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    Freezer Inventory

    Save $300+/year on food you forgot you had.

    Free apps

    • Pantry Check — free iPhone/Android. Scan barcode → adds to list. Tracks expiration.
    • NoWaste — free. Tracks freezer, fridge, pantry. Reminds you when items are old.
    • Apple Notes / Google Keep — simplest option. Just type a list.
    • Excel / Google Sheets — column for item, quantity, date frozen.

    The no-app system

    1. Tape a piece of paper to the freezer door.
    2. When you put something in — write it down + date.
    3. When you take it out — cross it off.
    4. Once a month, check what's near the bottom.

    Sounds silly. Works perfectly. No charging, no apps.

    How long things actually last frozen

    • Beef, pork, lamb (raw) — 6-12 months.
    • Chicken (raw) — 9 months. Pieces 4-6 months.
    • Cooked meat / leftovers — 2-3 months.
    • Bread, baked goods — 2-3 months.
    • Vegetables (blanched) — 8-12 months.
    • Fruit — 8-12 months.
    • Soup, stew — 2-3 months.
    • Fish — fatty 2-3 months, lean 6 months.

    Frozen food doesn't go bad — it loses quality. After the dates above it's safe but tastes worse.

    Label everything

    • Painter's tape + Sharpie. $5 setup.
    • Write WHAT and DATE FROZEN.
    • "2 lbs chicken thighs — 2/15/26"
    • Saves the "what is this?" mystery in 6 months.

    "Eat from the freezer" week

    Every 3 months, do an "eat from the freezer" week. Skip the grocery store. Cook only what's already frozen. Forces rotation, rediscovers forgotten meals, saves $100-200 in groceries that week.