Expiry Tracking¶
FreezerMan helps you stay on top of food expiry dates with color-coded status levels and filtering, so nothing gets forgotten at the bottom of the freezer.
How Expiry Dates Work¶
The expiry date is an optional field when adding or editing an item. If you set one, FreezerMan automatically calculates the item's expiry status based on how many days remain until that date.
Items without an expiry date are simply not included in expiry-based filtering or alerts.
Expiry Status Levels¶
Every item with an expiry date is assigned one of four status levels:
| Status | Color | Condition | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| OK | Green | More than 30 days until expiry | No action needed |
| Soon | Yellow | 7 -- 30 days until expiry | Start planning to use this item |
| Imminent | Orange | 0 -- 7 days until expiry | Use this item very soon |
| Expired | Red | Past the expiry date | Item has expired |
These statuses update automatically every day -- you don't need to do anything manually.
Expiry Badges¶
Item cards display a color-coded badge showing the current expiry status. This gives you an at-a-glance view of which items need attention when browsing your inventory.
- A green badge means you have plenty of time
- A yellow badge means you should start thinking about using the item
- An orange badge means the item needs to be used within the week
- A red badge means the item is past its expiry date
Filtering by Expiry Status¶
You can filter your item list by expiry status to quickly find items that need attention. This is especially useful for:
- Checking what's expiring this week (filter by Imminent)
- Planning meals around items expiring soon (filter by Soon or Imminent)
- Finding items that have already expired and should be reviewed (filter by Expired)
Combine expiry filters with freezer or compartment filters to narrow results further.
Tips for Managing Frozen Food Expiry¶
- Set expiry dates when you add items. It only takes a moment and saves you from guessing later. Most frozen foods have recommended storage times printed on the packaging.
- Check the Imminent and Expired filters weekly. A quick weekly review helps you plan meals around items that need to be used soon.
- Use the "first in, first out" principle. When you have multiple units of the same item, use the oldest one first.
- General frozen food guidelines (when no packaging date is available):
- Raw meat and poultry: 4 -- 12 months
- Cooked meals and leftovers: 2 -- 3 months
- Bread and baked goods: 3 -- 6 months
- Fruits and vegetables: 8 -- 12 months
- Fish and seafood: 3 -- 6 months
Note: These are general guidelines for quality, not safety. Frozen food stored continuously at the correct temperature remains safe indefinitely, but quality degrades over time.