Thanks for posting here in the Community today, @jennyf.
You're on the right track in creating an invoice or a sales receipt with zero amounts to keep track of the quantity of your inventory items. I'll also link to you a thread where one of our Allstar (qbteachmt) answers the same question as you have.
Please check out this link: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/reports-and-accounting/how-to-record-damaged-goods...
It is also best to consult with an accountant to make sure your reports are accurate.
I'm also adding these link if you need help with other tasks in QBDT. Just look for responses that fit your concern.
Keep me posted if you still have questions or concerns. I'll be around for you. Take care and have a great day ahead.
