• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Real Mom Nutrition

Real Mom Nutrition

A no-judgments zone about feeding a family.

  • About
    • Start Here
    • Work With Me
    • Press
    • Disclosure & Policies
    • Contact
  • New Posts
  • Recipes
    • Most Popular Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
  • Feeding Kids
    • Picky Eating
    • Packing Lunches
    • Nutrition Ideas + Advice
    • School Wellness
    • Snacks In Sports
    • Meal Planning + Food Shopping
  • Freebies
    • Free Picky Eating E-Course
    • Free Lunch Packing E-Course

The Best Way to Organize Your Chest Freezer On the Cheap

April 5, 2019 by Sally
  • Share
  • Tweet

A chest freezer can easily turn into a black hole of cold food. Here’s how to organize a chest freezer cheaply and simply!

Freezer Basket

If I go missing, I may have fallen into the chest freezer.

That’s how it used to feel every time I dug though the contents to find the elusive package of bacon at the very bottom. Then a couple years ago I got tired of digging and got serious about getting organized.

Chest freezers, though handy for penny-pinching food-hoarding folks like myself, are notoriously tough to organize. A chest freezer is essentially a deep hole. Some may be sold with a hanging basket for the top, but otherwise you’re on your own. I’m happy to say that organizing a chest freezer can be done–and it’s not hard or expensive.

 You might also like: How to Organize a Bottom Freezer
Table of Contents
  • Wait, should I get a chest freezer?
  • Create categories that make sense to you.
  • Place grouped items into storage bins that fit your freezer.
  • Arrange the bins in layers. 
  • Keep an inventory.

Wait, should I get a chest freezer?

  • Do you like to prep meals in advance?
  • Do you stock up when there’s a sale, buy meat in bulk, or freeze lots of fresh-picked produce or homemade stock?
  • Do you have a vacant spot in your basement or garage?

If so, a chest freezer could make your life easier–and help you save money.

Chest freezers are available in small/compact (5-9 cubic feet), medium (12-18), and large (18-plus), according to Consumer Reports. Ours is small (5 cubic feet) but still works for our family of four. We bought it at Lowe’s for about $150 ten years ago and it’s still chugging along (the brand is no longer available there, but it’s similar to this one). Keep in mind that a full freezer is more energy-efficient than a half-empty one.

Now let’s get organized!

How to Organize a Chest Freezer

Create categories that make sense to you.

Group your frozen food in categories, such as ground meats, frozen veggies, prepped freezer meals, or jars of homemade soup or broth.

 You might also like: How To Buy Meat In Bulk
bulk meat in freezer bin

Place grouped items into storage bins that fit your freezer.

Your freezer may come with one basket or bin, but you’ll need more. I rounded up bins we already had (and even a study cardboard box) from around the house. Your storage system just needs to work for you–it doesn’t have to look matchy-matchy or ripped from the pages of the Container Store catalog.

But if you need some product ideas, here are some good options:

Arrange the bins in layers. 

The layer system is a game-changer if you have a chest freezer! Here’s how it works:

  • Set one or two bins/boxes on the bottom of the freezer
  • Set another layer of 1-2 bins on top of those
  • Set another layer on top.
  • When you need something, you can simply remove bins neatly and easily instead of digging through a cold, messy pile.

I arrange my bins in opposing directions, but do what works for your space.  Pro tip: Put the most-grabbed items on top and the less-frequently-grabbed items on the bottom.

Here’s the bottom layer of our freezer (pork, steaks, plus a couple jars of broth and flaxseed):

Chest Freezer

Here’s the second layer (ground beef plus small steaks and a container of homemade stock):

Chest Freezer

Here’s the top layer (the hanging basket our freezer came with, with frozen fruits and vegetables and a few packages of bacon):

Chest Freezer

Keep an inventory.

Chest freezers can easily fall victim to Black Hole Syndrome. So find a way to keep track of your stash, whether that’s a white board attached to the wall by the freezer, an app on your phone, or my free Freezer Inventory Printable.

Get the printable

Free Freezer Inventory Printable

Products to help organize a chest freezer

These products would make great chest freezer organizers. Be sure you measure your freezer and check dimensions of products so you’re sure they’ll fit!

How long does food last in the freezer?

When frozen, food can actually keep indefinitely. But the quality will be best if eaten within a certain timeframe. Here are some guidelines from FoodSafety.gov and the National Center for Home Preservation:

FOODFREEZER STORAGE TIME (0 degrees or below)
Ground meat2-3 months
Steaks6-12 months
Chops4-6 months
Roasts4-12 months
Whole chicken1 years
Chicken pieces9 months
Fish3-6 months
Soups & stews2-3 months
Fruits & Vegetables8-12 months

How to defrost a chest freezer

If your chest freezer is manual defrost (and many are), you’ll have to DIY it. But it’s simple: When you see frost build-up along the sides, it’s time to defrost your chest freezer. I typically defrost mine about once a year, and it takes less than an hour. Here’s how:

  • Empty the freezer, putting everything into your refrigerator’s freezer or into coolers
  • Unplug the freezer and open the lid
  • Allow the frost to melt or gently chip away at it with a plastic or wooden spoon (or my favorite kitchen tool The L’il Chizler)
  • Wipe away any drips and debris
  • Put everything back in!

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

  • Share
  • Tweet
Category: Family Life, Learn HowTag: freezer, money saving, organization, organizing, saving money
Previous Post: « Kale chips in a bowl The Best Way to Make Crispy Kid-Approved Kale Chips
Next Post: 5 Easy Mistakes That Make Your Kid’s Picky Eating Worse How Do You Know Who To Trust? »

Sidebar

Hi! I’m Sally.

I’m a registered dietitian and mom of two, and I believe that every mom can feel successful and confident about feeding her kids, let go of the stress, and enjoy mealtime again. Read More…

Free Printable! 5 Things to Say to Your Picky Eater for a More Peaceful Mealtime

Get it!

How To See Seven UT & AZ National Parks In Six Days

How to Make An Epic ALDI Cheese Board

The Best No Bake Cookies

The BEST Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookie Recipe

Veggie Nuggets

Healthy Veggie Nuggets Recipe That Kids LOVE!

Copyright © 2022 · Real Mom Nutrition · All Rights Reserved
Site Design by Rita Barry. Banner images by Michelle Daniel Photography
Disclosure & Privacy Policy