How to organise your freezer

If you're one of the many who'd like to use the extra time stuck inside during lockdown to get more organised, one very worthwhile task could be to sort out your freezer.

It's all too easy to just shove things you want to freeze into any freezer drawer that'll hoid it, without labelling it or having any idea of where it's actually located when you need it for a meal.

But instead of rummaging around every nook and cranny until your fingers turn blue, wondering what on earth the countless bags and boxes of mystery frozen items actually are, giving your freezer a spring clean and adopting a new, organised approach to your frozen food can save you time, and make delving into the freezer far less daunting.

"A lot of our customers struggle to fit frozen goods in the freezer because its jam-packed full of old Tupperware or loose, often unidentifiable food," says Stuart Pritchard, a store manager at frozen food chain Oops! Food Clearance (oopsclearance.co.uk). "We often forget about things we've saved for a rainy day, as they're right at the back, covered in ice. Just by taking stock and being a bit smarter about how and where you store things, you'll find your freezer has a lot more free space - which will save valuable time when you've got hungry mouths to feed. And it also means less food will go to waste."

OOPS! and David Lennox, head chef at frozen food specialist Iceland (iceland.co.uk), give their tips for having a super-organised freezer...

1. Out with the old

The first step is to rid your freezer of any unlabelled containers or food you know you'll never get round to cooking, making space for a perfectly categorised freezer, says Pritchard. It's also time to fix any broken drawers - if they're beyond repair, you can usually order a replacement from the manufacturer. And consider removing shelves, suggests Lennox, as you can fit more in if you do.

2. Get prepared

You'll need some good quality sealable freezer bags, freezer paper or foil, a marker pen and Tupperware pots that are a uniform size. Measure the drawers before buying the pots, to work out what size you need, to fit the most into the space, advises Pritchard. Other useful tools are a tray to help you freeze items on a flat surface, as well as a freezer itinerary sheet.

3. Repackage everything

Frozen foods often come in awkwardly-shaped bags and boxes, and Lennox advises: "Remove the packaging and place into sealable containers or bags, as you can fit more in." Using containers that are a uniform size will help make the most of the freezer space, and Pritchard suggests freezing sauces and soups by decanting them into a sealable freezer bag and labelling. Put smaller containers - containing things like herbs or cooking ingredients - into a larger box to keep them together.

4. Avoid the burn

Although foods with freezer burn - which happens when food becomes dehydrated when air reaches it - are still safe to eat, they don't look as appetising or taste as good. To prevent freezer burn, wrap food tightly in cling film/freezer paper/foil to prevent air from getting to it, before popping it inside a bag or container.

5. Freeze flat

Freeze sauces and soups flat on a baking tray, which should catch any drips, suggests Pritchard. And rather than freezing mince in round bulky bags, put it in a sealable bag and use a rolling pin to flatten it out - making the size and shape similar to other items. Once solid, you can remove frozen liquids from the tray and stack alongside similar sized items.

6. Label

Both experts stress labelling is vital for an organised freezer. "Always include what's inside, plus the date it was frozen," stresses Pritchard. "You can also include the use-by-date, so you know when it's time to use up older food, or clear out and restock."

7. Categorise shelves

Freeze food in categories to make it easier to find. OOPS! suggests having a shelf for easy access items - like bread, pastry, batch-cooked meals and cooking ingredients, one for fruit and vegetables - including chips and potatoes, one for meat and fish, and one for desserts and ice cream.

8. Create an inventory

"An inventory will help you see at a glance what's in the freezer and keep on top of restocking without having to rummage through countless drawers, bags and boxes," says Pritchard. Storing the frozen food in categories will help make your inventory easier to follow.

9. Batch cook

Batch cooking is one of the best ways to use your freezer, stresses Lennox. "It takes almost no extra time to make double of something, then you can simply portion and freeze the rest for another day."

10. Know what can - and can't - be frozen

Lennox says there are many foods people just don't realise can be frozen, including cheese, which he suggests is cut it into useable chunks before freezing, eggs which can be frozen in ice cube trays and popped out the day before needed, and wine, which can also be frozen in ice cube trays. "This can be added into stews, casseroles etc without the need to open another bottle," adds Lennox.

But Pritchard points out that foods with a high water content, like cucumber and lettuce, don't freeze well, as the water inside forms ice crystals, which can make them soggy when defrosted. He says other foods to avoid freezing are dairy foods with a high fat content, like soft cheeses and cream, as they separate and go lumpy when frozen. Bottles of beer are another no-no.

He also highlights two food items that are dangerous to freeze - food in a tin, which may swell and make the tin explode, and eggs still in their shells. The water inside an egg will expand when frozen and crack the shell, making it vulnerable to bacteria growth.