If You Opened My Freezer Right Now, Here's What You'd Find...

If you opened my freezer right now, here’s what you’d find.

Everyone has their kitchen philosophy. Mine is built around having the right things on hand so that cooking feels like a choice, not a scramble. And a lot of that starts with the freezer.

Here’s what I keep stocked—and why.

Quality meat. I used to be a fresh-only person. Not really a fan of stocking up on frozen meats. But life happens, and there are too many evenings where dinner arrives and a grocery run didn’t. Now I stock up through my Farmhouse Delivery most weeks—different proteins, good quality, all tucked away in the freezer. Having a variety to choose from takes so much pressure off the “what are we having tonight” moment. It’s a game changer.

Edamame and peas. I’m not a frozen vegetable person in general—you won’t find bags of mixed veggies in there. But edamame and peas are the exception. They’re flavorful, versatile, and perfect for those days when you need a vegetable and have nothing fresh around. Always a good idea to have both.

Cooked meals in glass Pyrex. If something is about to turn, or I’ve made a big batch of something and we’re over it—stick a label on it and into the freezer it goes. There is nothing better than having a real, home cooked meal that just needs to thaw and heat on a day when cooking sounds like the last thing you want to do. I try to get through them within a month to avoid freezer burn, but honestly just knowing they’re there is half the comfort.

Cookie dough balls. My partner and I try to stay away from sweets most of the time. But some days you just need a chocolate chip cookie. So I make a batch, roll them into balls, freeze them, and bake just a few at a time. Accessible without being too accessible. You know what I mean.

Frozen bananas. I don’t keep fresh bananas around regularly, but a few frozen ones? Always. They’re perfect for smoothies, baking, or anything that calls for a banana when you don’t have one. Small thing, big payoff.

Bone broth. I make a batch most weeks, use what I need, and freeze the rest in portions. Having good bone broth ready to thaw is one of those quiet kitchen luxuries that makes everything taste better and is genuinely good for you. I made a whole post about it, check it out here. Great to have when you aren’t feeling well and want to make some nourishing soup.

Coffee. My dad keeps his coffee in the freezer. So I do too. Is there a strong scientific reason? Honestly I’m not completely sure. But some habits you just inherit and don’t question. Anyone else do random things simply because their parents did?

Dog food. Yes, you read that right. I cook my dog’s food, and I keep a good stash frozen so there’s always some ready to go. Maybe unexpected. But would you really expect anything less from a chef with a dog?

A well-stocked freezer isn’t about being a prepper. It’s about giving yourself options, reducing stress, and making sure that on the hard days, your kitchen still has your back!