Somewhere in every freezer is a mystery container. It’s brown. It’s frozen solid. Nobody knows when it went in, and nobody is brave enough to find out.
A freezer inventory fixes that. Here’s a free printable, and a simple way to use it.
Freezer inventory sheet
what’s in there, when it went in, and how many serves are left
Download the freezer inventory sheet (PDF, A4)What’s on the sheet
- Item: what it is (“Bolognese”, not “brown stuff”)
- Date frozen
- Portions: how many serves are left
- Shelf or drawer: where to find it
- A tick column: cross it off when it comes out
Stick it on the freezer door with a magnet, and keep a pen nearby (tied on, ideally, because pens are escape artists).
The system
- Label everything going in with the name and date. Masking tape and a marker work perfectly.
- Write it on the sheet at the same time.
- Freeze in portions you’ll actually use: single serves for lunches, family-sized for dinners.
- Oldest to the front. New things go to the back.
- Plan one freezer meal a week into your meal plan. That’s how the freezer stays a pantry, not a museum.
For how long different foods keep well in the freezer, and how to defrost them properly, check Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s guidance.
Where My Tomte helps
My Tomte tracks what’s in your freezer, fridge and pantry. When you cook a big batch and tap Make now, the extra portions go straight onto the freezer list, and the planner remembers to use them. No pen required.