I have found my freezer to be one of my most valuable tools in leading a frugal lifestyle. For awhile, we actually had a stand alone freezer, which I loved, but our current living arrangements don't allow for it. So, we traded it out for a vehicle to help us MOVE to our current quarters (which saved us a mint in the long run, even without the freezer).
That said, my small freezer is still a huge asset. This past week, my freezer played a big role in my goals for the week. I pulled out the ham that had been hogging most of my space. I picked it up around Easter when they were on sale and popped it in there, thinking it would be nice later on down the road. I try not to leave things in there past six months, so it was TIME to cook it. I cooked it for dinner, and then I chopped up the leftovers and put them in ziploc bags in 2 c. increments for future recipes. I love this because I can just grab a bag and put it in soup, etc at the last minute. It also helps stretch our meat budget. Removing the ham freed up a lot of space, and I've been refilling it pretty quickly.
On Saturday, I shredded a block of cheese I picked up on clearance (Monterey Jack) and froze the baggies (another time saving trick). It's nice to do that with cheese that I know I won't be able to use quickly enough. I also made a big batch of baby food, freezing it in a mixture of baby food container, breast milk storage container, and ice cube trays. Once the food is hardened into cubes, I always pop them out and put them in ziploc containers. Finally, I tossed in some bananas that were too ripe. I intended to make banana bread, but I didn't have time. So, I just put them in the freezer. When I'm ready to make banana bread, I'll thaw them out. They're kind of goopy, but they make yummy banana bread!
All in all, I think it was a good week's work. I'm trying to remember to freeze our leftovers in a constructive, creative way to cut down on food waste and make food prep easier down the line. Both are a plus!
