Freezer Challenge | MAYBE the very last one
I've been working on eating down the contents of my chest freezer for months now, and I'm finally nearing the end!
Here's how things started, as a reminder. 😉
The lid of my chest freezer has accumulated some condensation inside the lid, where it's frozen. The only way to really get that out of there is to let the freezer completely thaw for a few days.
So, I need to be able to have a totally empty freezer, which is why I've been working so hard at using up all my food.
Last week's freezer stuff
Here's what I had last time around:
Walnuts: I've been faithfully eating these on yogurt. Yay me!
I used up the rest of the cranberry sauce on multiple bowls of yogurt too. Double win!
Mozzarella: Completely eaten on pizzas.
Almonds: Untouched. But I just ran out of no-stir granola, so I can use some up in the next batch.
Frozen fruit: mixed results here.
I did use up 100% of the watermelon and pineapple! That combo makes a good smoothie with just some water added in and maybe a strawberry or two.
The other two bags still have some fruit in them.
This week's freezer stuff
ALRIGHTY.
I know I keep saying how close I am to emptying my freezer, but I really think that this week will be it.
If I manage to use up all of these items, I'll have enough space in my kitchen freezer to store all of my remaining frozen food while my chest freezer is fully defrosted.
Top Row
Chicken pieces: either oven-fried or BBQ chicken
Mahi-Mahi: maybe fish tacos?
Potstickers: a side for something like Korean sizzling beef lettuce wraps
Middle Row
Tilapia fillets: I only have a few of these, so maybe I'll saute them for lunch for me one day.
Two containers of tomato sauce: maybe to top the tortellini (see next row)
Frozen fruit: smoothies. FOR REAL THIS TIME. I promise.
Bottom Row
A single chicken sausage: breakfast for me!
Partial container of OJ concentrate: Orange Julius, which means we need a breakfast for dinner night
Scallops: I love scallops to death so these will be easy to use.
Cheese tortellini: these can be an easy dinner one night.
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This is a lot of stuff...do you think I can do it in a week??
My menu plan for next week is basically decided for me, based on what I need to use, so as long as I stick to these ideas, I think I can manage.
I really, really would like to defrost my freezer next week!
I see your no-stir granola recipe again - thanks for that as the granola is a favourite with our grown kids. Plus so easy to make!
You are a huge inspiration. I think you'll do it.
I have been chipping away at my own challenge, but not to the extent you have.
I'm not sure how much chest freezers vary, but we quick defrost our chest freezer this way. First we empty it of all contents (and stack them all up close to each other to keep them cold). Then we turn off and unplug. Then we attach a hose to the drain at the bottom of the freezer. Next we pour water over accumulated ice and start scooping ice out. Then we use a ton of rags to dry it out. Last we plug it in and load it up.
It doesn't take that long with a few helpers, and it gives us a chance to reorganize the contents since we have a ton in there.
That's how I usually attack it...but the ice accumulation in the lid is going to need a few days to thaw, unfortunately. So that's why I'm going for completely empty this time around!
Blow dryer or pouring hot water works, but more labor-intensive. Winter is a good time to do this, at least in Illinois, because you can just put everything outside or in the garage. Who am I to give advice? I have a very full freezer! Lol.
Yeah, here it all depends on the weather. Sometimes in January it's cold enough to use the deck as a freezer, but sometimes it's not.
I unplug my freezer, empty it, and then set a bucket of hot water in it (with the freezer closed). Let it sit for 30-60 minutes, and the frost on the sides will slide right off (sometimes with a little help from a spatula)! Not sure about the ice IN the lid, as mine does not get that.
I do something like this as well: empty, let the ice soften, knock it off while it's still intact, then wipe out and let dry. It's more work to clean up the melted ice, than to knock off the ice chunks.
I've been attempting to attack our freezer over the last few weeks. I used up a ton of partial bags of frozen vegetables, in a beef and barley vegetable soup. Finished up a ton of meat over the holiday break. Pretty soon I may actually see the bottom of the freezer again!
I have used a hair dryer to get accumulated ice thawed (after I unplug freezer of course).
Defrosting my freezer is a must-do now --the ice has reached Antarctic proportions and I can't put it off any longer. One advantage I have is I can stick the short drain hose into a garden hose and run that out the back door into the yard, because the freezer is two feet from our laundry room exterior door. No more trying to drain into a pan on the floor. I use a hair dryer on my big clumps of ice, too.
You can do it Kristen!
(Pom poms and best cheerleader voice): You can do it, yes you can. GOOOO, Kristen!!
I was never a cheerleader, incidentally, but I'm playing one on the Internet today just for you.
Meanwhile, we got a whole cow a week or so ago that didn't even all fit in our 18-cubic-foot chest freezer. We made an improvised freezer outside for the hundred pounds or so of meat that didn't fit, but my freezer challenge is strategically using the bulkiest things first so I can get the rest of the meat in before it thaws. Lots of soups to use up containers of stock and large roasts coming our way for dinner . . .
I am so touched by your cheerleading. 😉
Two of us share a bag of scallops. Can you really stretch that bag to feed six? Gotta love Aldi at $10/bag but did you know Lidl sells them for $5/bag sometimes? Love Lidl!
Nope, definitely not! I'll have to do that when I'm feeding just a few of us.
I turn off my freezer, place towels beneath the ice chunks, then blast with the hair dryer. If you stick to your plan and nothing unexpected come up, you should be on track to thaw. Good luck!
My mom taught me to put boiling pans of water (on towels) in the freezer and close the lid. Repeat a few times as they cool, and the ice chunks will start to fall off. Works great and is done in only part of a day!
Hi Kristen! Ok you have inspired me but on a much smaller scale. I purged freezer things- any one want any ham stock from Easter?? I also found some various chicken parts from various spatchcocking events during the summer grilling season so they are simmering away for stock with a few shriveled carrots and celery from Xmas. I trimmed up the after Xmas ham and tucked away the bone for future navy bean kale soup.
Took a break for lunch & getting ready to attack the fridge- how many almost empty jars of pickles and salad dressing is considered excessive? My BFF's husband here in Maryland is furloughed so she is in her pantry taking stock as we speak!!!
I would definitely take ham stock from Easter. Hell, I just cooked a turkducken from 2 years ago.
Good luck to your BFF's family.
Woo Ling Ling dumplings. We have some frozen dumplings in our freezer too. But it's mostly for emergency like when we can't cook something fast or when we want something different for breakfast.
Our freezer is now full of breast milk. I don't think we can take on this freezer challenge lol. But I'm donating the milk, so it should free up some space soon. 😀
That is so wonderful!
Aww, that is so kind of you to do!
We have an upright freezer. I chose an upright just because I think they are easier to find stuff inside and easier to defrost.
Winter is a great time to defrost a freezer. We take everything out and stack in on a table (it's in the basement where the temp is a constant 45-ish degrees in the winter so food stays frozen). Turn off the freezer, direct the air from a large fan into the freezer and in about 30-45 minutes, the ice is melted or dropped off the sides and shelves. Sop it all up with a couple of big towels, turn on the freezer and put everything back in.
I just recently found Aldi's pot stickers! Oh em gee! Yummmmy!!! I love their frozen ravioli too.
Go, Frugal Girl! You can do it. I expect, life being what it is, it'll take two weeks but that gets the job done.
If you don't object to an odds-and-ends meal, I think you have enough fish, scallops, and dumplings to pull that off.
Yeah, I was thinking maybe the fish and scallops could be combined one night for a slightly random seafood dinner.
I figure if I aim to do it in one week, maybe I will get it done in two. But if I aimed for two, it might possibly take three!
I love an odds and ends meal although we call it clean out the fridge night!
I start my challenge this week. A couple of batches of banana bread....for starters
Don't you make a lovely fruity oatmeal which the three-fruit frozen berry mix could be used for? I'm pretty sure I made it once and it was a hit.
I find these chilly mornings don't entice me to want to drink a smoothie, but hot oatmeal with fruit - yum!
Yes, I do! I need to make a pan of that.
Don't forget the possibility of sucking up ice-y water with a shop vac.
And of course, some things in the freezer don't have to remain frozen constantly during the defrost-- nuts and flour, for instance.
I worry that, if I take the flour out of the freezer for too long, it'll get damp and then rot. Can anyone tell me if there's a basis for this worry?
I've frozen stuff like that before, then taken it out and it was fine.
You can do it!!
Although smoothies in the cold is hard. I like to eat frozen berries slightly thawed as a snack. They're also great to put onto pancakes (during your breakfast for supper night?). Although, you'll also need some whipping cream...
If it gets to the end of the week and you still can't fit everything into your fridge freezer, you could always post them on free cycle. 😛
Wow! So impressive!
Do you have special bins/dividers in your freezer? The hardest part of the chest freezer for me is attempting to keep it organized and actually being able to find what’s in there.
Just checking in to thank you for the Orange Julius recipe/reminder. I used up an open can of o.j. concentrate that had lost its lid in the freezer. Used yogurt instead of milk and a little Stevia instead of sugar. Even though it was a cold, rainy day, it was enjoyed by all and now that darned can is gone. Thanks, Kristen!
Yay! I'm so glad it helped you out.