Freezer Storage Tricks: 17 Simple Ideas That Stop Food Waste All Winter

Freezer storage tricks are everywhere right now, and it is easy to see why. Food prices are still high, the holidays are coming in a few weeks, and nobody wants to throw away food they paid for. One video of simple freezer tricks for vegetables passed 1.4 million views in just six days this month, and several more jumped past 100,000 views in a few days. The best part is that none of these ideas need special gear. A few bags, a muffin tin, a baking tray and some tape will change the way you use your freezer. We gathered 17 easy tricks that save space, save money and make busy winter nights simpler. Open your freezer door and let us start..

Freezer Storage Tricks Start Here: File Bags Like Books

This is the trick that makes people gasp when they see a tidy freezer. Lay soups, sauces and vegetables flat in bags to freeze, then stand them up like books in a file drawer. Suddenly you can see everything at once, and nothing gets lost at the back. Flat bags also thaw faster and stack neatly. Once you try it, you will never go back to frozen lumps piled on top of each other. It is the simplest of all freezer storage tricks and the one that changes the most. Ready to give your freezer a makeover..

You will need: Zipper freezer bags, a baking sheet and some masking tape.

How to make it: 1. Fill each bag halfway, press out the air and seal it. 2. Lay the bags flat on a baking sheet and freeze them. 3. Once solid, stand them upright in a drawer or bin like files.

Green Onions in a Dry Bottle

Green onions often wilt before you use the whole bunch. This viral trick fixes that. Wash them, dry them completely and chop them. Then pour them into a clean, totally dry plastic bottle and freeze. When you need a handful for soup or eggs, just shake some out. They stay loose instead of freezing into one block. It is one of the most shared freezer storage tricks this month. Do you buy green onions and forget them in the drawer too?

You will need: Fresh green onions, a clean dry plastic bottle, a towel and a knife.

How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the onions very well, as any water makes them clump. 2. Chop them small and funnel them into the bottle. 3. Cap it, freeze it and shake out what you need.

Freezer Storage Tricks for Berries: Flash Freeze on a Tray

If you have ever pulled out a bag of berries frozen into one big brick, this is for you. Spread washed and dried berries on a lined tray so they do not touch, freeze them for a few hours, then pour them into a bag. Now each berry stays separate, perfect for smoothies, oatmeal and baking. It works for grapes and cherries too. Buying berries on sale and freezing them this way saves real money. Which berry would you stock up on first?

You will need: Fresh berries, a baking tray, parchment paper and freezer bags.

How to make it: 1. Wash the berries and dry them gently on a towel. 2. Spread them on a parchment lined tray, not touching. 3. Freeze until firm, then pour into a bag.

Freezer Storage Tricks for Herbs: Olive Oil Cubes

Fresh herbs are pricey, and they wilt so fast. Chop the leftovers, pack them into an ice cube tray and cover them with olive oil before freezing. Pop a cube right into a hot pan for an instant burst of flavor in soups, pasta and roasted vegetables. Basil, parsley, rosemary and thyme all work well. These little green cubes look pretty too. It is a small habit that keeps good food out of the trash. What herb do you always end up wasting?

You will need: Fresh herbs, olive oil, an ice cube tray and a freezer bag.

How to make it: 1. Wash, dry and chop the herbs. 2. Fill each cube spot about two thirds with herbs and top with oil. 3. Freeze, then pop the cubes into a labeled bag.

Label Every Bag With Tape and a Marker

It sounds too simple, but labeling is what makes all other freezer storage tricks work. A strip of masking tape and a marker lets you write what is inside and the date you froze it. Frozen food can look the same after a few weeks, and no one wants mystery soup. Masking tape sticks well in the cold and peels off easily, so bags can be washed and reused. Keep the tape and marker right next to the freezer. Do you have any mystery bags hiding in your freezer right now?

You will need: Masking tape and a permanent marker.

How to make it: 1. Tear a strip of tape before you fill the bag. 2. Write the name and the date on it. 3. Stick it on the bag top so you can read it when the bags are filed upright.

Freeze Broth and Sauce in a Muffin Tin

Making a big pot of broth or sauce? Freeze it in a muffin tin. Each cup becomes a perfect single portion, so you only thaw what you need. Once they are frozen, pop the pucks out and keep them in a bag or container. A silicone muffin tin makes this extra easy because the pucks slide right out. This is a lifesaver on busy weeknights. How many meals could you get out of one big pot?

You will need: A silicone muffin tin, cooled broth or sauce and a freezer bag or container.

How to make it: 1. Let the broth or sauce cool completely. 2. Pour it into the muffin cups and freeze them flat. 3. Pop out the frozen pucks and store them in a labeled bag.

Use a Straw to Pull Out Extra Air

Air in a freezer bag is what leads to dry, icy spots on food. This old trick helps. Seal the bag almost all the way, slip a straw into the corner, pull out the extra air and quickly close it. The bag shrinks tight around the food, almost like a vacuum sealer. It works best for washed vegetables, bread and cooked foods. Easy freezer storage tricks like this one cost nothing. Have you ever tried it?

You will need: Zipper freezer bags and a clean paper or reusable straw.

How to make it: 1. Fill the bag and seal it, leaving a small gap at one corner. 2. Slide in the straw and draw out the air. 3. Pull the straw out and seal the gap at the same time.

Freeze Grated Cheese in Small Bags

Big blocks of cheese are often cheaper, but it is hard to use them before they go bad. Grate the whole block, split it into small flat bags and freeze them. Grated cheese can go straight from the freezer onto pizza, pasta bakes and casseroles with no thawing. Small bags mean you only open what you need. It is a great way to grab a sale and actually use it. What would you sprinkle it on first?

You will need: A block of cheese, a box grater and small freezer bags.

How to make it: 1. Grate the cheese and toss it lightly so it stays loose. 2. Fill small bags and press them flat. 3. Freeze them and use the cheese right from frozen.

Slice Bread Before It Goes in the Freezer

Freezing a whole loaf means thawing the whole loaf. Slice it first, and you can take out one piece at a time for toast or sandwiches. A small square of parchment between slices helps them come apart easily. This is perfect for homemade bread or bakery loaves that you cannot finish quickly. Toast straight from frozen and nobody will know. Do you bake bread at home or buy it fresh?

You will need: A loaf of bread, a bread knife, parchment squares and a large freezer bag.

How to make it: 1. Slice the loaf evenly. 2. Tuck parchment between some of the slices. 3. Slide it into a bag, press out the air and freeze.

Peel and Slice Bananas Before Freezing

Spotty bananas are not a reason to toss them. Peel and slice them into coins, freeze them on a tray and then bag them. Frozen banana coins blend into the creamiest smoothies and are easy to measure for banana bread. Peeling first is the key, since frozen peels are very hard to remove. Kids even like eating the coins as a cold snack. How do you use up your spotty bananas?

You will need: Ripe bananas, a knife, a lined baking tray and freezer bags.

How to make it: 1. Peel and slice the bananas into coins. 2. Freeze them on a lined tray so they do not stick together. 3. Move them into a bag once firm.

Make a Use First Bin

A lot of food waste happens because we forget what we already have. A shallow bin at the front of the freezer fixes that. Anything that needs to be eaten soon, like half bags of vegetables or small leftover portions, goes in the use first bin. Before you plan meals or shop, check this bin first. It is one of those freezer storage tricks that quietly saves money every single week. What would go in your bin today?

You will need: One shallow clear plastic bin that fits your freezer shelf.

How to make it: 1. Clear a spot at the front of a shelf. 2. Place the bin there and fill it with items that need using soon. 3. Check it every time you plan dinner.

Freezer Storage Tricks With Magazine Holders

Chest freezers can turn into deep, messy pits. Plastic magazine holders turn them into neat rows. Stand flat frozen bags upright inside each holder, sorted by type like soups, fruit and vegetables. You can lift a whole holder out to reach what is below. It costs very little, and you can see everything at a glance. If you love this kind of order, our small kitchen hacks will help in the rest of the kitchen too. Is your freezer a deep pit right now?

You will need: Plastic magazine holders and flat frozen bags of food.

How to make it: 1. Group your flat bags by type. 2. Stand each group upright in its own holder. 3. Line the holders up in the freezer with the most used ones on top.

Freeze Cookie Dough Balls for Quick Baking

Imagine warm cookies any night you want, with no mess. Scoop cookie dough into balls, freeze them on a tray and then bag them. When a craving hits, bake a few straight from frozen, adding a couple of minutes to the baking time. This is perfect for holiday guests and busy December weekends. You can make several kinds now and be ready for cookie swaps later. Which cookie would you prep first?

You will need: Cookie dough, a scoop, a lined baking tray and a freezer bag.

How to make it: 1. Scoop the dough into even balls on a lined tray. 2. Freeze until firm. 3. Bag them and bake a few at a time when you want them.

Blanch Green Vegetables First

Freezing raw broccoli or green beans can leave them dull and soft. A quick blanch keeps them bright green and crisp. Dip the vegetables in boiling water for a short time, then plunge them into ice water to stop the cooking. Dry them well and freeze them on a tray. This simple step is shown in the freezer tricks video for vegetables that passed 1.4 million views in six days. Ask an adult to handle the boiling pot. Which vegetables do you buy in bulk?

You will need: Fresh green vegetables, a pot of boiling water, a bowl of ice water, a slotted spoon and a towel.

How to make it: 1. With adult help, dip the vegetables into boiling water briefly. 2. Move them straight into the ice water to cool. 3. Dry them well, freeze on a tray, then bag them.

Keep a List on the Freezer Door

Out of sight is out of mind, especially in a freezer. A simple list on a clipboard or a sheet on the door shows what is inside without opening it. Add items when they go in and cross them off when they come out. It saves time, keeps the cold in and helps you plan meals around what you already have. It also stops you from buying a third bag of peas. Would your family actually use a list like this?

You will need: A small clipboard or magnetic notepad, a pencil and a magnet hook.

How to make it: 1. Hang the clipboard on the freezer door. 2. Write down each item as it goes in. 3. Cross it off when you use it, and start a fresh sheet each month.

Freezer Storage Tricks for Holiday Leftovers

Thanksgiving is a few weeks away, and the leftovers will come fast. Instead of one giant container, pack meal sized portions with a little turkey, potatoes, vegetables and stuffing together. On a busy night in December, you will have a ready plate. Let food cool before packing and leave a little space at the top. These freezer storage tricks make the holiday feast last a lot longer. What is your favorite leftover?

You will need: Glass or plastic meal containers with lids, masking tape and a marker.

How to make it: 1. Let the leftovers cool. 2. Fill each container with one complete meal. 3. Label it with tape and freeze it flat.

Freezer Storage Tricks for Lemon Slices

Lemons on sale? Slice them and freeze them. Frozen lemon slices chill a glass of water like ice cubes and add fresh flavor at the same time. They also go right into teas, sauces and baked fish. Freeze them on a tray first so they stay separate. It is a pretty, simple trick to finish our list of freezer storage tricks. Which of these 17 ideas will you try first?

You will need: Lemons, a knife, a lined tray and a freezer bag.

How to make it: 1. Wash and slice the lemons thin. 2. Freeze the slices on a lined tray. 3. Bag them and drop them into drinks or recipes.