To freeze or not to freeze?

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Posted at 4:45PM, 10 December 2010 by Stuart Walton - Food and wine writer

I recently moved house. Sorting through all the cards and photos of relationships gone by is always a gut-wrenching experience, but not half as exasperating as clearing out the freezer. Excavating towards the back of it, I found half a pack of seafood I couldn't remember buying, as well as little bags of chillies, one odd portion of green beans, two bread rolls , and much more besides.

The whole exercise demonstrated that the freezer so easily becomes an extension of those bedroom cupboards or the space at the back of the garage - a dumping-ground for items you might just want to use one day, but so easily forgetten about once you've stowed them there. And that was just the contents of a small freezer cabinet on top of the fridge.

Friends with chest freezers cheerfully admit they haven't the faintest idea what's in them

Friends with chest freezers cheerfully admit they haven't the faintest idea what's in them. They too often succumb to the desktop syndrome, whereby the only documents you ever deal with at work are those most recently added to the pile, and everything beneath them has effectively vanished into a black hole of the mind. Forage down through the icy layers, and you're sure to come across one or two UFOs (Unidentified Frozen Objects) in bags, things you cooked in bulk and froze for a day when they might come in handy, if it weren't so hard to work out what they are.

I've decided for the time being to live with just the icebox in the fridge, and see how things work out. I don't like freezing fresh fish or meat, as I'm convinced it dries out as its juices freeze. Nor do I cook or buy in bulk, as I'm not anticipating living under siege conditions any time soon. What's in there right now? A bag of McCain's French Fries, a tub of ice cream, and a tray of ice.

I suppose if I had a tribe of sprogs to cater for, it might be different. Who knows what they might suddenly demand that you haven't got? But I haven't, and I don't see why singles need a big, energy-guzzling freezer. Maybe it limits the number of shopping trips you have to do in any given week, but I haven't yet developed an allergy to fresh air. Plus, when you factor in all the defrosting time, as well as the freezer discipline required (contrary to popular belief, you can't keep things in there forever), I think I can manage perfectly well without.

Could you do without your freezer?

Comments

Anneli

10 December 2010, 6:07PM
Anneli

There is no way I could live without my freezer. I only cook for one so I always make more than I need for one meal (you can't just make one portion of spag bol, curry etc) so I always freeze the leftover portions. Also handy for keeping chillies, which I don't use that often, and frozen lemon slices for those G&Ts when there is no fresh lemon!

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LibrarianGoddess

11 December 2010, 1:04PM
LibrarianGoddess

I know all too well what's at the bottom of my freezer - a whole trout that a fishing friend gave me over 2 years ago, and that I've never had the courage to address ...

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Mary

12 December 2010, 10:06AM
Mary

LOL at LibrarianGoddess! ... trouty must be quite happy in there .. reminder ... post it note in a prime place for next bin day! .. poor refuse men! :0) Like Anneli .. I would be lost without my freezer ... especially over Christmas time!

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cutiepie

12 December 2010, 1:42PM
cutiepie

same my freezer is full with stuff i don't even need

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Lushious

13 December 2010, 9:07AM
Lushious

The freezer is where food goes to die! It goes in and then never comes out. My large freezer broke a couple of years back and since then I have made do with a small one. I therefore only have room for the essentials, where as my Mum, has three freezers and on a last count had 7 chickens in it! She only has to cook for her and my Dad!!!

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Colette

13 December 2010, 12:33PM
Colette

I have one of those small under counter ones but I couldn't do without it. I cook for hubby and myself and for my mum who is quite elderly so I can freeze plenty of portions for her and never have to worry about having something tasty and wholesome for the carers to give her.

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linda amumto7

14 December 2010, 6:09AM
linda amumto7

Hi i am new to this sight can anyone tell me how long can the cranberry sauce keep in the fridge or is it better in the freezer thanks

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Katelizzie

14 December 2010, 9:07PM
Katelizzie

I remember my mother having a pig's trotter at the bottom of her freezer for years (in the days when you bought half or whole animals to freeze) - she couldn't bear to touch it to get rid of it! It may still be there...

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Annie

15 December 2010, 7:40PM
Annie

I am considering buying an upright fridge freezer to replace my present chest freezer. I overbuy when I see " bargains" and often end up by throwing the items away because I cannot remember how long they have been there, or how long one should keep them! I have convinced myself that with an upright, I will have to use everything more quickly. the trouble is, to find a fridge freezer with the freezer section larger than the fridge section is not easy! (I already have an undercounter fridge so can afford to lose a bit of the fridge to get a larger freezer section).

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drusilla

16 December 2010, 2:11PM
drusilla

I dread to think what's at the bottom of mine... I found some sprouts in there last year... from 3 years ago. I daren't dig any further!

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Belinda

19 December 2010, 5:22PM
Belinda

couldn't live without! Even for just two. I plan the week ahead, cook in the weekend and freeze portion for 2 that can be taken out and defrosted during the day. With long hours, a freezer is a blessing. As to what and how long, I'm desperately organised and label everything with dates and separate between, 1 pot dishess, vegetables, meat (very little - just the odd chicken breast - prefer to freeze them in sauce), ice cubes and some frozen berries. God, I'm hopeless!

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Belinda

19 December 2010, 5:23PM
Belinda

couldn't live without! Even for just two. I plan the week ahead, cook in the weekend and freeze portion for 2 that can be taken out and defrosted during the day. With long hours, a freezer is a blessing. As to what and how long, I'm desperately organised and label everything with dates and separate between, 1 pot dishess, vegetables, meat (very little - just the odd chicken breast - prefer to freeze them in sauce), ice cubes and some frozen berries. God, I'm hopeless!

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Helen

4 January 2011, 8:38PM
Helen

Hi, How long can I freeze the meat dishes for?

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Ali S

22 January 2011, 9:45PM
Ali S

Belinda I'm the same as you - all dated and labelled, and if one small son, James, doesn't like his pasta sauce, then the leftovers are labelled as 'pasta sauce - Joseph only'! 3 for Â£10 always go in the freezer, then this weeks to-do list /shopping list / whats in the freezer list is updated to reflect what we're eating for a week, and what needs defrosting and what I need to buy to supplement it. Organised? mmm, more like disciplined, but saves a fortune!!!!

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24 January 2011, 1:55AM
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Slappy

3 February 2011, 12:44PM
Slappy

I would be lost without my freezer as I don't have time to cook from scratch each night. One thing I do like to freeze is curry paste. I freeze it in an ice cube try and only have to take out the number of cubes I need depending on what I am cooking.

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teresa581

10 February 2011, 3:06PM
teresa581

My fridge-sized chest freezer definitely earns its keep. There are 2 of us, one veggie, one not so I cook twice as much of loads of dishes - takes the same amount of time and gas - and freeze the excess plus I grow veggies and a quick blanch, chuck them in the freezer, homegrown all year round. Loads of tomato sauce - just sweated down and frozen, make pasta dishes, soups, curries, chillies.... Also, it works out cheaper to buy larger amounts of meat etc.

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Laiyne

20 February 2011, 7:52PM
Laiyne

It's amazingly handy! Looking for the tub of icecream today I came across, amongst others; - A crossaint with the reduced sticker still on it, - Many bags of soup, - Pasteries - and a lot of ice!

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