Having an organized refrigerator saves you time and money because you can easily see what you have. That helps with meal prep by avoiding buying duplicate items and makes creating a shopping list easier.
Don’t Overfill
First, take everything out. Throw away all that has expired.
Avoid filling your fridge too full that can lead to forgotten foods, blocked air vents, impeded air flow, and reduced energy efficiency.
Clean
An organized refrigerator is neat, tidy and clean! Thoroughly clean the shelves, drawers and walls with a solution of distilled vinegar and water.
To keep food smells at bay, keep a deodorizer in the fridge.
Shelf Liners
Line the shelves and drawers to help keep shelves and drawers clean and fruits and vegetables fresh longer.
Make a Plan For An Organized Refrigerator
Draw a picture of the inside of your refrigerator and divide it by category of the type of food you use most frequently. Some examples of categories include: dairy, meats, vegetables, condiments, sauces, drinks, snacks, leftovers.
Put Items Where They Belong
Keep similar items together. Organize with a focus on safety. Meats should be at the bottom to avoid any accidental drips causing cross-contamination. Store leftovers, drinks, yogurt, cheese, and deli meats above that. The refrigerator door is great for milk, eggs and condiments.
Drawers
A refrigerator usually has at least one drawer designed at a specific humidity so the perfect place for fruits and vegetables.
You might designate other drawers for things like lunch meat, hotdogs, shredded cheeses or drinks.
Within Arm’s Reach
Keep snacks and drinks low enough for little ones to easily reach.
Maximize Vertical Space
An organized refrigerator utilizes all available space. Use a cake stand for the top shelf to better utilize vertical space. You can place small items on top of and under the stand.
Research Products to Keep Items Fresh
Create Labels
Label the different zones for each category. This makes it easy for the entire family to know where things go when they are putting items in the fridge!
Clear Containers Are Key
Use clear containers and lazy susans to help keep items in their proper zone and also make it easy to see all inventory. Begin replacing the items according to what you have mapped out, making a list as you go.
Make A List and Check It Twice!
Post the list on the front of the refrigerator and mark items off as you use them. When you make your grocery list and prepare for meals, you will know exactly what you have! As you add new things, update the list. To attain an organized refrigerator, a list is a must!
The Smart Choice
We have many digital options today to help keep us organized. If you’re in the market for a new refrigerator, check out a smart refrigerator. It is connected to the cloud and, depending on the features built into the fridge, it lets you do such things as use your smartphone to see what’s inside; send and receive notes and calendar entries that will appear on the fridge’s screen; and even get alerts if the refrigerator’s door is left open.
Imagine yourself at the grocery store. You’ve forgotten your list. You can ask your refrigerator right from the store if you are out of eggs and milk!
Some models allow you to sync your family’s calendar and give you reminders.
Trial and Error
Be creative and open to trying a few different ways until you find just the right configuration for your family!
For more organizing inspiration, check out the 97 Best Organization Ideas.