7 Helpful Tips to Keep Your Fridge and Freezer Organized
Have you ever opened your fridge or freezer and felt overwhelmed by the cluttered mess inside? Do you find it difficult to locate your favorite snacks and meals, or do you feel frustrated by food waste due to expired items hiding in the back? If so, you’re not alone!
Many of us struggle with keeping our refrigerators and freezers organized. However, fear not! Here are some clever and practical fridge and freezer organization ideas that will help you maintain a neat and tidy space while also maximizing the shelf life of your food.
1. Start with organizing your condiments
To maintain a neat and organized fridge, it’s helpful to group condiments of the same type together. For instance, keep all the salad dressings in one area, all hot sauces in another area, and group mustard and ketchup bottles together in a designated bin. This practice will make it easy to find what you need and prevent smaller bottles from being misplaced at the back of the fridge. Keeping them in the door allows for easy access and frees up valuable shelf space.
2. Group like items together
This not only makes it easier to find what you need, but it also helps to reduce food waste by keeping items visible and accessible. Using baskets, clear containers, or pull-out drawers, categorize items such as fruits and vegetables, meats, cheeses, and snacks. Don’t forget to label the containers to make it easy to identify what’s inside. Keeping like items together also helps to create a more uniform and visually appealing fridge and freezer. With everything neatly organized, meal planning and prepping becomes a breeze.
3. Keep snacks front and center
Keeping snacks front and center is an important aspect of fridge and freezer organization. Not only does it ensure that healthy options are visible and easily accessible, but it also helps to prevent food waste by keeping items from getting lost or forgotten in the back.
4. Store leftovers on the middle shelf
This way, they are easily accessible and won’t get lost among other items in the fridge. Using Tupperware containers to store leftovers is a great way to keep them fresh and organized. Additionally, consider grouping similar foods together on the same shelf – for example, all the leftover vegetables in one container, and all the leftover proteins in another. It’s also a good idea to label the containers with the date they were prepared, so you can keep track of how long they’ve been in the fridge. By keeping your leftovers organized, you can ensure that nothing goes to waste and always have a quick meal option on hand.
5. Adjust shelves for optimal organization
By arranging shelves according to your needs, you can store more items while reducing food waste. The upper shelves are perfect for items that you frequently use or like to keep in sight. Alternatively, some individuals prefer to store their beverages or condiments on these shelves for easy access. The middle shelves work well for leftovers, meal-prepped items, and other items that you will be eating soon. Finally, the lower shelves are ideal for items that are heavy or have longer shelf-lives, such as milk or produce. With proper shelf adjustment, you can avoid overcrowding and keep your fridge organized for a more enjoyable and hassle-free experience.
6. Stack to save space
To maximize the limited space in a fridge or freezer, stacking is the way to go. Stackable bins or containers can keep everything organized and easy to find. Choose ones of uniform size and shape so that they fit nicely in the fridge and freezer. Additionally, containers with handles make it easy to grab items and take them to a prep area. Overall, using stackable bins and containers, and being intentional with placement, can make all the difference in creating a tidy and efficient fridge and freezer.
7. Containerize your freezer
To optimize your freezer storage and keep things organized, containerizing your freezer is the way to go. By using uniform size containers that stack or sit close together, you can create more space and make it easier to find what you need. Make sure to start with a clean slate by taking inventory and discarding any out-of-date items or ones that you won’t use.
