How can I label my food?

[Radiance]

Hello,

I've determined I will not be cooking every day.
I can cook every other day rather consistently.

Since most foods can last 1-3 days on the fridge, I need to label them with a "cooked date" otherwise I end up throwing away lentils because I don't remember when i put them there.

I don't want to write with sharpies on my containers, post its fall off due to the cold and humidity. How can I label my food with their cooked date?

Thanks!

[disneysteve]

We use masking tape and write on that with the Sharpie. Works fine in the fridge and freezer.

[Daylily]

DisneySteve, are you using masking tape or the newer blue or green painter's tape? I find the old fashioned masking tape ends up sticking to the containers but the blue painters tape peels off when I'm done with it.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I like that painter's tape idea.--the kind that is easily removable.

You could just write on a piece of paper and rubber band it to your container. That way there is no sticky stuff left or ink left behind.

[LuxLiving]

Could you make a chart/list to post on outside of fridge? Crossing off when it's used.

[zakity]

Yep, painter's tape... I use that and have for years.

[disneysteve]

DisneySteve, are you using masking tape or the newer blue or green painter's tape? I find the old fashioned masking tape ends up sticking to the containers but the blue painters tape peels off when I'm done with it.

We use regular old yellowish masking tape. We've never encountered any trouble with it sticking to the containers. We've done this for years. Pick up a roll at the dollar store and you'll be good for ages.

[MTLaura]

Long Term Use

I milk dairy goats twice daily and have lots of containers, glass and plastic in my fridge. I use that magic scotch tape as it fits in a tape holder and sits on top of the fridge out of the way. I write with a magic marker on that tape. My fridge is set for 38 degrees. The milk lasts 12-13 days without going sour and the tape stays on the containers without falling off.
IDLaura

[Miss Curly]

Cheap Calendar

Use an inexpensive or homemade calendar designated for the purpose of food storage. Use abreviations, etc., but just make a simple note on the date that you cooked something. That way, you will not only have a record of the date cooked, you will have a visual reminder that there is something worth eating and already cooked in the fridge.

[lynclarke]

I serve my husband's lunch container when I serve our plates at dinner time. Therefore, there are very few leftovers to worry about in the first place. If I have two "extra" servings, then I usually just start the next day's lunch container.

If I have several extra servings, I would most likely toss the extras in a foodsaver bag and freeze it. I mark each foodsaver bag with the name of the item, cooked or uncooked, flavor, and date it went into the freezer.

By the way, I send tonight's dinner for his lunch the day after tomorrow. By then, he doesn't even remember eating tonight's dinner!!

[superdad1580]

I agree with the first answer that is what I did until I purchased a food saver. Now I just write on the food saver bag with a sharpie, and it works great, plus the food last a lot longer than three days. I have a family of seven, and I can't even begin to add up the savings from using the food saver.

[mom-from-missouri]

Buy a wax pencil for 30 cents

[Mike75]

We use two techniques in our home. First, we use a rubber band to place the slip into it. We also put the food the older leftovers in front of top shelf of the fridge so that they are not forgotten.

[GrimJack]

Well, Zip-Loc(tm) has come up with a freezer-bag and vacuum pump combination that that also has a nice label window. It work really well for getting air out of your containers - and if you use a grease pencil you can reuse them.