Utilizing Your Freezer Effectively
There is something to be said for those families that have a deep freezer stacked to the brim with meats and dishes. This is a super-genius idea for any family that is aching to plan ahead and prepare for the unexpected. I knew a four-person family that recently hit a tragic time when both parents lost their employment at almost the same time. As a testament to the powers of frozen assets the family ate for five months, off of the meats and vegetables in their 96” basement freezer, before both parents were able to find new employment and get paychecks rolling in once again.
These type of freezers can cost a pretty penny if purchased brand new; visit your local salvage shops, read the local IWANNA or trader magazines, swing into several weekend yard/garage sales on the weekend, or just ask friends and family to help you locate one at a reasonable price. You may be surprised at how quickly you can find one with ten people on the look-out.
Once you have managed to acquire the perfect freezer for your home, or basement, it is time to organize and then begin the hunt for bargain meats, vegetables, and pre-made meals. There is a simple way to stack and fill your freezer easily and almost effortlessly. Gather boxes of all sizes and shapes and stack them inside of the freezer in a way that fills the freezer, leaving at least 8 inches in one corner as movable space. You will also want to leave several inches at the top of the freezer for Ziploc’s and other spontaneously purchased items. Once the boxes are suited in the freezer, remove them one by one, labeling three sides with its position information. Stack the boxes above the freezer on shelving, if possible, and use them as you acquire material to fill the freezer. This is a perfect solution for organizing your freezer.
Now, time to move onto filling the freezer. The best and cheapest bulk items to buy are vegetables. This being true, it can be amazingly simple to buy the frozen ingredients for homemade stews and soups to store in your freezer. Keep a close eye on the weekly circulars or spend the few dollars it takes to join the local warehouse store (Sam’s Club). This can be your ticket to filling your freezer with inexpensive meats and frozen meals. It may take several months to fill the freezer to your liking, and you still need to leave room for items that you will be using soon. Don’t over-pack your freezer only to realize you needed more space for this month’s meals. If this happens you may just decide to eat out of the freezer for a week to lighten the load.