Freezers are colder in some spots than others and there are certain ways to pack a freezer to be more energy efficient. Stocking the freezer with store bought items and homemade goods will give you a wide array of choices.
Your freezer should be 0° or lower.
Stocking the Freezer Door with delicious choices for your family.
By opening the freezer we expose the door to air more often. That makes it a good place to put items such as breads and other baked goods. The back is a good option for larger items that are easier to be seen and won't get lost in the shuffle.
These are not all hard and fast rules. Just food for thought.
Don't pack you freezer full so that there is space for circulation. But with that in mind the fuller you can keep it (with some air space) the better it is for saving energy. The solid frozen objects inside the freezer will keep it colder so the freezer won't have to work as hard. A freezer that is half full will need to work harder to keep the temperature down.
Stocking your Freezer with a multitude of healthy and delicious foods.
It is great if you could keep a list taped to the inside of your pantry of what is inside of your freezer. When you get home from grocery shopping you can add items to the list. When you remove items to consume just scratch it off.
If at all possible, keep items that are similar in the same areas. Put snacks together, breads together, casseroles etc. I find this very hard. If I had a door down the side with more shelves for compartmentalizing, I think that might be a bit easier.
My husband has his favorite meals as we all do. These are the items I will cook over and over and try to have one of them in the freezer at all times. There are also some dishes that are easier to prepare for eating. Especially the glass containers with airtight lids. I will make sure a couple of these casseroles are in the freezer for my husband to cook in case I am gone a couple of days. He loves me for it and I aim to please.
Click on any of the links below for the nitty griity of freezing:
- How Do You Freeze ...
- Containers for Freezing Food
- To Freeze or Not to Freeze
- Freezer Storage Time
- Preparing Food for the Freezer
- Blanching Vegetables
- Stocking the Freezer (this is the page you are on)
- Food Freezing Tips