2020-04-01 Real Simple

Find What You Need

in Your Freezer

PRO ORGANIZERS GIVE THEIR BEST TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR

ICEBOX IN ORDER, NO MATTER WHAT MODEL YOU HAVE.

By Leslie Corona

Organize This

FOR BOTTOM FREEZERS AND DRAWERS

It’s a pain to bend over and rummage through

messy stacks, so label and date frozen food on the

side of the package that’s visible, whether you

stack boxes or “file” them. You can write directly

on glass containers with a permanent marker

(rubbing alcohol erases the ink). For plastic

containers, scribble the info on clear tape, then

adhere it. Use stackable bins to keep similar items

together. Just measure the freezer interior first

to make sure the bins will fit—and look for ones

with handles so they’re easy to pull out.

TO BUY: iDesign Linus Divided Freezer Bins,

from $15; containerstore.com.

FOR SIDE-BY-SIDE REFRIGERATORS

Since this type of freezer is narrow (typically only

14 to 23 inches wide), you’ll need to be strategic.

Remove store-bought frozen foods from their

cardboard boxes, which eat up valuable real

estate, and store them in a slim bin. (Snip off the

cooking instructions and keep them in the bin

as well.) Freeze soups and sauces flat in ziplock

bags; once they’re frozen solid, stash them vertically.

This method speeds up thaw time too—simply

place the bag under lukewarm running water.

TO BUY: Rezip Reusable Zip Seal Gallon Bags,

$15 for 2; thrivemarket.com.

Find a handy list of how long you should keep (almost) every

type of food in the freezer at realsimple.com/foodlongevity.

Photographs by Brian Henn

PROP STYLING BY M

AI TRAN

THE REALIST

46 REAL SIMPLE APRIL 2020

0420ORG.V1.indd 46 FINAL 2/20/20 10:16 AM