Refrigerator Organization, Part 3 - The Freezer

Your freezer should be set to 0°F.
 
I once had an argument (spirited discussion?) with someone who insisted that the freezer could be set at 32°F because that’s the temperature at which water freezes. I guess that would be fine if all you stored in your freezer was ice, but the freezing point of many things is lower than 32°F, which is why my ice pops (sugar water) were still liquid in the 32°F freezer.

Even if food freezes solid at a higher temperature, keeping your freezer at 0°F slows the food’s deterioration so much that it can keep for months or even a year (though taste might suffer).

Unlike the fridge, which requires good air circulation to maintain temperature, the freezer likes to be full. All those frozen-solid foods packed together help the freezer stay at temperature more efficiently.

To get the most out of your freezer, you’ll want to create zones for different types of things.

• Group frozen meats and entrees in a less-accessible area of the freezer because you’ll get these out as needed rather than needing easy access.
• Put frozen vegetables and side dishes together in another area. If these are things you’ve made yourself, put them in plastic freezer bags, flatten the bag, and put it horizontally in the freezer so it freezes flat. When it’s frozen solid, you can “file” the bags vertically so they are easy to grab.
• Put frozen desserts and ice cream together. It’s your choice whether this should be easily accessible or hard to reach. Can you resist temptation?
• Store little items and cooking ingredients together. I freeze extra butter, tomato paste (in a bag in tablespoon-sized portions), homemade stock (freeze in ice cube trays then transfer to a bag), fresh grated ginger (stored flat in a bag so I can break off pieces as needed), and freeze-dried coffee (for recipes).
• Odd things that are good to store in the freezer: flours (especially whole wheat), nuts, nut flours, rice, and grains. These will keep indefinitely in the freezer without going rancid and you’ll never have a problem with those icky pantry moths. Store all of these things in airtight plastic bins or bags.
• Finally, here’s a food-safety tip. Keep a half-filled plastic water bottle in the freezer.
• This bottle is a sentinel so that if you go away and lose power you’ll know if the food in the freezer is still safe to eat. Here’s how it works:

1. Fill a plastic bottle half way with water.
2. Screw the cap on tightly and place the bottle on its side in the freezer so the water freezes solidly up one side of the bottle.
3. Once frozen, set the bottle vertically in the freezer.
4. If the power goes out and your freezer thaws and then refreezes, you’ll know because the water will now be frozen in the bottom half of your bottle instead of up the side of the bottle.

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