Thursday, January 20, 2011

Chest Freezer Pantry



This isn`t a new idea. I have a 7.0 cubic ft. chest freezer I wanted to recycle. I thought about putting my packaged groceries in there, but I didn`t want to have to reach to the bottom. I decided yesterday to utilize the freezer for dry storage and it`s one of the best moves ever. The baskets hold the smaller items I use frequently, my large bags of Krusteaz, pasta, sugar, powdered milk etc are on the bottom. It`s working just great. This also solves our ant problem in the summer. Soon as the dog dishes hit the floor the ants come to dine. This freezer will be moved into the spare bedroom, work room, sewing room (multipurpose room) soon as the new freezer arrives. The cabinet is already in the so-called spare bedroom and works nicely for canned goods. Next week it will be full. We also have space under the stairs for more food. My flours are frozen or refrigerated in our extra refrigerator.





 
Freezing again this morning. BRR!! It`s supposed to warm to 60 later. I hung clothes on the line at 7 a:m and they froze in no time. It`s been a very wet winter, lots of snow melt in the mountains that may raise the level of our Lake Mead. I`m planning the garden and going to research seed companies who have not sold out to Monsanto and their GMO product. We`re growing everything in containers this year.

Thank you for stopping by,
Cathy

9 comments:

  1. Smart idea! And while it won't be climate controlled, it will mediate the temperature, so you don't get big daily changes, which should help stuff last.

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  2. Thanks Maria, I never thought of temperature changes. You have good common sense thinking.

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  3. That is the cutest little chef (at the top of your post)I've ever seen!
    Great idea for reusing your chest freezer. I'd read of burying them for use as a root cellar. Wish I had one just for freezing. I started to buy one last year to go in our pantry, but was advised against putting it in there because of the heat from the motor possibly causing spoilage of other items in the pantry. Maybe once I get a spot cleared in the garage I can put one out there.

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  4. Not a bad idea in your dry climate. My brother uses an old freezer to store welding rods. If you really want non GMO etc, then try Territorial Seed, Baker Creek Heirloom seeds, Victory Seeds. (I have purchased from all of these folks and pleased with both service and products.) I have no qualms about modern hybrids or GMO etc; however, I also like open pollinated veggies and trying old varieties.

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  5. Thank you panavia for the names of the seed companies. I`m happy to hear you had a good experience with them. I don`t mind modern hybrids either and sort of on the fence with GMO foods.

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  6. What a great idea to store the flour in the freezer....sometimes we get those pantry moths - bet this would take care of those as well! Keep warm Catherine!!

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  7. The flour keeps real nice in the freezer. I take what I need out of the flour bag and let it come to room temperature before i use it. I freeze whole wheat all the time. Your moth problem should disappear.

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  8. An excellant idea, Catherine! We all need extra storage and this is a good way to utilize a old freezer.

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  9. Super storage idea! Old freezers are so hard to get rid of.

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Vintage Sewing Machines

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