Use these simple freezer storage ideas to maximize the space you have for meat, frozen veggies and ice cream. Grab the free Freezer Inventory printable.
Do you sometimes feel as if your freezer is a black hole?
You put things in there but they never seem to make it out again. Anytime you attempt to find food, it’s some unidentifiable frozen mass.
I feel ya!
Using your freezer to preserve food is a great way to save money. But, if you constantly forget groceries in there, you’re not doing your purse any favors.
Instead, clean the freezer out and use these tips to organize it and maximize whatever space you have. These ideas work whether you have a top freezer, deep freeze or side by side.
Make sure to grab the free handy Freezer Inventory printable at the end of this post.
7 Freezer Storage Ideas
This post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, there’s absolutely no extra cost to you. Read my full Disclosure Policy here.
1. Get Rid of Bulky Boxes and Storage Containers
If you have a small freezer, the best thing you can do is to ditch boxes and stop using storage containers.
Those things take up valuable space that can be used to store more food. You’ll be surprised at how much room you have in the freezer just by getting rid of boxes.
If you do need to use storage containers, use ones that are the same shape so you can stack them.
2. Store Food Flat
I know you’re probably thinking what will you store food in if you’re not using containers or the boxes the items came in.
Well, that’s where Ziploc bags come in.
I love these for two reasons.
First, they’re clear so I can see what’s inside. And secondly, I can lay them flat and allow the food to freeze that way. This is a good space-saving tip.
3. Label, Label, Label
The next best thing you can do to ensure you know exactly what’s inside the freezer is to label items. Sure, you might be able to see something through the clear Ziploc bag. But, say you’re storing potato soup and cream of mushroom soup. I just picked those two soups quite randomly, by the way. Once they’re frozen, it will be very difficult to tell which is which because they can have a similar color and consistency.
Do yourself a favor and use labels. Include the date the food was prepared and/or the expiration date along with the name of the item. You’ll know when you can safely use everything in your freezer that way.
You have two options for labelling. Simply, write directly onto the Ziploc bag using a Sharpie or purchase some freezer labels. These labels are weatherproof and can withstand the cold, wet conditions inside your freezer.
4. Get Organized With Baskets
Using Ziploc bags is great inside the freezer but eventually, that stack of bags is going to fall over. A bunch of frozen bags falling out when you open the door is not a good thing.
To avoid this, use storage bins or baskets to hold the food in place. Stand them upright in the bin like a kind of filing system, if you have the vertical space.
In a deep freezer, doing this has the added benefit of allowing you to easily see and grab what you need. Otherwise, you’ll just have a bunch of frozen bags randomly thrown into a chest freezer and it will be incredibly difficult to find anything.
5. Group Food By Category
You can also use storage bins in the freezer is to categorize food. Group items by category in each bin and use the storage bins as a way to divide your space. Separating food according to category makes it really easy to find what you need.
Another perk is the baskets act as containers for any spills that might occur before food freezes. This is great for meat and fish storage, and sauces or soups. You’ll just have to pull out that one basket, give it a quick rinse and chuck it back in the freezer.
6. Avoid Sales and Buying in Bulk
Now, it may be tempting to purchase food in bulk or on sale because it’s a lot cheaper. But, if you have a small freezer, this might not do you much good.
I only recommend purchasing food in bulk if it’s an item you use in large quantities or frequently. Otherwise, you’ll just have a lot of unused food sitting in your freezer taking up precious space.
7. What’s Inside Your Freezer?
Even after you’ve taken the time to label everything and store items in clear bags, you can easily forget what’s in there. Black hole, remember?
One way to eliminate this problem is to keep an inventory of the contents of your freezer. A freezer inventory printable is a simple solution for doing this. You can print it out, stick it on the outside of the freezer and keep it updated as you put things in or take food out of the freezer. At a glance, you can know exactly what you have on hand.
If you don’t want to print a new copy constantly, laminate it or slide it inside a sheet protector. That way, you can write on it with a dry erase marker and wipe it clean later.
