Did you know that Americans waste 31 to 40 percent of their food supply in a year? A study also showed that Americans spend $161.6 billion a year on food that goes to waste. One way you can combat food waste is to make sure you know what’s in your refrigerator.
Make sure you take the time to organize your refrigerator. You should find a place for everything. This way, there will be far fewer what-is-that-jar-of-mold-lurking-in-the-back moments. This article will tell you why you should organize your fridge. It will also provide you with easy and basic tips on how to organize a fridge.
Simple and Basic Tips on How To Organize Fridge
Giving your fridge a much-needed clean-up does not only help keep it neat. Organizing your fridge also helps in boosting its cooling efficiency. It reduces the consumption of power and aids in preventing cross-contamination as well. Take note that cross-contamination may lead to food poisoning.
Organizing your fridge is not a difficult thing to do. There is a more efficient way to arrange the contents of your refrigerator. It also makes it pleasing to the eyes. Think of color-coordinated crispers and neat stacks of yogurt. You can have a drool-worthy fridge by using the right accessories. Moreover, they can help you cut down on food waste and save your money each week.
Here are some easy and basic tips on how to organize fridge:
● Set The Right Temperature
Keep in mind that the temperature of your fridge should be between 32 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit. As for the freezer temperature, it should be at -4 degrees Fahrenheit. This will prevent food-borne diseases.
● Don’t Overfill Your Fridge
An empty fridge is bad. But an overfilled fridge is even worse because the airflow is being obstructed. As such, you need to declutter. Keep in mind that filling every inch of your fridge can lead to forgotten foods and blocked air vents. It also impedes airflow and reduces energy efficiency.
How about if your fridge is almost empty? You might want to consider stocking it with a few bottles of water. When they’re chilled, it helps the fridge maintain cool temperatures. A best practice for you to aim for is a fridge that is two-thirds full.
● Make Sure to Put Things in Practical Spots
It’s okay if you don’t know that some parts of your refrigerator are warmer and colder than others. But as for basics, the top shelf and door tend to be the warmest zone of the fridge. The middle and bottom shelves are cooler.
You should keep condiments in the door of your refrigerator. For dairy products, eggs and spreads. put them on the upper shelves. Put the meat and milk on the lowest shelf and fruits and vegetables in the crisper. By putting everything in its proper place, you can help your food last a little longer. It also helps you avoid spending more time at the grocery store.
● Make Sure To Remove Packaging
You should go ahead and remove the packaging around your fruits, eggs, and cups of yogurt, among others. After that, you can use clear matching containers. This will corral and organize your items by category. This could help your fridge look more uniform. It also ensures that you can see what’s available in your fridge. Moreover, if you have a surplus of condiments, you can use a small lazy Susan for everyday essentials.
● Adjust The Shelves in Your Fridge
Are you always trying to cram larger items into too-small spaces in your fridge? Do you have a lot of wasted space above small containers? You should determine the general heights of the items you always buy. Then, you can adjust the shelf heights.
● Create an “Eat Me First” Bin
Before you add your food to your fridge, you should gather items reaching their end date. Then, toss these items into a bin labeled “Eat Me First.” After that, place the bin front and center in the fridge.
● Make Sure To Label Your Shelves and Drawers
It might be tempting for you to shove items back into the fridge without thought, but keep in mind that this invites chaos. As such, it is helpful to state where items go. You can do that by labeling your shelves and drawers. You can buy attractive, erasable, removable, and waterproof labels.
● Don’t Pre-cut Your Fruits and Vegetables
Many people wash and cut fruits and vegetables before storing them in the fridge. According to them, this will encourage healthy snacking. But the thing is, chopped-up produce deteriorates faster. That’s because there is more exposed surface area. The best practice is to wash and cut the fruits and veggies when you’re ready to eat them.
● Make Sure to Separate Your Fruits and Vegetables
You should separate your fruits and vegetables. You see, most fruits produce a gas that can cause veggies to decompose faster. But if you wish to make your fridge a feast for the eyes, you can separate those goods with a divided drawer. A divided drawer can help make meal prep a breeze. It also encourages your kids to grab a healthy after-school snack.
● Make Sure to Protect Your Lower Shelf
You should stash meat and fish on the bottom shelf of your fridge. This way, if those packages leak, the juice won’t drip down onto everything else. You can also make cleanup easier by adding liners to your shelf and crispers. You might want to opt for three ribbed liners. This will help air circulate around your food and ward off mold and mildew.
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