Every February I eat out of my freezer. Basically, I shop my freezer before I head to the grocery store, planning menus based on what I already have. This way I’m saving money and cleaning out my freezer all at the same time.
I love coming up with creative ways to use up the food. For me it’s like playing, not working. The other night we had a Rhubarb and Strawberry Crisp using the rhubarb and strawberries I found at the very back of the freezer, a taste of summer in the middle of winter, yum.
Note: I never write down the recipe when I’m free styling, because that would be more like working than playing.
I have three freezers…..what can I say I cook for a living. So, when I say we eat out of the freezer, I should clarify, we eat out of three freezers. That’s a lot of food, a lot of playing and a whole lotta eating.
I’ll be posting the end results on Instagram and Facebook. Tomorrow I’m making a Corn and Back Bacon Chowder because I found back bacon and frozen corn in my freezer.
We shot an episode over on my YouTube Channel, My Left Frying Pan of me cleaning out my upstairs freezer. Here’s a link to the LIVE episode
The episode was shot by my husband, he’d never done anything like that before, we didn’t really know what we were doing, so it was a bit of a Gong Show….but worth the watch. Loads of great tips.
For a list of the foods you can and cannot freeze plus how long they last in your fridge and/or freezer see the chart below.
Fridge and freezer storage via Health Canada
The following recommended refrigeration times are for safety, and the freezing times are for quality. If you store properly wrapped food in your freezer the quality may be maintained for longer periods of time.
| Food | Refrigerator at 4 °C (40 °F) or lower | Freezer at – 18 °C (0 °F) or lower |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh meat | ||
| Beef | 2-4 days | 10 – 12 months |
| Pork | 2-4 days | 8 – 12 months |
| Lamb | 2-4 days | 8 – 12 months |
| Veal | 3-4 days | 8 – 12 months |
| Ground meat | 1-2 days | 2 – 3 months |
| Fresh poultry | ||
| Chicken/Turkey – whole | 2-3 days | 1 year |
| Chicken/Turkey – pieces | 2-3 days | 6 months |
| Fresh fish | ||
| Lean fish – cod, flounder etc. | 3-4 days | 6 months |
| Fatty fish – salmon etc. | 3-4 days | 2 months |
| Shellfish – clams, crab, lobster etc. | 12-24 hours | 2-4 months |
| Scallops, shrimp, cooked shellfish | 1-2 days | 2-4 months |
| Ham | ||
| Canned ham | 6-9 months | Don’t freeze |
| Cooked ham | 3-4 days | 2-3 months |
| Bacon and sausages | ||
| Bacon | 1 week | 1 month |
| Raw sausage | 1-2 days | 1-2 months |
| Pre-cooked sausage links or patties | 1 week | 1-2 months |
| Hot dogs | ||
| Un-opened hotdogs | 2 weeks | 1-2 months |
| Opened hotdogs | 1 week | 1-2 months |
| Lunch meat and deli food | ||
| Un-opened lunch meat | 2 weeks | 1-2 months |
| Opened lunch meat | 3-5 days | 1-2 months |
| Deli packaged lunch meat | 3-4 days | 2-3 months |
| Deli or homemade salads | 3-5 days | Don’t freeze |
| Leftovers | ||
| Cooked meat, stews, egg or vegetable dishes | 3-4 days | 2-3 months |
| Cooked poultry and fish | 3-4 days | 4-6 months |
| Meat broth and gravy | 3-4 days | 4-6 months |
| Soups | 2-3 days | 4 months |
| Frozen dinners | ||
| Keep frozen until ready to cook | 3-4 months | |
| Eggs | ||
| Fresh in shell | 3-4 weeks | Don’t freeze |
| Fresh out of shell | 2-4 days | 4 months |
| Hard-cooked | 1 week | Doesn’t freeze well |
| Egg substitutes un-opened | 10 days | 1 year |
| Egg substitutes opened | 3 days | Don’t freeze |
| Dairy products | ||
| Un-opened milk | Best before date | 6 weeks |
| Opened milk | 3 days | Don’t freeze |
| Un-opened cottage cheese | Best before date | Doesn’t freeze well |
| Opened cottage cheese | 3 days | Don’t freeze |
| Un-opened yogurt | Best before date | 1-2 months |
| Opened yogurt | 3 days | Don’t freeze |
| Soft cheese | 1 week | Doesn’t freeze well |
| Semi-soft cheese | 2-3 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Firm cheese | 5 weeks | 3 months |
| Hard cheese | 10 months | 1 year |
| Processed cheese | 5 months | 3 months |
| Un-opened salted butter | 8 weeks | 1 year |
| Un-opened unsalted butter | 8 weeks | 3 months |
| Opened butter | 3 weeks | Don’t freeze |
| Vegetables | ||
| Beans green or waxed | 5 days | 8 months |
| Carrots | 2 weeks | 10-12 months |
| Celery | 2 weeks | 10-12 months |
| Leaf lettuce | 3-7 days | Don’t freeze |
| Iceberg lettuce | 1-2 weeks | Don’t freeze |
| Spinach | 2-4 weeks | 10-12 months |
| Summer squash | 1 week | 10-12 months |
| Winter squash | 2 weeks | 10-12 months |
| Tomatoes | Don’t refrigerate | 2 months |