Now that your refrigerator is sparkly clean and back in operation, it’s time to move on to refrigerator organization, your next step after cleaning.
For inspirational steps to organize, click our link here.
Why be organized?
Note that there are numerous great benefits to be had from having an organized refrigerator. These include:
- Being able to find & easily access what you want
- Making cleaning easier
- Halting food spoilage & ultimately saving money
- Reducing fridge odors
- Preventing germs & bacteria from flourishing
- Preventing foodborne illnesses via proper storage
- Using the right bins & storage techniques to make your fridge function well
- Making the refrigerator look neat in appearance
- Making it easier to take inventory of what you have and need
Disorganization
Discovering spoiled food in the refrigerator is a common problem people with disorganization face. Examples include unidentifiable food contents left too long in their storage containers to spoiled meats, fruits, and vegetables rotting in their original packaging.
So, what’s the problem?
Often, food spoilage is the result of failure to organize the refrigerator space. An organized refrigerator can save the day by putting you in control of its contents.
Create food zones:
Keeping foods in specific zones helps them last longer and makes foods easier to find. This involves grouping like items together and consistently placing them in the same area of the fridge which possesses the ideal temperature to keep them fresh.
Expired foods!
Old, expired foods can create mess and germs, so cleaning should be part of the organizing routine.
Things to have on hand:
It’s helpful to prepurchase see-through plastic bins designed for the refrigerator that help contain loose items like soda cans, yogurts, produce, and more. Think thoughtfully about what items need containment. Avoid overbuying products you don’t need. Expert tip: It can be expensive to buy individual containers. Rather, consider food storage containers in reasonably priced sets that offer numerous pieces for your needs.
It’s a personal matter of preference…
Airtight glass jars are optimal for storing leftovers like sauces. Glass is often preferred for leftovers as it is generally odor and stain resistant and leakproof. However, plastic is lighter and less likely to shatter, so it may be preferred by some. Should you wish to use your container for microwaving, research the best storage products for the microwave. It’s also wise to have containers that can be neatly stacked to save fridge space!
Smart ways to organize the refrigerator:
- Take inventory of what you have. Use this knowledge to adjust shelving to accommodate your largest items first such as gallons of milk or large jugs of juice. Attempt to store milk toward the back of the fridge where the temperature is coldest.
- When reintroducing foods back to the fridge, group like items together. Use your plastic storage bins to contain similar products that are loose. For example, put all the yogurt in one bin and place the bin on an upper easy to reach shelf. Do the same with soda cans, etc.
- Invest in labeling your containers, particularly if they are not see-through and you cannot readily spot the contents.
- Storebought eggs require special care. Storing them in the fridge is often the best way to keep this perishable food from going bad. Per Healthline, ideally eggs should be stored in the original carton in the back of the fridge. This prevents them from absorbing odors and protects them from temperature fluctuations when the door gets opened or closed.
- Since the doors are the warmest part of the fridge, strictly use it for condiments like pickles and mustard.
- Vegetables, such as broccoli, lettuce, and carrots, are best stored in the crispers section of the refrigerator. That’s because these drawers, mainly located at the bottom of most units, have a dedicated temperature and humidity control system.
- Likewise, ripe fruits like apples, cherries, and strawberries should go in the dedicated fruit crisper drawer, also typically found toward the bottom of the refrigerator and offering temperature and humidity control.
- Deli meats and cheese generally come in resealable packages. Fresh deli meats typically last in the fridge for 3 to 4 days in their airtight resealable bags, whereas cheeses may last longer. These sealed products can be placed in the dedicated deli storage drawer compartment of your refrigerator. Do keep vacuum sealed meats in their original package whenever possible or use airtight zipper bags to help keep lunchmeat fresh.
- Raw meats need special consideration. Most experts say that it’s best to store raw meat on top of a refrigerator-friendly plate that is covered with a paper towel. Store raw meat in the fridge and toward the bottom of the unit to avoid cross-contamination from possible dripping juices. Consider freezing raw meat that you do not plan to immediately use.
- Avoid leaving food uncovered in the fridge as this can lead to cross-contamination or a reduction of freshness.
- Leftovers should be assigned a dedicated area of the fridge to provide easy access to them by family members.
Happy organizing!
This article is purely informational and is for general purposes only.
