Label Everything You Freeze With a Date and Contents

A month from now, that unlabeled container in the freezer will be a complete mystery. Is it soup? Sauce? Something from 2023? Every time you freeze something, write the contents and the date on the bag or container. Masking tape and a marker is all you need.

For meal prep, add what the item is intended for — "chicken broth for risotto" or "bolognese, serves 4." This tiny habit takes ten seconds and eliminates the frustrating freezer archaeology that leads to throwing things away. Use a first-in-first-out system: newer items go to the back, older ones to the front.