Posted on Tuesday, January 23, 2018
I love the start of a new year. It’s a great opportunity to organize and start fresh after the busy holidays, especially when it comes to the kitchen. In particular, cleaning out your freezer and/or deep freeze gives you a chance to free up a too-full freezer and make plans to re-stock for the busy months ahead. Here are some tips and tricks for keeping your freezers organized, plus a recipe for a yummy freezer-ready meal:
How to Keep Your Freezer Organized in 6 Easy Steps
Label EVERYTHING
Always include what the food is, the date it was prepared, and recommended cooking instructions.
Freeze individual servings
No more thawing an entire bag or container of something you just need a little of. Portion out your meals or ingredients ahead of time, freeze them individually, and then just use what you need.
Freeze things flat
Using gallon or quart sized freezer storage bags is a GREAT way to store a lot of things. Fill the bag, remove the air, and lay it flat to freeze. Once frozen, you can stand it up on its side where it’s only an inch or two wide—a great space saving technique!
Inventory (right on your freezer!)
Keep a regular inventory of what you have in your freezer by keeping a list on the door of your pantry or where you write out your grocery list. BONUS: dry erase markers work on most freezer doors so you can write your inventory right where you need it! If you don’t want to write directly on the surface in your kitchen, purchase a small magnetic dry erase board and attach it to the side. Review and revise your list each time you use up or add something.
Keep a list of how long food lasts in the freezer
With a full freezer, it may be hard to decide what you need to eat your way through first. Find a good printable, like the FDA's guide or this easy to read sheet, to keep on hand so you always know which foods should be at the top of your list.
Remove or rearrange freezer shelves
Freezer shelves can sometimes get in the way instead of helping to keep things organized. Most shelves and drawers are adjustable and can be rearranged (or removed) to make the most of available space.
Keepin it fresh: How to store groceries: Tackle your fridge next with these tips and tricks for organization.
Tomato Basil Chicken
Ingredients
8 chicken breasts, boneless with skin
Salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
½ cup dry white wine
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes
1 can (14 oz) whole tomatoes
2 tablespoons (heaping) tomato paste
1 package fresh basil, torn into small pieces
8 cloves garlic, peeled and left whole
DON'T FORGET: Check your weekly ad for special prices on these ingredients!
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Salt and pepper chicken breasts.
- Heat ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and butter. When oil/butter is hot, add chicken to the pan. Using tongs, brown on all sides, about 2 minutes. Remove chicken from pan.
- Pour in wine, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any bits. Cook for 1 minute. Pour in tomatoes with their juice and add tomato paste. Add salt and pepper to taste, stirring to combine. Bring sauce to a boil, then turn off heat. Add fresh basil, 8 cloves of peeled (but whole) garlic, and the chicken. Toss to coat the chicken in the sauce. Place the lid on the pot or skillet and cook in the oven for 1 hour.
- Remove lid and check sauce. If it's overly thin, remove the chicken from the pot and boil the sauce on the stovetop for 5 to 10 minutes. Check seasonings and add salt and pepper, as needed.
- Serve with buttered noodles, steamed rice or roasted potatoes, fresh grated mozzarella and parmesan, a green salad, and crusty garlic bread.
- To freeze: Let chicken cool and place in foil pan, baking dish, or gallon freezer storage bag. Cover tightly, label and freeze. Thaw overnight in the fridge before re-heating in the oven or on the stove for 30-45 minutes or until warm.
Find a nearby Brookshire Brothers to get started today!
Recipe courtesy Kate Rudasill.