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 Or is it flooded with outdated and unmarked food?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. 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
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
To prevent cross-contamination, place meat or poultry in a bottom drawer while having vegetables in a drawer together.
Freeze Food In Usable Portions
Divide ingredients into practical portions and freeze each portion in a separate container or freezer bag.
Label everything in your freezer
One of the best ways to keep your freezer organised is by using freezer labels.
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 labelling storage boxes that you keep in your freezer at home.
Freezer labels are available in a range of shapes and sizes to suit your needs.
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.
What Are Freezer Labels Made From?
Freezer labels are printed on matt white paper, combined with a 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.
What To Include On Freezer Labels
Freezer labels are used by manufacturers and businesses selling frozen food products such as supermarkets and restaurants. Freezer labels need to include key product information as part of industry standards and regulations. Below is what you need to make sure you include on all of your freezer labels if you are a business or manufacturer.
Nutritional information
Nutritional labels are usually displayed as a panel on the side of the packaging. These labels need to include information on energy (kJ/kcal), fat, saturates, carbohydrates, sugars, protein, and salt. All nutritional information should be provided per 100 grams or per portion.
Allergen Warnings
Pre-packaged food needs to have an ingredient list. Allergenic ingredients then must be bolded, in contrasting colours, or underlined.
Storage Conditions and Date Labelling
Food packaging labels must be marked with a ‘best before’ or ‘use by’ date to indicate how long the food can be kept. Proper storage instructions must also be included.
Visit the Food Standards Agency website to ensure you are following best practices when it comes to freezer labels.
What Else Can Freezer Be Labels Used For?
Freezer labels can withstand harsh conditions, making them ideal for pre-packaged food or frozen homemade meals.
Branded frozen food
Frozen food labels are extra durable and can withstand up to -40 degrees Celsius. These labels include strong permanent adhesive so you can be assured that your labels will stay intact in freezing conditions.
Healthcare
Freezer labels are frequently used by doctors or nurses to label various medical samples that need to be sorted in extremely cold temperatures.
A Summary On How To Organise Your Freezer
It’s crucial that you label everything when it comes to organising your freezer. Keeping everything labelled means you aren’t left second-guessing when figuring out how long a piece of meat or a handful of vegetables has sat in your freezer, keeping you on top and up to date with the contents of your freezer.
