Amateur archaeology...

[Larry D.]

Amateur archaeology: defrosting the freezer. You find things that (1) you aren't sure what they are, and (2) you don't know how old they are. That's why I wear my Indiana Jones hat when do it.

 

[JimK]

I hit the "like" button for that post.

 

[Todd NC]

Hey neighbor,
I know what you mean. We defrosted our chest freezer last Winter and found many unmarked packages that were completely unidentifiable as well as stuff that was about five years old or so. Always an adventure. We are trying to keep a log now of what goes in and what comes out. It's helping so far but we'll see how long that discipline remains in effect.

 

[Rolf Jacobsen]

True!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[KevinJ]

I had that issue and got mad at throwing away stuff so I stared labeling it. For example when wrapping the trimming from ribs, I wrap a few times with seran wrap, and just before the last layer I add a label, then finsh wrapping. That way it cant go anywhere and I can tell what it is.

 

[Barb D]

Been there and done that! Like Todd said Rich and I keep a log and that sure does help. Then again where is the adventure!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rich Dahl]

To add to what Barb said we have a food saver and when we package the food to freeze Barb labels the package with a black felt tip and also puts the date it was frozen. That really helps because when we go to get say some pork chops I can look at the dates and take the oldest first. Also getting an upright freezer was a big help, it takes up less space and nothing sinks to the bottom and gets lost.

 

[Bob H.]

Sometimes I wish that my chest freezer was still back in the store. It looked much nicer then.

 

[Clint]

I had that issue and got mad at throwing away stuff so I stared labeling it. For example when wrapping the trimming from ribs, I wrap a few times with seran wrap, and just before the last layer I add a label, then finsh wrapping. That way it cant go anywhere and I can tell what it is.

I use a magic marker too, to mark contents, dates, etc.... What I really wanted to comment on, along the lines of this thread, was several years after I was given a nice box of assorted elk meat (strips, steaks, burger) from my uncle, I found a remaining package in the freezer. What got me most was how well it kept for I'd guess 6+ years. It was wrapped in plastic & then butcher paper - not a sign of deterioration, & the quality was as good as I remembered it when fresh!

Several times per year friends bring over meat - I need to mark that stuff.... I'm just afraid that it might not have been handled properly sometimes----not everyone knows/cares about food safety as most of us here.