I'm Biggie: avid cook, speedy lunch packer, mom in San Francisco, & former expat fluent in Japanese. 
Magnets to track freezer inventory
A number of my speedy lunch tips involve making food ahead of time and freezing it in individual portions to throw into a packed lunch. Keeping track of what’s in your freezer is key to being able to cycle through it regularly (avoiding freezer burn and food waste). I’ve tried different techniques, but haven’t been able to stick with anything too demanding that requires me (or my husband) to write down exactly what we take out or put in each time (ack). I did find a pretty straightforward technique in Shufu no Tomo’s book on freezing in my collection of food books, though: make magnets using photos from the weekly supermarket advertising pages, magnetic sheets sold at dollar stores, and tape. I sometimes scan through new ad circulars as they come to see if there are additional photos that might be good freezer magnet candidates.
You can work out your own system, but here I’ve put magnets indicating the food I have on the narrow side of the freezer door, and food I don’t have (but might pick up sometime) on the right hand side. I actually use these magnets on our large chest freezer in the basement (i.e. the Black Hole for frozen food), but brought some upstairs to show on a regular refrigerator. Anyone else have a handy system? Tell us about it! (UPDATE: Also check out the round-up of ways readers organize their lunch gear.)
To make the magnets, you can use any thin magnets — I picked up a big yellow magnetic sheet from Daiso (dollar store), and also used paper-thin freebie magnets we’ve accumulated over the years from pizza delivery, online ordering, etc. Cut out little photos of food you commonly freeze, tape it to the thin magnet with either double-sided tape or regular tape looped over onto itself, and cut to shape. I disregard brand names, of course: I don’t have Eggo waffles in my freezer, but I do have homemade mini pancakes for packed lunches and fast breakfasts for Bug.
If you wanted to get elaborate with this, craft stores stock special magnetic products you could use with custom photos of your own choosing, and you could finish the top and seal the edges for durability. That’s a little much for me, but I bet they’d be cool magnets! For larger views of either photo, click on it, then click the “All Sizes” button above the photo.
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April 3rd, 2007 | Categories: freezing, organize, parenthacks, tips, tutorial or how to | 
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April 2nd, 2007 at 7:45 pm
As someone that just moved into her first real apartment with a roomie (living with cousins doesnt count), I LOVE this idea!
I was wondering though, where did you pick up the towel paper dispenser and that other side shelf? Those are genius; our kitchen has limited counter space, have to get creative.
April 2nd, 2007 at 8:57 pm
I believe I got the magnetic paper towel dispenser from Bed Bath & Beyond a long time ago, and I got the little magnetic basket (now holding garlic and shallots) from a dollar store in Japan. I’ve also seen them at Daiso and Ichiban Kan (Japanese dollar stores in San Francisco) — surely they’ve got to be sold at normal stores elsewhere. Anyone else know of common sources?
April 3rd, 2007 at 1:42 am
this is one of your best tips! really!!
I’m heading to the store right now to buy some magnet-sheet o_o
What i use is a little note-book that has a magnet attached so you can put it on the fridge’s door. Whenever I run out of something, i write it down (it also comes with a little pen) so I don’t forget what i need to buy. but i have nothing to know what do i actually have inside!
My mum, when she freezes something, she writes with a permanent pen on the tupper-ware or whatever the package she uses. There are also some stores that sell tupper-wares with a sticker on which you can use perm markers (and erase them if needed), so you can write down what you have in the box, when did you put it there and until when you can use it
but i like your method best!
April 3rd, 2007 at 2:40 am
This is the best system I’ve ever used. Decor’s Tellfresh range (http://www.decor.com.au/). The tags clip in and out and are fun to write on (the pencil writes so well on the special surface) and easy to erase, and are washable/durable. The containers are clear, modern in design, and come in an incredible array of volumes and shapes. Please excuse the large pic…
April 3rd, 2007 at 5:31 am
I came here from, and after looking at your creations and bento box ideas, I have to say you are a genius! May I “friend” you to watch your progress and to get some wonderful ideas for my family?
April 3rd, 2007 at 6:46 am
Found you on also. Love your journal; am adding you to my FList. No need to add me back.
April 3rd, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Good ideas! I use a lot of freezer bags, and write the date on that (but it’s not on the outside of the freezer).
April 3rd, 2007 at 10:31 pm
That looks very interesting, thanks for the info!
April 3rd, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Absolutely, no need to ask! Thanks for the kind words.
April 3rd, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Thanks, spocks_girl! Love the name, BTW.
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:19 pm
that’s right, and sometimes the ice spoils the ink… Your method’s cool!
April 5th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
oh gosh! that is so nifty!
April 6th, 2007 at 7:23 am
Thanks, sivmui!
June 19th, 2007 at 7:26 am
[...] feature tip is from Lunchinabox with the tip make magnets to track freezer inventory A number of my speedy lunch tips involve making food ahead of time and freezing it in individual [...]
September 12th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
great idea. i’m terrible at any kind of organizing, but this is clever. i’m very visual and sometimes that food doesn’t look like what it is in the container:)
September 12th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
btw i came over from tip nut fyi
September 13th, 2007 at 12:06 am
@16 from kelli: I LOVE tip nut! Welcome, and I’m glad you got something out of the refrigerator magnet tip.
December 27th, 2007 at 6:21 am
That is the best freezer management system I’ve heard of ever! Thanks for a great idea. And Brava on the Food Blog Award this year, you really deserve it!
December 27th, 2007 at 9:23 am
@18 from manju: Thanks on both counts, manju! The magnet thing was a total “slap forehead” thing when I came across it in my freezing book — so simple and glanceable!
January 28th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Very clever idea! I struggle with managing my freezer so this really caught my eye. (So did that Pizza Orgasmica magnet - don’t cut it up; save it for free pizza!)
January 28th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
@20 from Uyek: Although I really want to like Pizza Orgasmica (great namings & gimmicks!), we’re actually not all that impressed with their pizzas. Too bad, but at least I got some nifty magnets out of the deal!
March 8th, 2008 at 1:24 am
I have 3 dry erase boards on my fridge.
One for what I have in stock, one for what I need, and one for expiration dates.
March 8th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
@22 from Candi: Dry erase boards? I like it!
March 25th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Great idea. I’m going to try this for my vegetable drawer. I always forget what’s in there. Also would be great for my dry food cabinet.
March 25th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
@24 from Sharon J: Do you have something on your dry food cabinet for the magnets to stick on? That’d be my bottleneck.
March 25th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
@25 Biggie: Not right now, but I was thinking of getting a small magnetic dry erase board and put those removable mounting tape on the back.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Love this idea! I have resisted getting a separate deep freezer thinking things would get wasted in the big black hole. You’ve given me hope.
I use sharpie on painter’s tape to label things in the fridge and freezer.
April 26th, 2008 at 12:34 am
@27 from Kelly Powers: Ah, sharpie marker and paper tape — a classic combo that never goes out of style!
May 10th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
at my house we just make sure our fridge/freezer is organized, meat on one shelf, drinks on another leftovers on the bottom shelf and in the fridge we have three drawers one for fruit, one for veggies, and one for cold cuts,
our door is organized with condiments and salad dressings
May 11th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
@29 from Tony: Sounds like a plan, Tony!
September 14th, 2009 at 9:06 am
We carry 4×6 Magnetic Photo Sheets that are great for printing out directly on your ink jet printer. Check out our facebook page
November 20th, 2011 at 10:00 am
I love this idea. Should laminate the top so that you can write the expiration date on it and remove the date and reuse it.
November 25th, 2011 at 8:21 am
[...] Magnets to track freezer inventory | Lunch in a Box Article source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/HYAsPNMud4s/diy-food-item-magnets-help-keep-track-of-whats-in-your-freezerPosts Related to DIY Food Item Magnets Help Keep Track of What’s in Your Freezer [Kitchen Hacks]Turn Old Keyboard Keys into Strong, Custom Magnets [DIY]If you’ve recently upgraded your keyboard, or you’re like me and have a couple extras lying around, this DIY hack takes the keys off the …Open a Sealed Envelope by Putting It in the Freezer [MacGyver Tip]If you want to get into an already-sealed envelope without ripping it apart, all you need to do is pop it in the freezer for …Store Frozen Corn and Peas in Plastic Water Bottles [Kitchen Hacks]I routinely use small portions of frozen corn, peas, and green onions in dishes like fried rice, soups, and casseroles. Bento weblog Lunch in a …Freeze Cooked Pasta to Have Quick Meals on Hand [Kitchen Hacks]Bento blog Lunch in a Box shares this tip on how to easily freeze pasta for future meals—after draining the pasta, toss it with butter, …Make a Lunch Box from a Milk Jug [Food]Frugal living site Lunch Punch It shows us how to repurpose an empty milk jug into a lunch container by washing it out, drawing lines …Did you like this? Share it:Tweet [...]
November 25th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
[...] Magnets to track freezer inventory [Lunch in a Box] foodkitchen Discuss Share Tweet Email More get_count_post(’http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2011/11/diy-food-item-magnets-help-keep-track-of-whats-in-your-freezer/’,'post-408060′); « Previous post [...]
November 29th, 2011 at 10:52 am
Instead of magnet sheets from the dollar store, if your phonebook comes with magnet ads, you could save and reuse them.
Also good if you take pieces of white plastic, like from dairy container lids, and write in pencil on them what you have in the fridge, like ‘1/2 lb asparagus’ or ‘taco meat’ so stuff doesn’t get lost in the back and become a scientific curiosity.
November 30th, 2011 at 10:18 am
@karen cook: i don’t understand the white lid thing. could you explain more? where do you put it? and when you write it pencil does it show up? erase? thanks
kelli
December 11th, 2011 at 1:52 am
I have stuck magnets to the back of the tags from Decor’s Tellfresh range (http://www.decor.com.au/). I can then write what I have in the freezer and stick it on the outside of the freezer. The problem I find with using supermarket advertising is that they don’t advertise the meals that I make and freeze, such as potato bake or beetroot risotto. This way, I can keep a track of the meals in the freezer