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Easy meals, tasty seasonal produce, and budget-saving
leftovers await you in a super-organized freezer.
written and produced by JEAN NORMAN photos ADAM ALBRIGHT food styling GREG LUNA
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1. TAKEOUT FOOD
Collect each food category
in its own basket. You can
remove a basket from the
freezer, close the door, an d
hunt for the peas without
getting frostbite or wasting
energy. Spa Baskets, $7.50–- -
$12,
organize.com
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Q; ;Use two freezer
thermometers
(one at top, one at
bottom) to monitor
the temperature.
It should be zero
degrees or below.
2. EASY READING
Plastic luggage tags make
basket labels that are easy
to see and easy to change .
Self-Laminating Luggage
Tags, $5 for 3,
containerstore.com
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3. WRITE ON
Label both food
containers and freezer
compartments so things
are put back where they
belong. Erasable Food
Storage Labels, $11 for 70,
containerstore.com
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4. SNAP TO IT
Straight-sided, stackable
bins make the most of
door space. Their airtight,
locking lids help prevent
freezer burn. Lock & Lock
Food Storage Containers,
$4–$10,
organize.com
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5. CORNERED A tiered
shelf meant for dishes
keeps casseroles
uncrushed and pizzas
neatly stacked.
Corner Dinnerware Cabinet
Organizer, $11,
organize.com
Q; ;Always cool
cooked food
destined for
the freezer in the
refrigerator first—
never at room
temperature.
Quick cooling
decreases harmful
bacteria growth and
freezer burn.
Q; ;Keep meat in the
coldest section of
the freezer—the
bottom or back.
Overwrap
supermarket plastic
with freezer paper,
or put the package
in a freezer bag,
squeeze out the
air, and seal.
Q; ;For maximum
efficiency, keep
the freezer at least
three-fourths full.
If yours isn’t, freeze
plastic jugs full of
water.
FREEZER: FRIGIDAIRE 17-CUBIC-FOOT UPRIGHT (FKCH17F7HW), FRIGIDAIRE.COM
A DAB WILL DO;Freeze leftover pesto, tomato
paste, or stock in a lidded ice cube tray (one cube
equals 2 tablespoons). You’ll waste less and save money.
Ice cube tray, $6, organize.com
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