was the starting that was the difficult part. 😂
DeleteI love how the furry gang cosy up together, just the thing for this cold snap! ...lol...
ReplyDeleteGosh yes, they do look lovely and cosy don't they, especially as it was snowing outside at the time I took it.
DeleteHi Sue, I just wanted to say how beautiful that pic is of your lovely pets - it really warms your heart. Also regarding the freezer tidying, I often have smaller bits and pieces falling about all over the place so put them in those white mesh draw string bags that are used for vegetables in the supermarkets.
ReplyDeleteWendy (Wales)
They look lovely cuddled up together, they have such a special relationship with each other.
DeleteThose bags come in handy for all sorts of things don't they, but I'd never thought to use them in the freezer, what a good idea. 🙂
Thanks Sue x
ReplyDelete