How do you label things going into the freezer?

[frenchfancy]

I'm having a freezer and cupboard clear out at the moment, so tonight's dinner is out of the freezer. The trouble is until it defrosted I didn't even know what we were having.

I've tried sticky labels in the past, but they don't come off in the dishwasher and make the tupperware untidy afterwards. I've tried writing on the box, but the pen either doesn't stick on or is indelible (I have one pot which always says goulash no matter what is in there)

But most of the time I just put it in a pot and then try and guess (I can see a kidney bean so it must be chilli kind of thing).

So what is the answer? or are my DCs destined to have a random meal every month?

I use those disposable tin foil with card lid containers, like you get from the Chinese take out writing on the lid works fine and there are less dishes to wash afterwards (result!) I justify the extra waste produced as I am using less detergent and water lol

we tend to use freezer bags and sometimes remember to write what is in the bag on it with a sharpie pen

Either freezer bags written on with biro or masking tape on a tupperware container.

I freeze in plastic ready meal style boxes, then once frozen take it out and put in a cheap freezer bag with a slip of paper with what's in there written in pencil put in the bag too. It works quite well as long as I remember to do it fairly quickly so I still know what it is.

We label the container with a letter and a number, the code eg - A1, then A2. We then have a piece of paper stuck to the inside of the larder where I write in date order.....A1 Spag Bol 2 portions 1/2/2013..... The list then tells me exactly what's in the freezer when I go to the larder and also tells me how old everything is. I score out items as I use them and then rewrite the page when it gets too messy.

It's great because I always know what is in the freezer and the tubs I have labelled and used get filled up again and we just reuse the code if it's still visible.

Bags with a sharpie, plastic boxes and tubs with a chinagraph pencil -doesn't rub off in the freezer, but cleans away easily when washing up after use.

I use labels on boxes & bags. If you take them off as soon as you take the item out of the freezer they come off completely cleanly.

I am in awe at your organisation, snowlie

It's easy ( i know it looks complex - even the dcs can easily do it) we happened upon this solution quite by accident. I have a small freezer and food tastes horrible once it's been frozen for a while, I try to have no food in there longer than 3 months.

I like the idea Snowlie I'm just not sure I am organised enough to put it into practice. I have 2 huge freezers as we freeze a lot of home grown stuff and we buy meat in bulk direct from local producers. I've done quite well at running down stocks so I could probably go down to just one now.

And you still have to label the boxes, so what do you use to label them?

I label containers etc with permanent marker, the code remains on the container and can be reused with a new narrative and date on my note in the larder.

If I was to store food for a longer period of time I'd consider vacuum sealing bags - it stops food from deteriorating in the freezer - Lakeland sell a basic version I think.

Ah that make sense.

I ho

I

Oh FFS my ph

I have one of these label printer which I realise is a bit sad but I love it - label everything with it including the plastic food containers I use to freeze my batch cooking recipes

Ok, I'm not a 'ho', my phone is going mad...

Watching with interest as I usually go by the look, which can be disappointing surprising. Hence the 'cauliflower leek and potato soup' - not cauli cheese - fiasco.

I use various containers and I don't think sticky labels would wash off easily.

Also have a great recipe book called dinner in the freezer

I scribble in permanent pen, if I can be bothered.

Tonight's tea was, it smelt nice curry of unknown vintage. It tasted nice too, but I'm not sure what jar of sauce it was or why we had left over curry in the first place.

I have absolutely no recollection of making it (although given it had grated courgette in it I undoubtedly did, DH and DD1 don't bother trying to get veg past DD2 and she doesn't cook.)