How To Prep Your Freezer This Fall To Save Time During The Holidays - Tasting Table

"The freezer does plenty of heavy lifting over Thanksgiving and Christmas, so it's best to start the holidays with a clean slate. The first step is, of course, to toss whatever you need to: items past their use-by date, mystery produce, or anything with freezer burn. This is also the time to consolidate any duplicate items, such as half empty bags of peas."

"It can be worth organizing this around your trash day so that you don't have a bin full of old food in the kitchen. As you're emptying the freezer, clean it by wiping down the shelves with a mixture of water and vinegar to help prevent mold. If your freezer has built-up ice, you'll need to prepare a cooler with ice to store your food while you defrost it."

"Before you put everything back into place, ensure everything is labeled and take an inventory. This will prevent you buying duplicate items, and give you a list of what else you need to eat to make room before the holidays arrive. Now that you've cleared some room, it's time to stock up on make-ahead meals and sides while still maintaining a sense of organization."

Start freezer preparation in fall to reduce holiday stress and use seasonal produce. Empty the freezer and discard expired items, mystery produce, and anything with freezer burn. Consolidate duplicate items and time clearing with trash day to avoid a bin of old food. Wipe shelves with a water-and-vinegar mixture to deter mold and, if ice has built up, transfer food to a cooler with ice while defrosting. Label everything and take an inventory before restocking to avoid duplicates and prioritize items that need eating. Freeze items flat, use matching containers and plastic bins, and stack from the back so older items are used first.

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