7 Expert Tips That Will Keep Your Freezer Organized—and Help You Use It More Efficiently

Your freezer is likely one of your most-used appliances. It makes meal prep a breeze, keeps extra poultry from going bad, and gives produce harvested from your garden a longer lifespan. But if your freezer is unorganized, it can be difficult to access all of the ingredients it's safe-keeping. With some effort and foresight, though, you can up your freezer organization game. We asked experts to share their tips to help you make the most of this trusty appliance. 

Group Like With Like

The key to freezer organization is grouping like with like. "It’s helpful to group similar items together, that way, you’ll know how many you have, and exactly where to find them," says Crystal Schmidt, creator of the blog Whole-Fed Homestead. Choose categories that work for you and your lifestyle. For example, if you always have bacon for breakfast, you may want to place it on a shelf with other breakfast ingredients rather than with the rest of your proteins.

Freeze Smaller Portions

To create more space in your freezer (and get a jump on meal planning), separate oversized bags into smaller portioned or meal-size bags when storing food. "For sauces and liquids, allow the food to freeze flat in a plastic bag, then place it in a storage bin to prevent them from slipping out," says Trent Jacobi, executive director of product management for refrigeration for GE Appliances.

Use a Box or Bin System

Keep your foods organized in boxes or bins for easy access. For a chest freezer, that means using open-top, easy-to-lift-out cardboard boxes with handles to organize foods. "For a stand-up freezer, clear bins, or even paper grocery bags help keep things wrangled," says Schmidt. "That way, nothing disappears in the bottom of the freezer, never to be seen again."

Choose the Right Containers

Be mindful of space and efficiency when choosing containers for frozen foods. Schmidt warns against using glass since it’s prone to breakage in the cold and suggests using a container designed for the freezer so food retains its quality. The best container for optimizing storage is vacuum-sealed bags, which tend to be more compact. 

Label Everything

Label all of the ingredients in your freezer so nothing gets misplaced. "You may think that you’ll remember or that the contents will be obvious, but I promise you’ll never regret labeling your goods," says Schmidt. Adding a storage date to the label will ensure your food doesn’t spend an eternity in the freezer.

Know the Signs of Freezer Burn

When foods linger in the freezer, they lose moisture and become susceptible to freezer burn. If your steak or fish looks discolored and is covered in ice crystals, it’s probably succumbed to this chemical change. Bread, fruits and vegetables, and other foods, can look shrunken and lose their flavor. Knowing the signs of freezer burn will prevent you from keeping foods in your freezer that are no longer edible.

Keep Track of Dates

How long is too long for freezer time? Fresh poultry generally keeps in the freezer for up to nine months; steaks, chops, and roasts for four to twelve months; lean fin fish, like cod and flounder, for six to eight months; cooked meat and poultry for two to six months; and baked quiche for two to three months. Knowing these dates ensures you eat the items in your freezer in a timely fashion so they don't sit around and take up room.