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The tax rebate came, and I bought both of the above.
I've already asked for freezer recipes, and gotten good responses. But I'm just wondering if anyone has any dos/don'ts for using either item - things that have worked and things that haven't worked.
I had a chest freezer before, and I learned to check it after every power outage. It was plugged into one of the GFCI outlets in the garage, and it would trip when the power flickered. If I didn't remember to reset it, I'd lose everything in the freezer. I don't know how common that problem is, but it's kept me from getting another freezer for the garage, even though I could really use one.
We got a very large chunk of cheese for Christmas and I vacuum sealed half of it and froze it. Recently took it out and it was good as fresh! I'm not sure I would have done that had it not been a free gift to start, but now I know.
Since it's just hubby and I, if I buy a whole head of cauliflower or a bag of brussel sprouts, I will prepare half and blanch the other half and freeze for a later date. Don't try to freeze fresh vegetables but blanched ones are fine.
I now buy the larger packs of meats on sale and break them down into individual packages when I get home - saves a lot of money.
I've also vacuum sealed things like cereal (another thing we don't eat a lot of) but you have to be careful so you don't crush it in the process!
Don't spend too much time, energy or money trying to save really cheap food--or things which you're not sure that you're going to eat/use. While it's a waste to throw away perfectly good food, it makes little sense to clutter the pantry shelves or freezer with "stuff". I should know; I've done it.
Label freezer items if you might not be able to determine what it is in a year. Beef stew and the dog's lunch look surprising similar after a year.
Don't spend too much time, energy or money trying to save really cheap food--or things which you're not sure that you're going to eat/use. While it's a waste to throw away perfectly good food, it makes little sense to clutter the pantry shelves or freezer with "stuff". I should know; I've done it.
Label freezer items if you might not be able to determine what it is in a year. Beef stew and the dog's lunch look surprising similar after a year.
This is an absolute rule in our house. You always think you'll remember what it is or be able to tell, but once it's frozen all bets are off. It only takes a minute with a sharpie to write what's in the bag.
Label religiously, with both a description and a date that it was put in the freezer.
Keep your freezer as full as possible ... if there's empty space, fill it with jugs of water. Keep the cheaper stuff around the outside and the more expensive meats, etc. toward the center. If the power goes out for an extended time, a full freezer will stay frozen longer. And the stuff in the middle will be last to thaw. My parents had a 3 day power outage a few years ago, and when the power came back on, they found that everything in the middle was still frozen solid. They only had to throw out some vegetables.
I like to make a batch of soup or chili and freeze it in smaller amounts in those stackable containers. They become ice blocks that help keep the freezer cold, and the stacking makes it easy to keep tidy. My freezer drawer full of half-bags of random vegetables is a chaotic mess. The soup side is like playing Tetris.
you can poke and microwave to warm or throw in hot /boiling water,,,,depending what it is
stock up on sale items...loss leaders on the front page of grocery store flyers buy in bulk and save,,,then vac seal and freeze
also I buy whole primals of meat ,,,cut them myself vac seal and freeze
for example,, Hannaford supermarket has bnls pork chops at 4.99lb whole foods is 5.99-6.99lb
you can buy a whole boneless pork loin (7-8lb) cut it yourself for ...1.99lb you can also make ribs and roasts out of the boneless pork loin. and save big money!!
I've had a foodsaver for many many years. I love it. No room for a chest freezer, but its just me so that would not be if much use anyway. I agree with the others...LABEL.
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