A freezer can greatly simplify the life of a homemaker. From storing perishable bulk food items to keeping tasty meals at the ready for a busy or a lazy day. Even if you aren’t blessed (and I say this because I don’t have one) with a standalone freezer there are still steps you can take to make the most of that dinky one above your refrigerator.

I love my freezer. As small as it is. That dinky thing hovering above my refrigerator. I don’t have a stand alone freezer...yet but what I do have I make the most of.

Not only do I keep frozen foods like veggies and meat in there I also keep pre-made dinners, excess butter, frozen celery and parsley, frozen tomato paste, cookie dough and much more.

True I have to be innovative in getting it all in there but I do and I have for years and here’s what I do.

I repackage meats, and frozen veggies with my FoodSaver

Not only does this baby suck out excess air so that my food lasts longer, getting all that air out means less space is taken up in my freezer and that means I can stuff more in!

With higher food prices on the horizon and my love for bulk shopping it was the only choice.

I freeze most everything in the vacuum storage bags. Once the air is out of those babies you get a ton in the fridge. I use these for soups, sauces, marinating meats, my tomato and parsley ice cubes, my celerybread crumbs and whatever else will fit in there.

I do not repackage butter. I keep the butter blocks on the door. When butter went sky high a few years we started stocking up on it whenever it went on a good sale and still keep up the practice. I do personally use it in all my baked goods from cakes to cookies and have never had a problem.

So that’s about it for what I do to get the most out of my freezer.

Some tips to keep in mind when getting to work with your freezer

Get to know what kinds of foods can be frozen.

Use safe defrosting methods to make sure your food does not spoil during the thawing process.

Write on your freezer bags so you know what is in there.

Keep a freezer inventory. Update it weekly.

Get a FoodSaver!

National Center for Home Food Preservation

General Frozen Food Guidelines