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A chest freezer can be a real asset in a busy home. Fridge/freezer combinations can offer an increasing amount of space for day-to-day frozen food supplies but few are big enough that you can really take advantage of those super deals you see at your local Sam’s Club/Costcos/Aldis etc. Which is a shame, as bulk buying frozen food staples an save a busy family a ton of time and money.
With ll this in mind, adding a chest freezer to your kitchen, basement or garage can be a great idea, and with these handy appliances decreasing in price it’s an increasingly popular purchase. However, a chest freezer is only useful if it’s an organized chest freezer, otherwise it may become just a place where frozen foods go to die…
These organization techniques are perfect for you if you’re wondering how to organize a chest freezer so that it’s easy to use! Here are some fantastic (and easy) chest freezer organization ideas and recommendations to get you started.
Why Bother with Chest Freezer Organization?
Although a chest freezer is a valuable addition to any home, the same qualities that make it so valuable can also make it a liability if not utilized properly: –
- It’s big, which means you can store a lot of stuff in it, but it also means you can lose a lot of stuff in it.
- It doesn’t have a lot of compartments, so you can put anything in it – but you don’t have any built-in organization, so it can be difficult to figure out how to use it to its full potential.
You want to organize your chest freezer since it will make your life easier in the long run:
- You’ll be able to keep track of what’s in there and stay organized when it comes to meal planning and using everything, rather than buying more because you believed you’d run out.
- Furthermore, you won’t have to pull everything out and hunt around for hours to find it (cold fingers are NOT good)
- You’ll be able to swiftly replace something because there will be a spot for it, and it will fit. (And, once again, icy fingers aren’t required…)
- You have lightweight storage that you can move about. Even the smallest containers can become difficult to maneuver once full of frozen food.
- Allows you to rotate food so nothing gets lost at the bottom.
Getting Started with Chest Freezer Organization
With this in mind, you’ll want to make a plan before you start organizing your chest freezer.
After all, it’s chilly in there, so you don’t want to start moving stuff around until you’re sure what you’re doing (am I harping on the cold factor too much?! – I despise having chilly hands, and my fingers have a nasty habit of turning blue when they get too cold – not good!).
Make a list of quick questions for yourself: –
- What kind of food do you want or need to keep there? (And how much of each?)
- Where is the chest freezer located? Is it easy to get to, and does it make a difference in what you keep there?
- What is the size of your chest freezer?
- What containers does it already have, and what other containers do you have that would fit and could be used in your freezer? (no need to buy extra if you can re-use from around the house).
All of these questions will be very personal to you and your situation, so make sure you know exactly what you want.
After all, you want to make life as simple as possible in the future, so a little forethought now will save your sanity later since you’ll come up with a solution that works for you.
Declutter an Already in Use Chest Freezer
Now is the time to reconsider what you already have, because it’s likely that it’s in a state of disarray right now…
There will probably be items in there that you’ve forgotten about, things you didn’t even realize you possessed, and things that need to be eaten right away.
As a result, take a few minutes to declutter the contents using these simple two steps: –
1 – Toss out everything that is past its prime and can no longer be consumed. Anything with even a smidgeon of freezer burn should be discarded.
2 – Make plans for meals over the next few days to consume anything that needs to be eaten promptly.
If you want to go even farther, you can declutter the packaging off a lot of the items you’re storing in there. This will save a lot of space and make it easier to find things. Just make sure you ‘repackage’ things in clear plastic bags and label them, so that once they are frozen you don’t forget what they are. Ground beef and ground sausage, for example, can look similar once frozen, but the taste difference is miles apart…
Top Tips for Smart Chest Freezer Organization
Now that you’ve completed all of your planning and decluttering, it’s time to have some fun!
Now you must choose a method (or a combination of approaches) that will work for you and the way you want to organize your stuff.
Here are some great ideas to consider (don’t forget to measure your freezer and buy the right sizes!
Make Use of Large Bags
Larger reusable bags – the kind you can buy at the checkout at most grocery stores – are ideal for this project because you can store a lot in bags thanks to the freezer’s height while still being able to lift it all out easily because they have handles!
Use Stackable Plastic Baskets
Stackable plastic baskets are another inexpensive and efficient chest freezer storage option to consider. If you can find baskets with handles it’s ideal, and you can also consider mixing and matching sizes to make use of more of your available freezer space.
Opt for Cardboard Boxes in a Pinch
Often the cheapest, easiest storage option for a chest freezer you want to organize fast is making use of cardboard boxes. This can be a great idea as the chances are you already have some on hand, and you can also use them to take advantage of all the space. The downside is that should your freezer start defrosting accidentally the boxes will disintegrate, and you’ll be left with a nasty mess.
Remember to Label Everything
As I touched on before, labeling your chest freezer’s contents is a must. When you put food in the freezer, make a note of the date you put it in there, so you know how long it’s been there. Some preprinted labels include a date section, which is a convenient feature. You can even add preparation instructions to our labels, so that kids and spouses have no excuse not to do some simple cooking themselves.
Keep a Chest Freezer Inventory
Finally, add a freezer inventory on the outside of the freezer so you can see what’s inside without having to rummage through it every time.
Choose something that you’ll find easy to use, whether it’s a basic list on a magnet, a freezer inventory sheet, or something like a magnetic chalkboard/whiteboard, because the only way it’ll be useful is if you really keep it updated.
Create the ideal organizing system for your freezer and needs, and everything will work like a dream. You’ll be able to see what food needs to be purchased at a glance, you’ll have a location to store each type of food, and you’ll be able to grab it when you need it.
Small organization projects like these can make a bigger difference than you might imagine, and bigger home organization projects can sometimes literally change your life. Finding the time, energy and motivation to get started i usually the hardest part of any home organization project though. That’s where Just Organized by Taya comes in.
We can help you with any home, office or life organization project you can think of (and maybe some you haven’t) And not only will we do as much of the hard work as needed, but we’ll also leave you with a solid organization plan that will help you stay organized in the future. Book an appointment here and let’s get started!
Working with Taya and her team is easy. You can book an appointment easily on her website, or contact her directly at 832-271-7608
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