It’s time to find room for all those make-ahead holiday dishes.

The holidays are fast approaching and while we decorate the halls and prune the treeThere is still one area that needs some attention: the freezer. Before all those party dishes to prepare in advance start hitting the cooler, eliminate items ready to be thrown away. Whether they see diminished flavor, a strange texture, or are simply unrecognizable, this is what you should throw out of your freezer, stat.

Mystery objects

If you don’t know what it is, it’s time to throw it away. Not only are you unlikely to reach for something in your freezer that isn’t labeled when you need a quick dinner (mystery meat will likely be a crowd-pleaser), but this lack of information also makes it nearly impossible to know if the item has reached or not. its expiration date in the freezer.

Anything that isn’t labeled, that you’re unsure of, or that you know you won’t use in time, is a prime candidate for cleaning out your freezer before the holidays.

To avoid throwing away food unnecessarily, be sure to avoid this scenario in the future. Label all items you put in your freezer, especially frozen meals, with their nature and date. To avoid future freezing calculations, go ahead and put a “Use By” date on the item as well. Most pre-made items will keep for one to six months in the freezer.

Old ice cream

The ice is deteriorating, it’s true. A buildup of ice in your tray or ice cube tray, ice stuck together (a sign that your freezer has slightly thawed and then refrozen), ice with a strange taste and/or smell, or discolored cubes are all common causes. signs you need to change your ice. hideout. The holiday season is also a season of entertaining, which usually means your ice maker will be working double duty. Clean your ice well to serve only the best of your holiday drinks.

After you clean your ice cube traycheck your water filter and change it if it reaches the end of its life. This way you will have a fresh start. Oh, and always use an ice cream scoop, never your hands.

Thawed and refrozen items

Refreezing thawed foods is not necessarily dangerous, if done correctly, but it can result in decreased flavor. If you are unsure about items that have been thawed and refrozen, throw them away. Although it can sometimes be difficult to avoid these types of scenarios, it is best to avoid thawing and refreezing foods whenever possible.

Related: 3 signs you shouldn’t eat frozen food

Freezer Burned Foods

There are telltale signs of freezer burn that can be good indicators of what’s worth throwing out of your freezer. Discolored and shriveled foods as well as those covered in ice crystals are likely prey to dreaded freezer burn. In the future, protect your food before it hits the freezer by wrapping it airtight or vacuum sealing it.

Ice cream at its peak

If your ice cream has seen better days, you’ll likely notice signs of freezer burn, like lumps and ice crystals. But how it will taste is when you really know. If you take a spoonful and notice a diminished flavor or freezer taste, go ahead and throw it away. More room for peppermint stick ice cream? You don’t mind if we do.

Related: Can you eat freezer burnt ice cream?

Expired coffee

Coffee will last 6 to 12 months in the freezer, although you’ll experience the best flavor if you use it before the two-month mark. One thing to note is that it is better to avoid freezing the coffee that you use every day, as this will cause moisture in the coffee packaging due to frequent opening, which will quickly eliminate the flavor. For best results, store the vacuum-packed coffee in your freezer and be sure to include the date you froze the coffee as well as a use-by date on the package for easy freezer inventory.

Cream-filled pastries

Breads can be stored in the freezer for up to three months, but cream-filled pastries are not suitable for freezing. This might be bad news if you’ve been saving a stash of danishes for a low-key Thanksgiving breakfast, but look at it this way, you’ve just found some valuable real estate in the freezer. All without worrying that a bad cream-filled pastry will wreak havoc on your vacation morning.