No matter how often we clean and tidy our homes, it seems as though the fridge is so often neglected. I know we all have an expired bottle of ketchup or an unopened jar of pickles that have been shunned to the back of the fridge. It is almost as if the collective motto is what happens in the fridge, stays in the fridge. As daunting as the task may seem, trust us when we tell you that gazing into a well-organized fridge is well worth the time. A decluttered refrigerator means less time spent searching for that one hidden ingredient, less food wasted and less strange odours when you open the door.
Once you get past the first step, the rest will be a breeze. The first step is removing everything from the fridge and throwing out anything expired. You will also want to give the shelves and drawers a good cleaning. Now that you’ve put in the elbow grease, items can go in their proper places. You will be done in no time! Follow these easy tips when organizing items back inside!
See also: The Top All-Natural Kitchen Cleaners To Buy
Fridge Door
Did you know the door is the warmest part of the fridge? Makes sense, but most of us have probably never considered this lesser-known fact. This being said, it is imperative that you do not store easily perishable items in the door, such as milk and eggs. Only condiments should go in this spot. Here they can be easily viewed and sorted through, so we don’t end up with three open bottles of mustard.
Top Shelf
The upper shelf of your fridge should be reserved for ready-to-eat foods. These include pre-packed lunches, cheese, yogurt and other items in sealed containers. Place an open box of baking soda here as well. This will effectively absorb odors from the fridge and should be replaced every three months.
Lower Shelves
You are never going to want to put raw meats high up in the fridge. there is always the chance that juices will drip down and contaminate other foods. That’s where the lower shelves come in handy! If you have drawers beneath these lower shelves it is best to place a tray or plate under the meat as well. The back of these lower shelves is typically the coldest part of the fridge. This makes it the best place to store your milk and eggs. Plus, keep the kid’s snacks at eye level for them so they don’t go making a mess in your newly cleaned refrigerator.
Fridge Drawers
Conveniently, most fridges come with adjustable humidity settings for your drawers to keep your fruits and vegetables as fresh as possible. It is generally best to keep items that rot easily, such as apples, avocados, and melons in one drawer set to a lower humidity setting. In a drawer set to a higher humidity setting should be foods that tend to wilt. These are items such as lettuce and spinach, fresh herbs and broccoli. Line these drawers with a clean dish towel and swap them out every couple of weeks. This will save your clean fridge if the produce is sticky, which will mean you have to deep clean less often.
See below for handy fridge organizing products to shop!
Stackable Refrigerator Bins
Glass Herb Keeper
Egg Tray
