Reuse Cardboard Boxes For Freezer Organization You Didn't Know Was Possible

Rifling around in your freezer for the last Fudgesicle can cost you lots of time. It'll also leave you with cold hands and wasted energy. Freezers come in several layouts, some more user-friendly than others. Maximize the space and minimize the search time with the help of some small cardboard boxes. Either corrugated or boxboard will do. With boxes dedicated to different categories, this storage idea is sure to cut your search time and limit energy waste from long periods with the door open. Maintaining a tidy, well-organized freezer can also help it run more efficiently.

Turning empty cardboard boxes into nifty storage solutions is not exactly revolutionary, but we don't often consider using them to get our freezers in order. Lay boxes flat to access foods from above, or turn them on their sides for bookshelf-style storage. Whether you have a separate upright or chest freezer, or you're just looking to eliminate frustration with your fridge-freezer combo, this simple upcycle can go a long way to improve your kitchen systems.

Grab a few boxes that aren't much longer or wider than a standard piece of paper, and relegate each one to a specific type of food. Great candidates for this organizational method are shoe boxes, corrugated boxes, and boxboard containers that once held other foods. To get more use out of top-opening boxes like cereals or snacks, keep the top sealed, and cut away the face with a utility knife instead. This will leave you with a tray-style box that is ideal for grouping bags of frozen fruits and vegetables or for a grab-and-go solution for individually wrapped foods.

Another great option for organizing your home is upcycled paper milk cartons. These containers are made of laminated paper and can be hard to recycle in many areas. Instead of abandoning them in the bin, cut away one of its faces, turn it on its side, and fill it with popsicles, burritos, breakfast sandwiches, or other single-serve frozen goods. A one-gallon milk carton could also be the perfect size for grouping bags of frozen fruits and veg that are nearly empty.

If you have a chest or drawer freezer, setting boxes flat on their bases makes the most sense; fill them with bags of frozen produce, individually wrapped items, or a collection of small tubs or boxes. For vertical freezers, keep food packaging visible by setting the boxes with their open sides facing the door; arrange freezer bags like books on a shelf inside each box.