How to Organize Refrigerator Shelves for Ultimate Functionality
When you come home from the supermarket with an armful of groceries, do you take the time to organize everything perfectly or just shove everything in the fridge where it fits?
If you’re like most people, your refrigerator could use an organizational overhaul, not only to help you find items easier, but also to extend the longevity of your perishable foods. In this article, the kitchen experts at Central Plumbing Specialties provide tips for how to organize refrigerator shelves, where to keep foods inside, and how to organize freezer space for ultimate functionality as well.
What to Store in Fridge?
Of course, not every food item needs to be stored in the fridge, but many others will spoil if they aren’t kept below a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure that meats are stored in the fridge in separate bags on the lowest shelf to prevent dripping and ensure maximum coldness. Keep eggs in the carton to help them last longer, and place perishable fruits and vegetables in the crisper bins. Lettuce, mushrooms, and berries are a few examples of produce that should be refrigerated. Keep dairy products in the back of the refrigerator where they can stay colder, and consider storing grains and flour in airtight containers in the fridge to help them last longer than in the pantry.
Fridge Shelves – What Goes Where?
Let’s start with the fridge door because this part of the fridge often gets the warmest. Therefore, this is a good place for juices, jams, and condiments. The crisper drawers are best for salads, fruit, fresh herbs and vegetables. On the bottom shelf, place your raw meats and fish. Middle shelves are ideal for eggs, cheese, and dairy products of all kinds because the temperature is most consistent here so you’ll reduce the risk of spoilage. Finally, save your upper shelf for leftovers, deli meats, and any pre-made items so they’re easy to reach and able to be consumed sooner than other refrigerated items.
How to Organize a Small Refrigerator
If you have a tiny kitchen, you may now be wondering how to organize a small refrigerator with all the foods you love to eat and cook. First, adjust your shelves so that they best accommodate the sizes of items that you most commonly buy. If your small refrigerator doesn’t have interior bins, you can pick up some simple bins at a discount store to keep items separated and more organized. Regardless of what size fridge you have, it may help to label your bins so that you know exactly what goes where without having to think about it. And don’t forget to clean out your fridge often and throw out old condiments that you never use for safety and to save space.
How to Organize Freezer Space
Now that your fridge is looking more organized, let’s take a quick look at how to organize freezer space. Labeling is even more important in the freezer because you may save items here for longer periods of time and forget what’s inside. Consider portioning out freezable foods before shoving them inside so that you can thaw out just what you need later on. Make freezer bags as flat as possible to save space, and avoid using oversized containers because this can lead to unwanted freezer burn. Organize your freezer so that ice cream and other foods that run the risk of melting are at the back of the freezer where its coldest. Save the freezer door space for less risky items like frozen fruits, nuts, and bottles of alcohol.