Fridge Organization That Makes Your Heart Go Pitter Patter
Before we begin, can we first address what may seem odd to some of you? Who on earth decided to start calling the refrigerator the fridge? I didn’t realize the word refrigerator was so formal that we needed a colloquial expression for it. But — hey, casual works for me so here we go.
About that refrigerator or ‘fridge’ organization… having organized more kitchens than I’d like to admit, one space that’s often overlooked by clients as an area that needs to be organized is the refrigerator.
I think it’s because we use it so frequently that we get accustomed to it living in a less than ideal state. Not to mention, but once you close the door –– out of sight, out of mind.
For most of us, there’s a constant rotation of the refrigerator being overstuffed with dairy, fresh produce, meats, condiments + of course those beloved leftovers. And then there’s the polar opposite scenario where the fridge organization is totally lacking because welp, it’s empty + looks eerily similar to grocery store shelves before a winter storm.
In either case, maintaining a well-organized refrigerator should be a high priority because you use it every day. In which case, we want to be reinforcing good organizational habits for yourself + our family.
And luckily for you babe, I’m well equipped to share with you the steps to declutter, organize + keep it looking fabulous. This way, you’ll not only feel good when you open it to nourish your body but you’ll save time + money because you’ll know exactly what to use up before it goes bad or even what to buy more of.
STEPS TO A WELL ORGANIZED REFRIGERATOR
1| Clear it out (often):
If this is the first time you’re giving your fridge an organizing makeover (or if its been a while) then remove everything! Or if you’re on top of your fridge organization game, you can do this shelf-by-shelf. TIP: We recommend storing the perishables in a cooler so that stuff doesn’t go bad while you clean.
2| Toss expired items + anything you won't use again:
Yes, condiments + salad dressings can go bad so be sure to check the dates. While this sounds so basic, I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen clients clamor over a jar of cocktail sauce or something they admittedly will only once in a blue moon. You know that yummy new dish you saw on Pinterest but have no plans of ever making or using it again. Gurl, toss it out + don’t think twice because truthfully all it’s doing is taking up precious real estate in your icebox.
3| Clean it:
Wiping the drawers + shelves down before you organize ensures that food won't spoil as quickly. Not to mention a quick wipe down before you organize your fridge gives us a clean slate to work with.
4| Organize it (correctly):
This is a big step. And one that’s quite often overlooked, so don’t feel alone if you don’t know or even realize that there are actually correct places for certain foods to live in the fridge *gasp!*
MILK
For instance, Milk shouldn’t be stored on your refrigerator door because the door is most susceptible to temperature fluctuation (+ no one likes sour or spoiled milk). Which is why we recommend putting milk on the upper shelf where it will stay nice + cold.
FRUITS + VEGGIES
Drawers, on the other hand, are the perfect place for your fruits + veggies to live since this area of your refrigerator is specially designed with a bit of humidity control. Ideally, (and space permitting) you’ll want to keep your fruits + vegetables separate since different produce off gases differently which in the long run can cause food to spoil faster.
TIP: To prolong shelf life, store your ethylene-producing fruits like apples, pears, mangos, kiwi, etc separately from vegetables like broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, or avocados.
MEATS OR FISH
Typically, meats or fish are intended to be stored in a separate drawer (like the bottom drawer) for two reasons. First, it’s the coldest drawer of the refrigerator which ensures they won’t spoil. Second, this keeps them from contaminating other foods. If you don’t want to utilize a drawer for meat, then you can make room for a separate meet container on a shelf + utilize the drawer for extra produce or even cheese!
DOOR SHELVES
When it comes to organizing the doors of your refrigerator, there are two ways to go about storing condiments (group by like item: ketchup, mustard, mayo, etc or group by size). Honestly, there’s no right or wrong here but after doing both we find that that grouping condiments, salad dressings, etc functions a lot better by category when you’re unloading groceries from the store or your local farmers market. Don’t forget that with most refrigerators, you can adjust the height of the door shelves to maximize how much room you need in between the shelves.
INTERIOR SHELVES
Clear bins or food storage containers are all the rage in the world of fridge organization (+ rightfully so) because great for keeping things visible while at the same time avoiding any unnecessary spills or overflow into different zones.
In fact, at my house, we prefer all of our leftovers to be in clear glass containers so that we don’t forget about them + lets be honest... leftovers just look more enticing this way (yummy). TIP: Place leftovers on the top shelf of the fridge. This way they’re all front + center when you’re looking for a quick foodie fix.
KIDS
Because we believe that design + organizing are entirely about how you (+ your family) live + fridge organization is no an exception — you might consider creating a shelf that’s easily accessible for the little ones in your life. This way, they can easily grab some of their favorite snacks or condiments without needing your help.
5| Label:
Honestly, most people don’t do this step but if saving time + a little bit of money is important to you… then by golly, go for it. By writing the date on items, you’ll immediately know( with just a glance in your refrigerator) what’s been in there the longest? Should you toss it or use it up? Or what might you need to buy the next time you head to the store? TIP: You can use a sharpie for plastic bags, a dry eraser for marking things in your clear containers with dates or for those of you who know me well *wink*my magic blue, masking tape works wonders if you’re in a pinch.
Ok enough with the professional organizer gone rogue, here comes the interior designer in me.
Let’s say your goals are to have an insta-worthy fridge organization that looks like a Container Store catalog when you’re done. Using a label maker + clearly identifying each zone allows for everyone in the home (including guests) to know exactly where things go without needing to bug you every five seconds.
See fridge organization that looks pretty can also be functional as well. And that’s what I call a win-win boo!
HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR ORGANIZED REFRIGERATOR
The best way to maintain an organized refrigerator is to follow the steps above –– often. And remember, it’s a work in progress. If you feel like something isn’t working continue to tweak it until it feels right.
One of our favorite hacks to ensuring we each do our part in keeping our fridge organization on point is to calendar personal time to either clean it out, update our digital shopping list or look for foods that are about to expire + find a recipe so that we can use them up asap.
Not only does this system help to ensure we’re minimizing food waste but it also keeps us on a healthy rotation of recipes we like to eat.
Not to mention, when you’re unloading groceries from the store anything that you bought duplicates of be sure to stick behind the other so you use up what you had first.
And there you have it! In a nutshell, that’s all there is to fridge organization so don’t stop feeling stressed or overwhelmed by the state of your messy lack luster refrigerator.
If you’re like “OMG — I’ve tried this before + every time I lose motivation” then, consider hiring a professional organizer. There’s absolutely no reason to be ashamed, feel judged or deprioritize your needs (or those of your family) any longer. #ScoutsHonor
Sis, life is too short for all that. Let’s have a virtual coffee date. Then we’ll roll up our sleeves + get your refrigerator organized the right way (plus it will be mesmerizing to look at + maybe color-coordinated) *wink*
P.S If you haven’t already, don’t forget to organize your pantry while you’re at it.