8 Game-Changing Hacks for Organizing Your Refrigerator

What does the inside of your refrigerator look like?

If you can’t even describe it yourself, then it’s probably time to start organizing!  

An aesthetically pleasing home interior isn’t enough; organizing your fridge should also count for several practical reasons, too! For one, it makes your life easier in saving your time and money. There are more efficient ways to arrange the items in your fridge and make it visually appealing, as well.

Photo Courtesy: The Architecture Designs | HGTV

Enough chit-chat. Let’s get organizing!

If you’re ready to flip your fridge and have your #FridgeGoals, keep reading for the following organizing ideas and hacks to change the way you use your fridge!

1. Get to know your fridge.

Here are the basics: the center shelf tends to be the coldest section of the fridge, so it’s the best section to store your most perishable items. The top shelves and doors are usually a little warmer, so save that zone for the least perishable ones.

Putting everything in the proper zone will help your food last a little longer and will also help you avoid spending more at the grocery.

2. Remove the packaging and invest in clear bins.

If you want to have an aesthetically pleasing fridge, plastic bags and cardboard boxes may not be the best to see inside. Go ahead and remove the packaging around your items, such as boxes from your biscuits, candies, and yogurt, and invest in clear, matching and stackable bins to organize them. 

It is also so easy to forget about the items hiding at the back. So it’s important to use clear bins that are the depth of your fridge for easy organizing and tracking. Transparent glass and plastic containers also let you instantly find what you need since it’s see-through while looking more streamlined.

This will make your fridge more uniform and pleasant for the eyes. For your everyday essentials, like ketchup and other condiments, opt for a lazy Susan —it works like magic!

Photo Courtesy: Pinterest

3. Label your bins.

Once you are able to stack your items with your clear storage bins, start labeling everything with pre-written stickers. This will help you keep track of what’s in your refrigerator and will also help your loved ones easily find what they’re looking for.

Also, be sure to include dates on your labels, especially for left-over food, so you’ll take the guesswork out of it. For easy viewing of your labels, arrange taller containers at the back and shorter ones in the front fridge.

4. Keep regularly used items where they’re easily accessible.

Keep what needs to be used first closer to the front of your fridge; these are probably the most perishable items or items that are bought earlier. Another thing that you must consider when organizing your fridge is to organize based on what you will actually cook. You may place other raw items at the bottom so they won’t cause any leak or contamination to other items that are not yet scheduled for cooking; while place items at a higher level if they can be consumed without cooking them. Stash items that are used only every so often together toward the back of the fridge. 

Photo Courtesy: Addison’s Wonderland

RELATED: 10 space-saving hacks for small kitchens

5. Separate your fruits and veggies.

You may be asking why fruits should be separated from vegetables: fruits produce gas as they ripen, speeding up decomposition for veggies. 

So, rather than tossing all your fruits and veggies together, level your organization skills with divider drawers or separate bins. This will also give a longer life for your fruits and veggies. 

6. Use shelf liners.

To protect your shelves from spills, the shelf liner’s got your (fridge’s) back. By using those, it can help combat bacteria and odors. Fridge mats are also useful for easy fridge cleanup; just remove and wash the mats in the sink. 

7. Keep track of items that may spoil soon.

Dedicate a bin or container for leftovers or items that you expect to spoil soon. Label them with the name and possible expiration date. Also, don’t forget to check this area before you start cooking so you’ll be reminded of items that you have to consume.

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8. Do a weekly clean-out.

To maintain a clean and clutter-free fridge, regularly clean it out! Make a habit of a weekly clean-out session before your grocery run. This way, you can check old food that needs to be thrown away and empty containers that need to be replenished.

Remember that all of those organizing hacks are for nothing without a regular clean-out!

So, what are you waiting for? Jump right in and give your fridge a good clean, then start organizing!

CITATIONS:

• Friedman, K. (2021, April 23). How to Successfully Organize Your Refrigerator and Keep It Neat All Year. HGTV. https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/clean-and-organize/how-to-organize-the-refrigerator
• Young, E. (2020, December 4). 9 Ways You’re Not Organizing Your Fridge—Yet. Taste of Home. https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/refrigerator-organizing-ideas/