SabrinaP
Pearl Clutcher
Busy Teacher Pea
Posts: 4,350 
Location: Dallas Texas
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Post by SabrinaP on Jan 6, 2019 4:02:19 GMT
We have a chest freezer that we need to replace. I would love to get an upright instead of a chest, but they are so much more expensive.
Does anyone have an organizational system in your chest freezer that actually works? I hate digging through everything trying to find what I need.
We usually have a lot of meat in our freezer. DH’s parents and my parents both share both beef and pork with us when they have one butchered. We also use the freezer for overflow or stock up items.
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Post by mom26 on Jan 6, 2019 4:13:03 GMT
No, but I will be watching this thread as I have the exact same problem. A chest freezer seemed like such a great idea at the time we bought it, but it's actually a nightmare.
We did pull out the rails that hold the upper baskets, bought big baskets and arranged them so the bottom half is no longer used. That helped some, having only one layer to hunt through.
It's still just too damn much, though.
We also have a shelf above that prevents us from being able to open the lid all the way. I either have to hunt for the stick (that's never in the same place twice) to hold it open or heft it open with my shoulders to dig through it.
Yeah, I hate our chest freezer. I feel your angst.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 17, 2024 9:48:18 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 4:16:47 GMT
I have 3 boxes sitting in the bottom of my chest freezer. One for beef, one for chicken, one for vegies. Still have to reorganize frequently but it works pretty good for me.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jan 6, 2019 5:09:04 GMT
Ours is a hot mess. We used to use a few milk crates that we kept stuff in, but eventually they got brittle and cracked so they got tossed when we moved. We bought a second upright freezer for our meat. Now we mostly keep boxed stuff and ginormous bags of frozen vegetables from Costco in the chest freezer and it’s harder to keep things straight once you’ve opened the boxes and have used some of the stuff.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Jan 6, 2019 5:15:05 GMT
Group things like roasts, B or P... Chops etc... Lower baskets, upper baskets. I do not have one, but I did see one organized wiht longer storage on the bottom, but need to be sure to rotate...... The more I think about it.. more like taller containers, but not huge... easier to lift when full... sorry to b vague...
Would that be something on Pinterest? Or search for chest freezer storage ideas?
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Post by Lovebug2867 on Jan 6, 2019 5:33:33 GMT
I use these recycling bins. 4 of them fit in my freezer (2 on top of 2) and that leaves a small section open in my smallish freezer for bigger items as well. They stack nicely and the handle makes taking them in and out of the freezer work well. I have one for beef, chicken, pork and "other" I have both a chest freezer and upright. I do not keep meat in my upright only veggies and boxed foods. I keep only meat and large items in my chest freezer. (basically big bags of bread dough lol) I think chest freezers keep things at a harder freeze. Recycling Bins |
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Post by lucyg on Jan 6, 2019 5:46:28 GMT
I used to have a giant turkey at the bottom of mine, which worked to keep everything else within reach. But I finally cooked the sucker and now I can’t reach the bottom. I almost fell in headfirst trying to reach something down there.  (Well, I’m short and fat. What did you expect? My family thought it was hilarious.) So now I think I’m going to put a little shelf down there to push everything up. That’s my only complaint about the chest freezer. Periodically I just pull everything out, remind myself what I have, and rearrange. Mine always seems to be full of cookie dough (the PTG sells it as a fundraiser every fall) and chuck roast I bought on sale.  |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 17, 2024 9:48:18 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 5:50:16 GMT
Got rid of mine, and bought an upright. Now I see everything and I won’t fall in. I think I paid $400 at homedepot and they deliver free.
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twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,987
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on Jan 6, 2019 9:52:36 GMT
I have those fabric-like reusable grocery bags and groups in them—veggies, ground beef (I buy in bulk from my brother), fruits, seafood,etc. I have the category written on the bag and on the handles so it is easy to see which bag is which. I like the bags because they don’t get brittle like plastic containers do. They are also flexible so odd shaped things fit well, and when there is only one or two items in a category, I don’t have a bunch of empty space in the container. It’s easy to pull them out of the bottom of the freezer, too, since they have handles to grab. Like lucyg, I am somewhat vertically challenged and have trouble reaching the bottom! |
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Post by LisaDV on Jan 6, 2019 11:33:44 GMT
I use 2 plastic crates for my big chest freezer. But it leaves one small section without. I’ve never took the time to look for something to go there, but I need to. I keep 1 kind of meat in the bottom one, the top one is either the overflow of the bottom meat or as time diminishes supply a new meat or something else, to the side of the crates is a small section that doesn’t fit a crate and it gets filled with another type of meat. Then a basket sets on top. The next section over has another basket. If you remove, the chest freezer is shorter there (compressor?), so I stack premade stocks or sauces there. The baskets usually hold fruit.
I have a stand up that gets organized by shelf.
I just got a small chest freezer that is a hot mess. I’ll be looking for containers for it soon. Also another basket as it only came with one. I’m still using the shorter area under the basket for stocks and sauces.
When stacking crates, boxes, etc. it’s important to remember not to overfill. Take it to the top and stop. If you have enough to fill the second crate you do, but maybe there’s just a bit and you have to combine little bits together.
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Post by littlemama on Jan 6, 2019 13:32:21 GMT
We have MIL's old chest freezer (circa 1985 or so). I cant reach the bottom at all, and stuff is constantly gwtting buried. I want an upright even though I know they dont get as cold.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jan 6, 2019 14:11:02 GMT
We have a small chest freezer mainly because it came with the house. It has been really handy though. I use the one basket at the top for bags of fruit and extra butter. The bottom has a configuration of boxes to separate and organize the other stuff. If you can find those 'waxed' boxes that companies use to ship frozen foods, they hold up really well in the freezer.
This is the first time I've ever had a chest freezer. I would get another small one I suppose, but I'd never buy a big one. They're too hard to keep things organized in to want to go any larger.
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Nanner
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,969
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Post by Nanner on Jan 6, 2019 16:15:03 GMT
I'd spend the extra money and get an upright. Worth every penny.
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Post by snugglebutter on Jan 6, 2019 16:56:51 GMT
There was a thread here a while back where someone said they used structured tote bags. They were more of a fabric square bin with handles. I didn't buy those but have used a couple of canvas bags in ours and it helps. I also put cardboard boxes in the bottom a long time ago.
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Post by anniefb on Jan 6, 2019 17:57:34 GMT
I'd spend the extra money and get an upright. Worth every penny. That ^^ |
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Post by lucyg on Jan 6, 2019 19:25:10 GMT
I have those fabric-like reusable grocery bags and groups in them—veggies, ground beef (I buy in bulk from my brother), fruits, seafood,etc. I have the category written on the bag and on the handles so it is easy to see which bag is which. I like the bags because they don’t get brittle like plastic containers do. They are also flexible so odd shaped things fit well, and when there is only one or two items in a category, I don’t have a bunch of empty space in the container. It’s easy to pull them out of the bottom of the freezer, too, since they have handles to grab. Like lucyg , I am somewhat vertically challenged and have trouble reaching the bottom! I think this is a great idea. d’oh! handles! I have a million of those bags, too. |
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mlana
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,523
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Post by mlana on Jan 6, 2019 19:47:44 GMT
I'm 5' and I fell into our chest freezer when I was younger, so no chest freezers for me. I'd definitely spend the money (and have!) for an upright.
I have my upright organized with cardboard boxes and plastic washtubs. I vacuum seal my food, for the most part, so the packages are stood upright, like files in a filing cabinet. I can pull out a bin and go thru it if I need to, but I almost never have to unless I'm adding new packages. I put the newest stuff in the back of the bin after freezing it flat on a cookie sheet.
One thing I would suggest if you do get a chest freezer - keep a bin or washtub on the top filled with things you might have to ask your husband or kids to fetch. IME, having either of them go thru a freeze is just asking to have all your hard work done. I actually have the fridge freezer in our garage freezer filled with items I might have to ask DH to get and even then, he can't find them most of the time.
You might also want to have one container that holds the foods you expect to use this week. Then you would only have to go digging once a week. I bring in most of what I plan to use on Sunday and put it in my fridge freezer. This saves me a ton of time running out to the garage during the week.
Marcy
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SabrinaP
Pearl Clutcher
Busy Teacher Pea
Posts: 4,350
Location: Dallas Texas
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Post by SabrinaP on Jan 6, 2019 20:32:30 GMT
I use these recycling bins. 4 of them fit in my freezer (2 on top of 2) and that leaves a small section open in my smallish freezer for bigger items as well. They stack nicely and the handle makes taking them in and out of the freezer work well. I have one for beef, chicken, pork and "other" I have both a chest freezer and upright. I do not keep meat in my upright only veggies and boxed foods. I keep only meat and large items in my chest freezer. (basically big bags of bread dough lol) I think chest freezers keep things at a harder freeze. Recycling BinsSo many great ideas! I really like these bins and found a YouTube video where someone used them to organizer their freezer and it worked well. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 17, 2024 9:48:18 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 21:13:22 GMT
I organize mine similar to this video but I have wire baskets Meat in two of them, Beef and lamb and the other has chicken and pork. fish and prepared meals in another and a bits and piece one.It works quite well at least I only have to hunt in one of the baskets if I want the pork chops say.
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Post by Lovebug2867 on Jan 7, 2019 1:04:34 GMT
I use these recycling bins. 4 of them fit in my freezer (2 on top of 2) and that leaves a small section open in my smallish freezer for bigger items as well. They stack nicely and the handle makes taking them in and out of the freezer work well. I have one for beef, chicken, pork and "other" I have both a chest freezer and upright. I do not keep meat in my upright only veggies and boxed foods. I keep only meat and large items in my chest freezer. (basically big bags of bread dough lol) I think chest freezers keep things at a harder freeze. Recycling BinsSo many great ideas! I really like these bins and found a YouTube video where someone used them to organizer their freezer and it worked well. That's where I got the idea. We had a really large chest freezer that the door got damaged and honestly the price to replace the door was crazy for an old freezer we just replaced it with a smaller one. We are down to just the smaller chest freezer and the upright freezer and space is an issue (We originally had 3 freezers) but those bins make it so much easier for me to get to the stuff on the bottom. I've had them in the freezer for 6 months and they are still as sturdy and work great. |
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(Well, I’m short and fat. What did you expect? My family thought it was hilarious.)
