Keeping and Using a Freezer Inventory

Buying food at a discount and freezing it for later use is a great way to save money on groceries.

The USDA states that frozen foods remain safe indefinitely, however they provide the following chart for quality: 


Freezer Storage Chart (0 °F)
Note: Freezer storage is for quality only. Frozen foods remain safe indefinitely.

Item	Months
Bacon and Sausage	1 to 2
Casseroles	2 to 3
Egg whites or egg substitutes	12
Frozen Dinners and Entrees	3 to 4
Gravy, meat or poultry	2 to 3
Ham, Hotdogs and Lunchmeats	1 to 2
Meat, uncooked roasts	4 to 12
Meat, uncooked steaks or chops	4 to 12
Meat, uncooked ground	3 to 4
Meat, cooked	2 to 3
Poultry, uncooked whole	12
Poultry, uncooked parts	9
Poultry, uncooked giblets	3 to 4
Poultry, cooked	4
Soups and Stews	2 to 3
Wild game, uncooked	8 to 12

(Chart courtesy of USDA, Freezing and Food Safety)

So, while your frozen foods may remain SAFE per the USDA, they may not taste as good after awhile.  If your freezer is stuffed like mine is, a freezer inventory is the way to keep track of what you have on hand.

Print out this document, take a tally of what's in your freezer, and as you use it, mark off what you've used.  The Freezer Inventory is also good to refer to when you are doing your meal plan and grocery list to see what you already have on hand.

Print a one-page Freezer Inventory with Categories if you don't have a lot in the freezer, or

Print multiple copies of this Blank Freezer Inventory if you have a stuffed freezer like mine!



I made a 3 ring binder to put my inventory in.    I found the picture randomly on the net and it made me chuckle.  I must be looking really, really cute!    So can you, if you do your freezer inventory! 

After taking my inventory, I discovered I have a 13 bags of green beans!  Time for some Cold Green Bean Salad!