Whether you’re stuck in an extended stay hotel for work, making do with a small dorm fridge in your new apartment, or trying to cram the food needs of a large family into the modest upper compartment of a standard-sized fridge, keeping your frozen goods frozen with minimal space can be a frustrating challenge. Not everyone can accommodate the beauty of a good chest freezer, however, so it’s best to practice maximum efficiency with the square footage you’ve been given.

Here are some of the most effective ways to put prime freezer real estate to good use.

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Fresh berries are one of summer’s great pleasures, but they don’t come cheap — which makes it even more disappointing when a basket of strawberries or raspberries turns to moldy mush within days of purchase. Washing them before storage usually accelerates the deterioration, but Cook’s Illustrated has a washing method that actually keeps the berries fresh longer in storage. Here’s what they recommend.

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You made it! The long weekend is finally here and it’s time to treat yourself. For me, that means starting with an extra-special breakfast. Most days I run out the door with a banana or granola bar. If I’m lucky, I’ll have time to scramble an egg or throw some avocado on toast. But when a holiday weekend rolls around, I’m sure to make it count.

It doesn’t mean every recipe needs to take hours to make, or even that they’re complicated — they’re simply delicious recipes that you can make when you have a little more time. So put on a pot of coffee, turn on the music, and head into the kitchen with these recipes for your lazy holiday weekend.

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It isn’t summer until you’ve had your first watermelon of the season. Chances are, though, that it’s been about a year since you’ve bought your last watermelon. Do you remember how to pick out a good one? Did you ever really know? Here’s what you need to look for in order to spot the perfect picnic-worthy specimen.

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Watermelon White Zinfandel Cooler and Orange Riesling Cooler

(Image credit: Jerrelle Guy)

Have you found yourself staring blankly into the fridge searching for the perfect beverage? Is it time for a drink, but not time for wine? Does beer sound like a terrible idea?

Enter: the wine cooler. A classic combination of wine and bubbles, the wine cooler exists for moments of summer when pure, unbridled refreshment and the glory of wine collide — so basically, most moments.

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