My first freezer (yes really!), tips please!

[LaTristesse]

Having finally dragged DH out from under a rock, we have purchased our first freezer. It's not massive but with two littl'uns there's no way I could go without any longer. So tips please!
(in particular, what do you use to label bags/boxes of leftovers etc - is there a certain pen I need? - see, I really am a novice!)

I use a permanent marker on bags and a board pen on boxes (it rubs off so you can reuse).

Keep empty closed boxes in the bits of the freezer that aren't yet filled it saves the freezer working hard to chill that empty space.

A board pen, like for a white board?

Yep that's the one. You have to be a little careful not to rub it off, which is why I use permanent on bags

you can also fill up empty shelves with double-wrapped loaves of bread, and plastic bottles of milk. Something like the milk will also keep the temperature down when you put in stuff you want to freeze, like a large joint of meat.

the instruction book will probably tell you how much food it can freeze per day (probably between about 12kg and 24kg) and how to set it to fast-freeze.

buy a freezer thermostat so you can check the actual temperature against the setting. It may vary from top to bottom.

Waitrose frozen chopped garlic £1.50 for 150g and your hands don't have to stink of garlic for the rest of your life! The best thing since sliced bread IMO.

Also freezing herbs, ginger, parmesan and other ingredients you might only use a bit of at a time. No wastage!

Freezers are black holes. When you put something in, especially meat or cooked meals, already have in the food plan when it is going to come out.

Or they tend to stay there forever.

Split stuff up into smaller portion sizes before freezing in case you don't want casserole for 5 all at once.

Mashed potato, cooked pasta, cooked rice all freeze well and makes it easier if you want something super quick.

I don't write on my bags/containers I live life on the edge