Managing a Freezer..

[andywhite]

I didn't see a specific forum for freezers in regard to storing raw and cooked meat, so I thought I'd post this here:

I use a very basic word processing program to keep an inventory of what's in my freezer and when it got put into it.

Every time I take something out or put something in, I alter the inventory list accordingly.

Yeah, I know it sounds kind of anal, but I've stopped wasting meat!

Here's a sample inventory sheet:

http://www.andywhite.net/smoker%20re...0inventory.pdf

 

[Bearcarver]

Cool, but I've been called anal in the past too.

My wife started keeping a list for our kitchen freezer, so she doesn't have to hold the door open long---looking around.

As for my basement "Meat" freezer, I keep stuff I smoked in square kitty litter buckets (they fit better than round buckets). Then within each bucket will be shopping bags with dates on them. Whenever I smoke a new batch of Bacon, I pull out the bucket that says "Bacon", and rotate the inner bags, putting the new bag of vacuum-packed Bacon in the bottom of the bucket. Same thing for Salmon, CB, BBB, etc.


Bearcarver

 

[andywhite]

I like the tray idea, Bear. I'd need a bigger freezer. (But doesn't everybody?)

 

[mballi3011]

I did it one step easier I have a freezer for beef and one for pork and then one for fish and chicken. I had an in on freezers from work so I have a few of them maybe 5 or so.

 

[andywhite]

If only I had the square footage for that!

 

[solaryellow]

Ditto. Except I use milk crates.

 

[caveman]

That doesn't sound Anal to me. It sounds efficient!!

 

[rbranstner]

Thats funny you should post this. About a month ago we got a new freezer and I mentioned to my wife I should keep an inventory of the freezer so I know what is in there. To my surprise she said "Yea you should". I figured I would be the only crazy guy to do it so I scrapped the idea. I guess I am not alone. I think I will make up an inventory list tonight. Thanks guys.

 

[andywhite]

Nope! Guess you're not the only crazy guy!

 

[Bearcarver]

C'mon RB, You've been on this forum since 2007, and you think you're the only crazy guy around??


Bearcarver

 

[pandemonium]

Thats a damn fine idea because i cant even keep track of my regular sized freezer, I cant imagine keeping track of a big one? lots of waste i bet.

 

[eman]

When my grandma died we cleaned out her freezer and found stuff in the bottom that had been there over 10 years.
That chest freezer was such a pain.
i allways bought uprights . but someone gave me a nice ,Big chest freezer about 10 years ago. So i started useing the milk crates (They are designed to be stacked on top of each other) to sort the food.
Now i use them in my larger uprights as well.

 

[walle]

You guys are anal!

Grew up with freezers - my parents still have four big chest freezers at there house which makes it nice for butchering and storage for reloads. I have two - one big chest, one medium chest.

We simply doubled cardboard and made dividers that go about 3/4 of the way up, giving plenty of room for non-catagorical items such as bacon, primes, chicken, cooked etc on top - usually keep those in plastic City Market bags.. if I did an inventory list it would be something like this (a label for each separate section):

Beef steak
Hamburger
Chops/Pork Steak
Roasts (beef/pork)
Sausage
Deer/Elk Steak
Green Chili
Corn
Fruit (tomatos, peaches, cherries, apricots)

with this on the bottom of the list
"When slot get's low, eat out of another one. When all slots get low -RELOAD"!