My previous freezer inventory worked out really well and menu planning from it has really helped me to use the contents of the freezer up logically and regularly.
But by the time we went away on holiday the inventory looked like this!!
I struggled to make head or tail of it, so I decided that as soon as I got back I would take everything out of all three drawers and see exactly what I had left. Then hopefully, put everything back a lot more logically and in categories that made sense. I thought I had done it only a couple of weeks ago but looking back on the last freezer inventory post, it was almost exactly one month ago.
Gosh, it shows how much food I had jammed in the drawers that I have still got this much left ... mind you I really have made a lot of space as it is all easily accessible now, which is a huge relief.
I was very nearly a bad blogger as I forgot to take a photo while everything was laid out on the worktop. But I realised just in time and took this one above ...
... and then this photo of the top drawer before I slid it back into the cleaned out freezer.
As I said earlier I decided to categorise the drawers more logically, so this one is the bread style items and the bits for making my compost heap jelly along with some other little homemade bits and pieces. Putting my new loaf straight into the freezer while it's nice and fresh means that I can take a single slice out each day for my morning toast, or take out two slices for a sandwich, and not waste any of it.
The middle drawer is now the vegetable drawer. I was surprised at how many bags of various veggies I had, but really pleased too. Some are bought bags from the supermarket and some in the zip lock bags are homegrown, or things like fresh onions chopped ready to be used in various dishes.
The bottom drawer, which is the smallest due to having the freezer motor behind it, contains packet foods bought from the shops. Having this ratio, more veggies in the middle drawer and then less bought 'ready made' things in the small drawer is the way I want to eat from now on.
I was shocked to find that I still had these two 'rhubarb bases' buried amongst all the frozen stuff. My priority this week is to make some crumble topping and actually eat them as I need to make space for this years rhubarb in the freezer.
Doing a freezer inventory is something that I usually put off and put off, but this time I actually just got stuck into doing it without thinking too much about it, and and had it done and dusted in less than an hour.
My new, much neater, freezer inventory which is now on the side of the fridge freezer ready for me to menu plan from ... and I've promised myself that I will neatly tick off each thing as I use it. 😁
Sue xx
We do a freezer inventory every month or so... I always find it's full of surprises!
ReplyDeleteIt's a good routine to get into isn't it. I'm going to try and keep it going from now on. It does make mealtimes a lot easier.
DeleteSince getting the airfryer during the kitchen refit, I've found those hash browns a very useful freezer standby!
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty tasty aren't they, I've paired them with a few different things since I started buying them.
DeleteI love my freezer inventory - makes me use up stuff I'd easily forget about. Maeve
ReplyDeleteFreezer are notorious for hiding our food aren't they. I'm determined to keep on top of this list and redo it as often as I need to.
DeleteGreat job and so easy to see what you have. When I was working, I used to be super organised but not now. I really need to get myself organised before winter when it is not as easy to nip out for things I need. Catriona
ReplyDeleteYes, that's a good point. If we know exactly what we have and write shopping lists accordingly, there will be no mad dash out to get some vital ingredient that we need when the weather gets worse.
DeleteI love having my freezer inventory too. It helps so much with meal planning.
ReplyDeleteI've not had a menu plan written out since we got back off our holiday, so the inventory has really helped me. I'm about to do next week's menu before I let the habit slide too much.
DeleteSo useful to have chopped onion and celery in the freezer. I recognised the makings for your compost jelly - lovely
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
It's proved really useful, I simply carried on chopping when I needed a bit of onion or celery for a particular dish and froze it straight away, one less job to do next time. I was surprised at how many bits and bobs I had in there for compost jelly. Which is really handy as Alan is on the final jar of the last batch.
DeleteWhat a nicely organized freezer. I have one drawer in my freezer and the rest are all shelves. I have put some items into plastic bins that I can pull out, but, most things are not easily accessible. I need to update my freezer inventory, too.
ReplyDeleteI do like a freezer with drawers, everything is so much more accessible. I love it even more when it's just been re-tidied like this.
DeleteWell, it's Sunday now and I have been busy sorting my freezer drawers - you are a great motivator !
ReplyDeleteWendy (Wales)
I hope it was as satisfying for you as it was for me. 😀
DeleteTidying and organising, two of my favourites. it's the little jobs that keep a household running smoothly I think.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree, and I do need to keep on top of my inventory this time.
DeleteWhile I managed to eat a great deal from the fridge freezer, I really need to make an inventory to see what is actually left. I have used up some frozen cooked chicken last night and tonight I will use up the last of the smoked hamburgers. Once all the garden produce is put up I will be doing that inventory for sure. Wonder if a magnetic dry erase board would work.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It wouldn't work for me, I doubt I could get one small enough that I could list everything on, as I would have nowhere to stick it. The fronts of Smeg fridge freezers are not made of metal. I literally just just have room for A4 papers on the side part of the freezer that is available for magnets.
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