Cleaning Your Deep Freeze During Uncertain Times

To clean, or not to clean? That is the question. (Homemade Vietnamese Eggrolls were a bonus discovery during a recent freezer search.)

My deep freeze is about the size of a bread box. Hmm. . . maybe two bread boxes. It’s the lower half of my fridge. Recently, I’ve had a hard time getting the sliding door to close. Something had to be done. I started by rearranging a few items on the top layer. That worked for awhile. But, clearly, it was not the answer.

Hide and Seek

Then an idea for cleaning the frosty chasm crossed my mind. I would begin systematically eating an item from the freezer each day. I would reach in—eyes closed—and pull out the “Artifact of the Day.” For best results, I should’ve started at the bottom and worked upward. But the thought of submerging my arm into the icy abyss each day discouraged that idea.

On day one, my grab bag produced a lovely piece of salmon. The second day, a chunk of ground beef the size of a softball. I made part of it into a burger and the rest I kept for tacos.

This is how I’d like my freezer bin to look. It’s not likely to happen.

Another day I happened upon several ham slices left over from some Easter, or another. The pieces were a splendid addition to my salad dinner. The slices of a previous meatloaf have also made for a quick and tasty meal.

Hidden Treasures

Then one day I pulled a chocolate bar from the freezer. What %#&!?? This didn’t fit my game plan. Should I put it back or work it into a meal? When I couldn’t find an entrée, that called for a chocolate bar, I slide it back into the freezer along side a piece of stuffed tilapia, that I’d gotten at Straubs, once upon a time.

I don’t know how long I can keep this up. But my deep freeze has receded a few inches. And I’ve promised myself not to put anything more into cold storage, no matter how attractive the sale price might be.

Second Thoughts?

Update: Hmm. . . Maybe I should reconsider downsizing my freezer stash during uncertain times. One doomsday writer I read this week predicted shortages in the supply chain worldwide, meaning a possible reduction in available consumer goods. If that’s happens, I’ll be glad my little deep freeze is overloaded rather than tidy and lean.

At least, I now have a reason for leaving things the way they are.