Is your freezer becoming messy and cluttered? Are you struggling to open and close it? Or is it flooded with outdated and unmarked food? Whatever condition your freezer is in, we’ve got you covered.
The first step to take when re-organising your messy freezer is to remove any unlabelled containers. If you’re unsure of how long that container of soup or pasta has been in your freezer, then it’s best to just ditch it entirely. To make sure this doesn’t happen again, be sure to research the foods that you can and can’t freeze to avoid waste.
Now you’ve decluttered your freezer, you can start to re-organise and make your freezer safer and more efficient. Below are some of our expert tips when it comes to organising a freezer.
Freeze Food When It’s Fresh
Freezing food helps to preserve it in its current state, so it will taste fresher when it is defrosted. Additionally, freezing can provide convenience, allowing you to have access to fresh ingredients at any time without having to visit the grocery store regularly. Freezing food can also help reduce food waste by allowing you to preserve excess food that would otherwise spoil or be discarded. It’s key to remember that freezing food doesn’t kill bacteria, so don’t just freeze food because it’s close to or past its use-by date.
Remove Large Packaging
It is important to remove large packaging from your freezers to ensure proper airflow and to prevent freezer burn. When large packaging takes up too much space in the freezer, it can restrict the flow of cold air, causing uneven temperatures that can lead to freezer burn. Freezer burn occurs when the surface of the food becomes dehydrated, resulting in a dry, tough, and discoloured appearance. This can affect the flavor and texture of the food and may lead to waste. By removing large packaging, you create more space in the freezer, allowing cold air to circulate freely and ensuring that the food stays fresh and in good condition. This can also help you better organize your freezer and reduce clutter, making it easier to find what you need and avoid overbuying.
If you want to save space in your freezer, remove items from large boxes where possible and place bigger items on the shelf or drawer.
Use Different Drawers for Different Types Of Food
It is important to use different freezer drawers for different products to prevent cross-contamination and ensure proper storage conditions. Different types of food have different storage requirements, such as temperature and humidity, and storing them together in the same drawer can lead to food safety issues. For example, storing raw meat with ready-to-eat foods can lead to the spread of harmful bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella. By using separate drawers for different products, you can prevent these bacteria from spreading and minimize the risk of foodborne illness. Additionally, using different drawers can help you better organize your freezer and make it easier to find what you need. You can group similar items together, such as meats in one drawer and vegetables in another, making it easier to find what you need and avoid overbuying.
To prevent cross-contamination, place meat or poultry in a bottom drawer while having vegetables in a drawer together.
Freeze Food in Usable Portions
Splitting portions of food in freezers is good for several reasons. Firstly, it can help reduce food waste by allowing you to thaw only what you need and avoid thawing and refreezing the entire package. This can be especially useful for large cuts of meat or bulk purchases of food that would be difficult to consume all at once.
Secondly, splitting portions can provide convenience, allowing you to have access to individual servings of food at any time without having to thaw the entire package. This can save time and effort, making meal preparation quicker and easier. Additionally, splitting portions can help with better organization and space management in the freezer. By dividing food into smaller portions, you can make better use of available freezer space and avoid overcrowding. Finally, splitting portions can help you better manage your food budget by enabling you to purchase in bulk or on sale, while still being able to portion and freeze the food for later use.
Label everything in your freezer
One of the best ways to keep your freezer organised is by using freezer labels available in a variety of sizes.
Paper freezer labels are useful for several reasons. Firstly, they are specifically designed to withstand low temperatures and can adhere to frozen surfaces without falling off or losing their adhesive properties. This ensures that the labels remain in place and are easy to read, even when stored in a freezer. Secondly, paper freezer labels are easily customisable, allowing you to write down important information about the food, such as the name of the food, date of freezing, and expiration date. This can help you keep track of the food in your freezer and prevent waste by ensuring that you use it before it expires.
Make sure to label homemade and raw food clearly, with the date it was frozen.
Freezer labels are perfect for both household and commercial use. You can use these labels for high-quality applications like promotional and product packaging labels, as well as for labeling storage boxes that you keep in your freezer at home.
How Can You Print on Freezer Labels?
You can easily print information on these labels by using both laser or inkjet printers, as well as photocopying machines. Another way to use these labels is by simply writing on them using a marker pen. If you have any trouble laying these out however, we have handy videos on our A4Labels YouTube which explain how to fix some common errors. If this doesn’t work for you however, take a look at our Artwork Layout Service, where we will lay out your artworks for you, for a small fee.
What Are Freezer Labels Made From?
Freezer labels are printed on matt white paper, combined with wood-free kraft backing paper (basic weight of 66g/m2. These labels also have a special adhesive that has been tested to be effective down to minus 40°C.
