Yep its time to start cleaning out the Freezer and Pantry... Lets see what we all can come up with...

[LovesTimone]

So it's time to start thinking about this again. I want to clear out, and get myself set up for the upcoming holidays...

I have quite a few things in the freezer and the pantry that I need to use.

Lets inspired each other to get those freezer's and pantry's cleaned out..


I started 2 weeks ago...

Boston Butt Roast - Shredded Italian Pork - really simple only a few ingredients... I seasoned the meat, garlic salt, pepper, rubbed it with minced garlic ( jarred and be generous with the garlic), browned on the stove, to seal it and give it some color, I prefer to brown on a lower temp so that the garlic doesn't burn - sliced 2 large sweet onions in medium rings, then in my roasting pan I put half the onion rings in the bottom of the pan, then lay the meat on the onions, using the rest of the onions to cover the top, pour over the meat a full bottle of Italian dressing.... cover with foil, put in a 325 oven for about 3 hours, I basted it 3 or 4 times... then I pulled in out shredded it, and put in the crock pot on low to finish cooking, keep the liquid from the roasting pan, and use to keep the meat moist, not wet. It was so good...
Boston Butt, a bottle of Italian dressing, half a jar of minced garlic....

Seafood pasta - Frozen scallops and shrimp, with conchiglie rigate ( shells)... with a butter sauce, I blanched some fresh asparagus, and added it after I had mixed the seafood, and pasta together... I added in some fresh grated cheese, - make sure to drain it very well, you don't want any water getting into your butter sauce...
Package of scallops, half a bag of frozen shrimp, a package of pasta, fresh parm cheese.

I had alot of shells leftover - so I the next day, I made pasta salad with the rest shells - I used up the odd and end fresh veggies I had...

So that's where I'm at... still alot of groceries that I want to use up, before stocking up for the holidays...

 

[prairie_girl]

I definitely need to reorganize my pantry. When we get groceries, we’ve taken to just putting everything in the pantry with no organization at all. That’s how I ended up with six cans of cream of chicken soup and four packages of the same Knorr sidedish. It’s going to be a pain in the butt to do but it reaalllly needs to get done. I’m aiming for tomorrow, but that’s what I said last Saturday too lol

 

[NAB]

Just don’t give your expired stuff to the food bank. I work at one and we always know someone cleaned out there pantry….no one wants to use something with a 2011 date on it.

 

[mmouse37]

I just cleaned out my pantry yesterday!!! Found a few expired things but mostly duplicates of things I normally use. I just organized it better. Also have been trying to use up things in the freezer before buying knew. I was able to make a delicious stir fry last night with partial packages of chicken, beef, string beans, peppers/onions, pineapple and sauce. Everything was from the freezer except the sauce which I made from items in pantry/fridge. Served it over rice and it was yummy!

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

I cleaned out the freezer yesterday. It wasn't too bad...two packages of chicken from May of 2020, and a bag of frozen chicken bbq nuggets that expired in August. All the veggies are now piled together, and the meats are too.

I really do need to finish the rest of the kitchen. I need to move stuff around; I've just been putting it off. Groceries are pilled up in the big reusable bags and in boxes by the shelves I use for storage. I've been lazy since July. I'm fairly certain I dont' have expired stuff in boxes (maybe jars) as I refilled the pantry in May, prepping for hurricane season.

 

[Meriweather]

I already did the pantry,......I do it about 4 times a year
Freezer......chest in the garage, need to wait for it to get cooler, so probably Nov. I do it 2 times a year.
I know everything in there and keep a chart of the different meats, so I know what I am running out of

 

[punkin]

I've been putting things randomly in the pantry all summer and can't find anything. I need an organizational system of some kind.

 

[barkley]

I know everything in there and keep a chart of the different meats

i keep a log on the freezer of what's in it as well. i list meats by type/cut as well as larger batches of leftovers. it helps me to know when to keep an eye out for sales on particular meats, and helps me know when NOT to plan on making a batch of something b/c we've already got it ready to just be defrosted.


on boxed goods i've found that if i keep a sharpie pen handy when i'm putting stuff away so that i can write my use-by date on the side of the box i immediately see when i open my pantry it provides a good reminder of what i need to use up sooner vs. later/items to meal plan around.

 

[LovesTimone]

Op here...

I too need to straighten out my pantry, normally I do pretty good at keeping up with it... I have been adding some clear air-tight containers to the shelves which really helps me to see what I have... I'm going out shopping soon, sometime this week and adding a few more... I have been doing it gradually so that I know what I really need, instead of what I think I need...

Tonight is meatloaf, scallop potatoes, and steamed carrots.... I found a pretty good size package of 80/20 ground chuck for the meatloaf, I bought a couple of package of frozen skillet potatoes at Aldi, and I need to use them up, and left over steamed carrots from Friday night... I have some bread crumbs that will go into the mix for the meatloaf.

While I was in freezer looking around, I found some more odd and end veggies, and some shredded chicken that I put in the freezer a few weeks ago. I have a pre-made crust that I must use up... can of cream of celery soup... Guess what I am making.... Yep Chicken pot pie...

I found some muffin that I made earlier, that got freezer burned and had to be thrown away, it was only a couple.. Still I hate to throw away food...

I have a huge family package, of leg quarters that I am really not sure what to do with at this point...

Suggestions Please...

 

[leahgoogle]

Op here...

I too need to straighten out my pantry, normally I do pretty good at keeping up with it... I have been adding some clear air-tight containers to the shelves which really helps me to see what I have... I'm going out shopping soon, sometime this week and adding a few more... I have been doing it gradually so that I know what I really need, instead of what I think I need...

Tonight is meatloaf, scallop potatoes, and steamed carrots.... I found a pretty good size package of 80/20 ground chuck for the meatloaf, I bought a couple of package of frozen skillet potatoes at Aldi, and I need to use them up, and left over steamed carrots from Friday night... I have some bread crumbs that will go into the mix for the meatloaf.

While I was in freezer looking around, I found some more odd and end veggies, and some shredded chicken that I put in the freezer a few weeks ago. I have a pre-made crust that I must use up... can of cream of celery soup... Guess what I am making.... Yep Chicken pot pie...

I found some muffin that I made earlier, that got freezer burned and had to be thrown away, it was only a couple.. Still I hate to throw away food...

I have a huge family package, of leg quarters that I am really not sure what to do with at this point...

Suggestions Please...

Leg quarters baked in the air fryer are delicious! You would have to do multiple batches if it is a family pack, but you could do some plain and some with buffalo sauce.

 

[Needsanap]

My pantry is pretty organized. The freezer another story. Or I should say freezers. . 1 deep freeze and two fridge/freezers. I really need to clean it out and use what I have. I made corned beef yesterday. Beef stew today. Meatballs (frozen) and spaghetti tomorrow.

 

[LovesTimone]

Leg quarters baked in the air fryer are delicious! You would have to do multiple batches if it is a family pack, but you could do some plain and some with buffalo sauce.

OP here,

That's a great idea, I wish my air fryer would handle this, It's a older style and it would take forever to do all of these leg quarters. I do use it for the best chicken wings ever tho...

I think that there are like 10 quarters... so my plan as right now is to wait until after vacation to use them up... I am leaning right now to letting DH grill 4 quarters, and marinade in a bottle of Lawry's Asian Sesame ginger dressing. Then the other 6 quarters - I will roast in the oven, and make shredded chicken for taco's later on in the week...

 

[LovesTimone]

My pantry is pretty organized. The freezer another story. Or I should say freezers. . 1 deep freeze and two fridge/freezers. I really need to clean it out and use what I have. I made corned beef yesterday. Beef stew today. Meatballs (frozen) and spaghetti tomorrow.

OP here..

I did away with my deep freezer, now that its just DH and I (empty nester's) ... I really did not need it anymore, I gave it to a friend that her DH and sons hunt and fish all the time, so she really needs it... As a perk I get some nice trout filet's or venison sausage every once in a while.

I do have 2 Fridge/ Freezer - and you would think that I would not have as much as I do... LOL...

I found a small beef roast, that I am going to make for my friend that just had knee surgery... using a can of french onion soup, a couple of onions, little potatoes, carrots... a basic pot roast to take over to them, they are empty nester's as well... Something simple yet filling so that they can just warm up what they want...

I have never made corned beef... I would like to try, everyone has said it never turns out right... Thoughts or suggestions?

 

[ronandannette]

Very soon my newly widowed sister will be arriving to stay with us indefinitely. I know she’ll be quite appalled at the state of things around here and will need something to occupy her time. Hopefully the pantry, fridge and freezer will be among the first things she tackles. She’s great at stuff like that.

 

[Needsanap]

OP here..

I did away with my deep freezer, now that its just DH and I (empty nester's) ... I really did not need it anymore, I gave it to a friend that her DH and sons hunt and fish all the time, so she really needs it... As a perk I get some nice trout filet's or venison sausage every once in a while.

I do have 2 Fridge/ Freezer - and you would think that I would not have as much as I do... LOL...

I found a small beef roast, that I am going to make for my friend that just had knee surgery... using a can of french onion soup, a couple of onions, little potatoes, carrots... a basic pot roast to take over to them, they are empty nester's as well... Something simple yet filling so that they can just warm up what they want...

I have never made corned beef... I would like to try, everyone has said it never turns out right... Thoughts or suggestions?
[/QUOTE


Instant pot all the way. 90 minutes with the corned beef, spice packet and bottle of beer. (Water ok). turns out perfect every time.

 

[Eureka]

OP here..

I did away with my deep freezer, now that its just DH and I (empty nester's) ... I really did not need it anymore, I gave it to a friend that her DH and sons hunt and fish all the time, so she really needs it... As a perk I get some nice trout filet's or venison sausage every once in a while.

I do have 2 Fridge/ Freezer - and you would think that I would not have as much as I do... LOL...

I found a small beef roast, that I am going to make for my friend that just had knee surgery... using a can of french onion soup, a couple of onions, little potatoes, carrots... a basic pot roast to take over to them, they are empty nester's as well... Something simple yet filling so that they can just warm up what they want...

I have never made corned beef... I would like to try, everyone has said it never turns out right... Thoughts or suggestions?

We are new empty nesters and it's been a challenge figuring out how much to cook for just two of us (and what I don't need to buy while my kids are at college). I've started opening up family packs of meats and putting individual pieces in sandwich bags and then the whole bunch into an airtight container that goes in the freezer so we just take out two pieces for dinner. We have an old fridge in the garage, the fridge part is mostly bottled water but we do keep stuff in the freezer like bread products, frozen pizzas, and baked goods.

I reorganized the fridge in the house with some clear plastic bins so our condiments, sour cream, yogurt, creamers, etc. don't get lost in the back of the fridge. It's working pretty well so far. I use plastic bins in the pantry as well for pastas, rices, unopened condiments, etc.

 

[tvguy]

Just don’t give your expired stuff to the food bank. I work at one and we always know someone cleaned out there pantry….no one wants to use something with a 2011 date on it.

Wow. Expired stuff is what keeps our Food Bank going. It's still wholesome and safe. Grocery stores and manufacturers donate expire items by the pallet.

 

[NAB]

Wow. Expired stuff is what keeps our Food Bank going. It's still wholesome and safe. Grocery stores and manufacturers donate expire items by the pallet.

We can’t keep it it goes to the trash. We only can keep it up to 6 months passed not years. We do send the late 2020 to soup kitchens and group homes they will use it. Also the dented cans. We weed those out too if they are bigger than your thumb. We do get food from stores and accidents that have food boxes etc damaged.

Toothpaste has an expiration date that too has to go. Saying that I have used out of date toothpaste. We have to follow the rules.

We have a lot of rules.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I don't really clean out the freezers (we have two side-by-side fridges), because I only buy meats for a month of eating-I'm a menu planner and only buy what I'm going to use that month. But the pantry needs a good organize. We have shelves in the basement where we store canned goods, extra spices, boxed pasta, etc. and it's a mess. There's really no room in our kitchen for these things, so they have to be down there and it's a case of out of sight out of mind until I go down to get something.

 

[tvguy]

We can’t keep it it goes to the trash. We only can keep it up to 6 months passed not years. We do send the late 2020 to soup kitchens and group homes they will use it. Also the dented cans. We weed those out too if they are bigger than your thumb. We do get food from stores and accidents that have food boxes etc damaged.

Toothpaste has an expiration date that too has to go. Saying that I have used out of date toothpaste. We have to follow the rules.

We have a lot of rules.

Only rule our Food Bank has, is apparently some of their customers don't like USDA commodities and only want name brands. There are big signs up asking that you not throw out USDA commodities, but instead return them for someone who wants them. Dented cans? They don't even pull those from store shelves anymore. I know 50 years ago when my dad worked at a cannery they couldn't sell dented cans. I grew up on dented cans of fruits and vegetables that he brought home from work.