Your fridge is one of the most used part of your home but usually gets neglected the most. The food starts to pile up. You find rotten produce in the dark crevices. Condiments that have been expired for months. Getting the fridge organized is a huge proponent in becoming a healthier version of yourself! Keep reading for key tips for Fridge Organization to set yourself up for success.
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These tips and tricks have helped me keep my fridge organized and gets me looking forward to eating healthier. I knows these simple steps will help you immensely on your journey to a more organized lifestyle! Enjoy!
1. Remove Everything.
Start off by taking out all of your items from the fridge. You want to be able to see the space that you’re working with and remove any old products that have been hiding in the back of your fridge. It may seem like a mess but it gives you a visual of what products need to be organized.
2. Wipe Down Shelves.
The fridge is the most spill prone location so making sure to scrub down the shelves with a paper towel or microfiber cloth and multi-surface spray to get out any stains is key. You can even go so far as to remove the drawers and shelves and scrub them in the sink if they need a little extra attention.
3. Throw Away Expired Foods.
The most satisfying of the tips for Fridge Organization is getting rid of old foods. If you don’t regularly monitor your fridge and what comes in and out of it then you end up with a bunch of expired goods that go to waste. When you have an organized fridge then you’re able to identify when a product has been sitting there for too long. This helps you maintain the organization in the long run. Do a monthly check in to see what needs to be thrown out so nothing gets built up over time. Here’s a chart of how long most produce lasts, from the Taste of Home Blog Post.
4. Put Foods in Different Categories.
You need to categorize the items that you removed from the fridge by Produce, Fruits, Dairy, Condiments, etc. This helps make the process easier when you place them in the applicable containers.
5. Leave an Empty Section for Leftovers.
Leaving space for leftovers is important to take into account. You want to make sure that you have space for meal prepping and not just fill the fridge to the brim with containers. Here are some \ glass containers with a bamboo lid that I’ve linked:
6. Put Labels on Containers.
Another big organization key for your fridge is to label your bins when possible. It allows you to see what’s missing so your next grocery trip is smooth sailing. I’ve linked these Minimalist Fridge Labels that I’ve created that are available on Etsy. This is a quick hack to achieving that streamline look in your fridge. These are water resistant and have held up nicely in my fridge.
7. Put the Products in the Containers Neatly Stacked.
Figure out which fruits and vegetables fit best in which bins. Most fruits and veggies are best to be stored unwashed so they don’t spoil quickly so keep that in mind. If you have bottled drinks, eggs, yogurt, and snacks feel free to stack those in the organizers as well. It helps give the fridge an organized look when you have multiple products that look the same. A Lazy Susan is also a helpful option for condiments or bottled items.
These Containers and Organizers are the perfect option for any fridge:
If you’d prefer to store fruits and veggies in ziplock bags or produce bags these are great reusable options that won’t ruin the look of your fridge:
For a clean look and an extra step, feel free to get clear glass bottles and fill them with the chosen liquids:
8. Follow These Rules For How to Store Specific Products.
The following rules are important to take into account so you make the most of your produce and veggies and extend their shelf life (Inspired by Unlock Food’s Blog Post):
Vegetables:
- Leafy Greens: Rinse, Wrap in paper towel or tea towel, store in container/sealed bag, refrigerate.
- Asparagus: Wrap stalks in damp paper towel or place stalks in a mason jar of cold water, refrigerate.
- Squash/Root Veggies: Store in cool, dark, dry area outside fridge.
- Tomatoes: Store at room temperature away from sunlight, place in fridge once ripe.
- Carrots, broccoli, potatoes, cabbage, celery: store in plastic bag/container in the fridge drawer.
- Mushrooms: store in paper bag
Fruits:
- Berries and Grapes: place in the crisper of the fridge in the berry strainer or produce bags.
- Peaches, Apricots, Mangos, Bananas, Avocado: Leave on counter to ripen then place in fridge.
9. Color Coordinate.
Color coordinating your fridge is easier on the eyes and helps locate your produce, veggies, and snacks easier. The usual rule of thumb to follow is to organize by following the ROYGBV (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet) acronym. Go from left to right and place any items that go with that color scheme in the applicable locations.
10. Place Items Back in the Fridge by Sections.
The last of the tips for Fridge Organization is to place the containers and items back in the fridge by sectioning off certain shelves by category. You want to be able to quickly locate your items without having to move everything around. For example:
- Top Shelf: Condiments and Leftovers
- Middle Shelf: Fruits and Drinks
- Bottom Shelf: Produce and Snacks
BONUS TIPS:
- Make sure to always put the perishables that will expire sooner at the top of the container to be used first.
- Put herbs in a mason jar with water to last longer.
- Wash berries with a mix of 1:3 ratio Vinegar and Water to last longer.
- Squirt some lemon on top of a halved avocado to last longer.
- Store fruits and veggies in separate parts of the fridge so they don’t ripen too quick.
- Place fruit in paper bag with an apple or banana to ripen it faster.
- Use plastic bags with small openings to help keep fruit fresh longer by releasing moisture.
- Freeze fruit that you won’t eat right away. It will last up to a year.
If you liked these Tips for Fridge Organization, you may also like: 8 Simple Bathroom Organization Tips You Need To Try
