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Aaaaand here’s how my freezer challenge ended.

As a reminder, here’s what I started with last week.

And here’s what I ended with:

So, I’d say this was pretty successful, and I’m pretty darn sure I can come up with uses for my last three items.

Here’s what I did with all of the things that were hiding out in my freezer.

  • chicken bones (went into broth for ramen)
  • tomato paste (still there.)
  • a bone-in chicken breast (stir-fried!)
  • frozen grapes (smoothie)
  • two waffles (eaten)
  • a package of ground beef (I made burgers)
  • a jar of tomato sauce (used on pizza)
  • a jar of squash soup (I ate it for lunch two days)
  • a package of corn tortillas (still there)
  • a partial package of corn (still there)
  • some shrimp (used in the ramen)
  • half a pork loin (I cut this into chops, which I pan-sauteed and glazed)
  • two burgers (grilled and eaten!)

Now my freezer pretty much just has frozen fruit for smoothies.

Which I totally do not count as freezer clutter because I make a smoothie every morning. It’s not like frozen fruit ever has time to age in my freezer.

(That cinnamon raisin bag is reused and is holding peaches which I froze this summer after buying a box of bruised peaches.)

And the top drawer has ice cubes, whole wheat flour, yeast, and a can of OJ concentrate (which I keep around to add to smoothies or to make orange julius.)

Incidentally, I’m sure some of you will wonder why I have ice cube trays AND an ice maker.   We don’t have a water line by our fridge, so our ice maker has never worked.   Someone told me it’s pretty easy to remove the ice maker, but I’ve never looked into it.

I suppose I should!

So.

My freezer challenge is officially wrapped up, and I’m glad I did it! I saved a bunch of food from going to waste and also saved money on my grocery bill this week.

Now, I do have a chest freezer that could use a little organization.

I mean, a lot of stuff is in there for longer-term storage (local beef, homemade applesauce, frozen local peaches, etc), but I think there are some odds and ends in there that should be used up.

Maybe I could do a one basket/one section at a time sort of challenge, because a whole freezer is way too overwhelming.

If you did a freezer challenge with me, how did it go?

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Laura

Wednesday 25th of October 2017

Well done indeed! I did a two week pantry challenge that helped use what we had. I then needed to do a huge grocery shopping and a double online order for staples as we had used them all up! (Yeast, flour, baking powder, sugar, and various vinegars and condiments). Despite not really saving any money I feel good knowing I used items that may have otherwise gone to waste had they not been given some attention. Like many, our chest freezers (yup 2) are filled with garden produce. I also purchased a dozen locally raised chickens recently.

Liz (Eight Acres)

Wednesday 25th of October 2017

I didn't but I probably should, your results are inspiring!

Michelle Ulishney

Tuesday 24th of October 2017

Hello Kristen,

I admire how you save money on groceries, but I have one question. Does your dollar amount that you spend include breakfast and lunch?

Kristen

Wednesday 25th of October 2017

Yep, it sure does!

Dianne

Tuesday 24th of October 2017

Used up last week:

2 bins of cooked hamburger (taco night!) last quarter of an angel food cake 2 bins of blueberries Last one or two of two batches of muffins Gingersnap dough (yum, cookies!) Sourdough bread (made croutons)

To be used up this week: 2 bins of cooked quinoa Chicken bones Key lime rum cake Leftover turkey slices Pumpkin bread

Thanks for the inspiration!

Ms. Raggedly

Tuesday 24th of October 2017

Look at you go!

I'm sad to say that there are things that expire in a freezer. I left some stuff for my roommate a year ago, and I had to throw them out because she never used them. I tried to use ground turkey once, and it was so freezer burnt and curled it was just inedible. Becoming more mindful of what I have and what I buy has really helped! I've got just enough in my freezer to carry me into the next three weeks :)

Kristen

Tuesday 24th of October 2017

Oh, that is totally true, especially if it's a self-defrosting freezer, like the kind attached to fridges.

My chest freezer will keep things fresh much longer, but in my kitchen freezer, freezer burn happens all too quickly.

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