Chest freezers are small appliances that offer higher depth than upright freezers. Their form factor allows them to store plenty of food in a small space.
However, a chest freezer can easily accumulate food clutter if not organized properly. As a result, it becomes difficult to find what you need in the deep pile of bags and containers.
That’s why it’s important to keep your chest freezer organized and here’s how you can achieve that.
Step by Step Method to Organize a Chest Freezer
It’s easy to forget what you have stored in your chest freezer if it’s not organized, and it can result in a waste of food and money. Use the steps listed below to organize your chest freezer efficiently and effectively.
Step 1: Remove Everything
The first step is to remove everything from your chest freezer one by one. Make sure that you check the expiration date of every food item and throw out everything that has expired or gone bad.
You’ll also need to get rid of frozen food that has fallen victim to freezer burn. Although food with freezer burn isn’t harmful to your health, it’ll have a deteriorated taste, texture, and color.
Step 2: Categorize Everything
Once you have taken everything out of your chest freezer and discarded expired food, the next step is to categorize everything that you need to restore.
You’ll need to sort your frozen foods into different categories like frozen veggies, fruits, meat, bread, dairy products, bakery items, snacks, and freezer meals.
If you have so many items in a single category, consider sub-categorizing it to make the process of deep freezer organization easier. For example, you can make several sub-categories of meat, such as poultry, fish, beef, and mutton.
Step 3: Use Different Storage Containers
After categorizing your frozen food, you’ll need to start adding it to freezer-friendly storage containers. We recommend you use a different container type for each category.
For example, you can use large plastic or canvas bags for freezer meals, stackable baskets or milk crates for meat, cardboard boxes for dairy products, and dollar store bins for bakery items.
This approach will help you easily find food items that you need to remove from your freezer. Additionally, it’ll also help you maximize your chest freezer space effectively.
Step 4: Create an Inventory List
The biggest reason that makes it difficult to keep your chest freezer organized is that you can’t see everything that you have stored in it. That’s why it’s important to create an inventory map. It’ll show you what you have in your chest freezer and when it’ll expire.
You can easily find tons of freezer inventory printable sheets online that you can use for this purpose. If you’re making your own inventory list, make sure that you write down each category, items in that category, and the expiration date of each item.
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Don’t forget to update your inventory list every time you add or remove any food item to maintain an organized chest freezer.
Step 5: Label Every Container
Now, you’ll need to label every container with the date on which it’ll expire. It’ll help you use that item easily before it goes bad to prevent food wastage and save time. It’ll also help you know which container to remove first from the freezer when you have multiple bags of the same food.
Step 6: Restore Everything
While restoring your frozen food item, make sure that you place food items on the bottom that you won’t need to use frequently. For example, if you have ground beef and you need to use it rarely, place its container on the bottom.
It’s important to stack your storage bins or containers on top of one another while organizing a chest freezer. It’s the best way to utilize all the space you have.
Additionally, you’ll need to place light, small, and most frequently used items on the top layer. It’ll help you lift and remove them from the chest freezer easily.
Step 7: Keep Your Chest Freezer Organized
This chest freezer organization system will help you know what foods you have in your freezer and where they’re located. However, you’ll need to keep in mind that keeping your chest freezer organized is an ongoing process.
So, make sure that you categorize every new item that you buy and store it in its designated location. Don’t forget to label the new containers and update your inventory sheet to keep track of everything you have in your freezer.
Otherwise, your freezer will get cluttered quickly and you’ll need to re-perform the same steps again, which is a time-consuming task.
FAQs
Can You Put Plastic Baskets in Chest Freezer?
Yes, you can place plastic baskets in your chest freezer to store food items. Make sure that you buy a set of stackable plastic baskets that you can store on top of one another. It’ll help you maximize your freezer space and keep everything organized.
How Can I Organize My Freezer without Shelves?
Most chest freezers come with two shelves, which isn’t enough for better organization. The best way to organize such a chest freezer is to use stackable freezer-friendly containers. It’ll allow you to utilize every inch of space that your freezer offers.
How Can I Keep My Chest Freezer Organized?
The best way to keep your chest freezer organized is to categorize each new item, label its container, and place it where it belongs. You’ll also need to add it to your freezer inventory sheet to keep track of the date on which it’ll expire.
Final Words
While chest freezers allow you to store a lot of food, these appliances can become messy quickly. And searching for something through a cluttered chest freezer can be a time-consuming and frustrating task.
Whereas, an organized chest freezer ensures quick and easy access to everything that you have stored. It also allows you to utilize all of the available storage space and harness the true potential of your chest freezer.
