So what do you all use

[Whatwouldscullydo]

Instead of freezer bags.

Planning on filling the freezer properly this week. So when dividing up portions of meat etc usually I would use freezer bags.

Is there some other less plasticky way to do this?

.

Stackable plastic containers. Wash and reuse

I usually use plastic tubs (take away containers) they are quite bulky though so not very space efficient.

Could you reuse bags that freezer food has come in, or bread bags for example? Just make sure you label everything clearly!

For portions of meat I save bags from other things, like bread, frozen veg, mailing bags etc. Tupperware cant squish and silicone bags always seem too big or too small.

Silicone bags are good for sauces I find.

I use Pyrex freeze and cook a lot and lock and lock stackable plastic containers because I have them rather than buy anything new. But I had planned to enquire in the "Fill up your own containers" shop prior to Lockdown. .

I have a cupboard. You know the one . Its full of tubs where you can never match lids and they all fall out if you dont shut the door quick enough.

Guess I'll have to go through it and try and match up.

I was planing on going to a farm shop in the hope there would be less in the aay of plastic trays.

I never lable...always think ill remember. Then we end up with spaghetti with chilli con carne

I use IKEAs glass boxes (these). So long as you let them defrost a bit so there isn't thermal shock, they can go straight in the oven or microwave with an ovenproof silicon lid. They're much nicer to eat straight out of than tupperware for soup and packed lunches too. They don't get stained if you put tomato things like bolognese or chilli in either. We also use them for collecting compost bits because they're easier to clean than plastic.

I like the look of that! Fairly cheap too.

I didnt know you could freeze glass. I've always used freezer bags and take away tubs etc but find that they get brittle akd bits snap off and I've lost half the lids to that

Oh god this is a bigger job than expected

Why dies plastic go so "sticky" even when its clean

Ok so tubs are done. Sill have to replace some for freezer storage, loving the look of the ikea ones tbey deliver right?

So next job is the fridge. I'm stocking up from what is hopefully as plastic free as possible, from a fruit and veg store I just found out about locally.

What do you all do for fridge organisation that doesnt accidently result in forgetting you have a packet of chilli's in the bottom of the big veg drawer and having to wash it all cos it's covered in the liquid 🤮🤮

TBH it's a bit boring but I have found the solution to fridge organisation and avoiding food waste generally, is vigourous obsessive meal planning and buying as little as possible, certainly avoiding buying things I don't have a defined use for. A stuffed fridge feels great when it's all new from the shop but is a recipe for things getting lost and/or wasted in this house, no amount of nice tupperware or storage systems seems to help, and mysteriously the person that wanted particularly us to buy those peaches or that cheese or whatever isn't keen on using it up when its gone past its best (I include myself in that) !

We loosely organise the fridge into condiments, pickles and sauces on the top shelf, ingredients for dinner on the next, lunches and snacks on the next, and fruit and veg in the drawers (with milk, eggs, butter, drinks in the door shelves) - the key to keeping it nice though is that once a week (right before our fruit/veg box delivery usually) I set aside time to do a sweep through and anything that is past it's best or doesn't have a use in the next week gets used up there and then - I often make up a batch of soup, coleslaw, chutney or roast veg salad using any veg I've found in the sweep, or I blanch and freeze things like leftover potatos, green veg, carrots in batches to be used for a "store cupboard" dinner. Fruit can be blended into smoothies or stewed down to make compote to be eaten with yoghurt. Anything too far gone to be used in this way gets thrown into the guinea pig's box (I highly recommend getting a pair of guinea pigs to reduce food waste ) or into the compost as a last last resort...

I have a rabbit

Organisation is not my strong point can you tell.

We have got into some bad habits in lockdown. At first it was all good. I cooked and we did regular shops . Now we are both back at work and I'm not home at dinner time half the week dp has just been making daily trips to get dinner on the way hpme from work

I was hoping a full and organised fridge would help me get my arse in gear and plan some meals with school on the horizon.

Not quite sure where to start though

Lol they're great aren't they, I love going to the supermarket with a basket full of kale and brocoli looking smug and healthful, no-one needs to know it's for my rodents

Meal planning doesn't need to be over-complicated, people get into trying to make a magic MN chicken last a family for a week etc, but at it's most simple level, all you need to do to make a meal plan for a week is write down 7 meals (or 3 or 4 if you want to start with half a week at time) you know the family will eat, then the ingredients you need to make those meals. So it could go, spag bol, chilli, curry, stir fry. You need mince, onion, tomato, herbs, pasta for the spa bol, mince, onion, tomato, beans, rice for the chilli and so on. Then once you have the list review it against what you already have on your shelves and in the fridge/freezer. Anything you don't have in stock goes on your shopping list (and you stick very strictly to the list when shopping - don't be distracted by bargains or things you fancy).

The only slight complexity can be looking at the use by dates on meat as if you are trying to do a week's meals from one shop, some of the meat may expire - but I just stick anything that will go out of date before I use it straight in the freezer, and set a reminder to self on my phone or calendar to remember to de-frost in time for the meal.

Once you are into the flow of it you can get into trying to find synergies between meals to make savings e.g. you can buy a whole chicken to go for a number of meals rather than buying pieces of chicken, or big packs of root veg to split between a number of meals or batch cooking and freezing portions for later - but really what matters is that you buy everything you need to avoid having to 'top-up' (as I find this is where the impulse spending creeps in) and don't buy things you won't use!

My impulse buys are usually online anyway I didnt just buy myself some fruit and veg shopping bag things...nope.

I have a trip to the butchers planned fir Thursday as i can swing by after school drop off. Little worried they will look at me like I'm nuts fir asking if they have any cheap slow cooker joint meat boxes.

I have a MN chicken planned tonight actually. Hope I didnt throw out too many tubs and I can still freeze the stock..

I use a mixture of glass storage the type you can freeze and use Ali in the oven. I also use ikea freezer bags I use them over and over again I've had the last packet for at least 2 years