Using everything in your freezer?

[singleseeder]

I bought a chest freezer to store gluts from last year. So far, so good but will I get through everything before this year's crops begin? Will I use the many jars of jam so I can then use up the elderberries kept for more jam? How many portions of ratatouille can a girl eat?

C'mon, own up, how many of you have stuff lurking at the bottom of your freezers that should have been used?

Any tips, for good management?

[chris]

We often have a week or so of using everything up in the freezer. Makes for some interesting meals at times, but more often than not, they're still tasty and best of all extremely easy meals

[rustylady]

I really really need to sort my freezer out and defrost it. I have jams and chutneys still in the cupboard from 2 years ago.

[Alison]

I make different varieties of jams and chutneys every year (except a few faves we can't do without) so although I've got some several years old (was eating a cheese and green tomato chutney butty yesterday with chutney from about 5 years ago and it was VERY good) but I do tend to be more disciplined with the freezer. I used to get badly confused about what I had but now keep a rough list of the contents so that when I plan meals I can take this into consideration. For example I have loads of bags of grated courgettes in there which I put in pasta dishes etc and they can really hide if you don't know they are in there

Also, although it cost more, I have a frost free freezer so things don't get stuck in the ice at the back - was lucky, mine was being thrown out by a family member but if it goes wrong in the future I'll try and get a similar one.

[chris]

I have an american style fridge/freezer.. always wanted one - although it's great the freezer section isn't that good (space wise). I went for the largest capacity one, but it's still not big enough, mianly due to the big ice chute.

I'll probably end up selling this (anyone local want it, cheap? ) and getting a normal one - and then once I have power sorted in the garage, I'll go for a chest freezer in there too

[vicky]

I'm planning a week of 'food from the freezer' too...there could be anything lurking in there!

[veggiechicken]

C'mon, own up, how many of you have stuff lurking at the bottom of your freezers that should have been used?

You mean I'm supposed to eat that old stuff in the freezer? I thought it was extra insulation!
Seriously, I've loads of old stuff in the chest freezer which is so deep that I can hardly reach the bottom of it with my short arms. That's half the problem as it rarely sees the light of day and I forget what is down there. Last time I defrosted it I found a 7 year-old duck which is languishing in some council waste tip at this very moment!
Turn the elderberries into wine, not jam?

[taff]

I had some stuff left over from two years ago last year, if that akes sense.....a big bag of celery chopped up ready for soup. I made lots of soup the first winter, but it still lasted me till last winter, and i now have a much smaller bag in there for this winter
There's a bag of cooked apples from last year and quite a bit of meat to use up....suppose I'd better get in there and have a look really

[Two_Sheds]

This is the time of year that I really start getting through the freezer contents, prior to a defrost & clean.

I try to use everything, but I do admit to composting a bag full of melissa that was for wine (the first brew wasn't that good so I don't want a repeat).

I'm finding loads of fruit still, mostly raspberries, and a couple of bags of toms & courgettes that I'd forgotten about: chutney then

[Thelma Sanders]

Quite a few packs of skinned and chopped tomatoes to work my way through and some green beans.
Then I'll move odd bits to the fridge/freezer and turn the chest freezer off. It's not wrth running it with only odds and sods in.

[Nicos]

It's a bit like Ready ,Steady Cook when I look in my freezers ( yup- I have 3!)
Maybe we should start at thread on what to cook with a selection of ingredients???

(I put my spare elderberries into Vodka for 3 months- tis a lovely drink ready for consuming/sharing now!)

[Nicos]

Thelma...mine are crammed to the rim!!!!!!- crikey, there's NO chance of turning any of mine off!

[northepaul]

I have a whole boned leg of pork thats welded itself to the bottom of the freezer, so will have to wait until I defrost it to eat it....
I have some bits of pork that are 18moths old, and steadily going down - we did an itinery before christmas.....made interesting reading!!!
I dont know how many kg of sloes I have in there!! Plus sorbet that needs chucking!!!

Oh dear!!

[binley100]

I've been trying to defrost my kitchen freezer for months now .......but keep buying stuff like fish that I see reduced . It does get eaten but then I see more... The t'other one is where most of my fruit etc is ..really must have an inventory as I've forgotten whats in there ..

[singleseeder]

Oooops, I hadn't owned up to all the yellow stickered stuff in there too.

I would like to switch off the chest freezer for a few months, but I must be more disciplined. Stop putting stuff in, and take much more out.

Wine is a good idea, will have to ask on Freecycle for some kit me'thinks.