Organise your fridge: our top tips
Now that September is upon us and we're saying goodbye to summer salads and hello to autumn soups, it's the perfect time to give our poor fridges a bit of attention.
Even though we probably use the fridge everyday, it remains one of those areas of the kitchen that's notoriously neglected when it comes to cleaning and organising. So here are plenty of fridge organisation ideas for you.
Go on a tossing spree
Before you can go to town on wiping down shelves and sanitising your fridge, take a good long look at every single item and decide which ones to throw out. Check condiments, dressings and cheeses – all of it. Even if unopened, you’ll want to bin anything that’s been sitting in there for more than its recommended shelf life. If anything is still in date, but you're just not eating it, consider donating it to your local food bank.
A game of ‘does this belong’?
Lots of people make the mistake of putting all their fresh produce in the fridge, but that's not always best. Garlic, for example, can go mouldy if stored in the fridge. It’s best kept in a cool and dry area inside a garlic saver.
Garlic saver, £2.95
Tomatoes are also best stored at room temperature, while keeping lemons in the fridge will help keep them from drying out. Take stock of what you have and refer to a list of which produce you should or shouldn’t refrigerate if you need to.
Set the order of business
Once you’ve figured out what doesn’t belong in the fridge, it’s much easier to start figuring out where items should be placed – based on the temperature they need and how often you need to take them out.
Top shelves are warmer so they should be for leftovers, drinks and any ready-to-eat food. The lower shelves are cooler and so should be reserved for raw meat, fish and poultry. You’ll also want to try separating your fruits and veggies in different containers. Some fruits emit high levels of a ripening agent called ethylene that can make your vegetables spoil faster.
Get creative with storage
Clear glass jars perfect for organising your fridge - they are super easy for storing soup, beans or cut-up veggies because you can see what’s inside right away. No labelling necessary!
For days when the kids are at home, it’s smart to portion out their snacks in snack boxes or mini pots so they can easily grab a bite to eat from the fridge throughout the day.
Prehistoric Land snack boxes (set of three), £5.95
If you’ve got extra wicker baskets lying around, use them as a stylish alternative to storing fruits and veggies in plastic bags. Try out a variety of sizes for different items like cheeses, snacks and jars.
Bonus tips & tricks
- Keep your leafy greens crisp for longer by wrapping them in a tea towel
- Compile food that’s about to expire in a ‘eat me first’ box or basket and put it somewhere accessible
- Don’t forget to replace your deodoriser – it’s recommended to switch it out after three months, but do it sooner if you feel like the fridge is smelling funkier than usual
- Use a mini Lazy Susan for easy access to items in the back of the fridge
Happy organising! We hope you found these fridge organisation ideas helpful. Shop our collection of food storage, kitchen linens and kitchen accessories for more ideas.
