Last Updated on October 19, 2024 by Corynn
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Have you ever opened your fridge and just felt overwhelmed by seeing everything cluttered inside your fridge? Are you ready to figure out how to keep your fridge organized and clean?
In this blog post, I’m going to be talking about some simple ways you can organize your fridge!
Why You Should Organize Your Fridge
An organized fridge can help you know what you are running low on and avoid buying an item twice (guilty of this!).
Another reason why you should organize your fridge is for food safety. After taking a food safety course, I look at my fridge in an entirely different way.
For example, it is a big no-no to have vegetables on the same shelves as meat (especially if it is raw). Another thing you shouldn’t do is put your raw meat on a shelf higher than your vegetables.
This will help limit any food poisoning and bacteria getting mixed into your fruits and vegetables.
Lastly, having a crowded fridge can make your fridge work overtime to keep everything cool. Plus we don’t want to spend extra money on a new fridge when all we need to do is follow these 11 fridge organization tips.
How Do You Organize a Cluttered Fridge?
Here are 10 fridge organization tips that can have you go from digging in your fridge to finding that item within 0.5 sections.
Tip #1: Declutter
This has to be the number 1 thing I suggest to everybody who has a cluttered fridge. Take this time to look through every container, check the expiry date, and everything!
You may find some moldy dishes, take-out containers, or an item you bought months ago that you thought was finished.
Going through your fridge will help you understand what gets eaten and what nobody touches.
P.S: If you find that not only your fridge needs decluttering but your entire home, I have a great blog post on how to start decluttering your home.
Tip #2: Adjust Your Shelves
Adjusting your shelves can help with your fridge organization better and this doesn’t have to be permanent.
You can adjust your shelves one way and if it doesn’t work you can always change it again.
PRO TIP: Adjust your shelves after cleaning them. I tend to adjust my shelves when I’m deep cleaning the fridge. Kill two birds with one stone am I right?
Tip #3: Give Each Food Group an Area
Another fridge organization tip is to organize your fridge by food groups. These are the groups I have in my fridge;
- Fruits & vegetables
- Meats & eggs
- Condiments
- Drinks
- Snacks
- Dairy
Then I place each food group in their section of the fridge. For example, I tend to place dairy products on the door, and vegetables and fruit go into the crisper drawers we have. Drinks go on the shelves in containers.
In addition, I placed the meat on the bottom of the fridge (due to food safety – which we will discuss earlier).
You can decide how you want your food groups to be organized in your fridge. Just remember food safety should be your top priority.
Tip #4: Purchase Containers
Another fridge organization tip that you have probably seen everywhere is; to purchase clear containers
I am so glad I bought when I first moved into my first apartment was a fridge organizer container. This helped sort all of my bottles, eggs, and other things I had in the fridge. It was so helpful knowing each item had its own home.
My set came with an egg container, and various sizes of clear containers so you can see what’s inside each container.
If you are looking for ways to make more space in your fridge without having things stacked on top of each other, I highly suggest getting these containers.
Since using these containers, you can limit the amount of packaging you have in your fridge.
Tip #5: Label Area In Your Fridge
Sometimes we enjoy knowing that each item has a home and it doesn’t change. Labeling areas in your fridge where items are located can be great for you to remember where they belong.
Also if you have ADHD this is great for simplifying what is inside your fridge. You can make your own or you can purchase these stickers on Etsy.
Tip #6: Add Shelf Liners
Placing shelf and drawer liners can keep your fridge cleaner longer. You can place the liners on all shelves or only the ones that you notice that make the most mess.
For example, when putting meat on the lower shelf, you can place a shelf liner in the fridge just in case any meat juice tends to drip inside the fridge.
This fridge organization tip is great for people who hardly have the time to do a deep fridge clean.
Lots of shelf liners allow you to take them out and wash them, or wipe them from inside the fridge!
Tip #7: Put Fruits And Vegetables Up Front
I can’t be the only one who buys fruits and vegetables, forgets about them, and then they get spoiled.
Here is a fridge organization hack for you, place your fruits and vegetables closer to the front!
Having your fruits and vegetables up close. This will help you to use the products you have bought and limit the chances of them getting spoiled.
I tried this trick and I can honestly say I use every single produce we have bought on our grocery trip.
You can place your produce in the crisper upfront, or wash and place them inside storage containers.
PRO TIP: Make sure you separate the fruits from the vegetables. Fruits can produce a form of gas that can spoil your vegetables faster.
Tip #8: Herb Container
Notice your herbs tend to spoil super fast in your fridge? Well, they aren’t stored properly. The containers the herbs come in can only last a certain time before they can’t close again.
So if you love to put fresh herbs inside your meals, I highly suggest getting a herb container.
A herb container will increase the lifespan of your herbs and you don’t have to deal with the pesky herb container it originally comes in.
Tip #9: Keep your Fridge Smelling Fresh
One thing I love is to keep my fridge smelling fresh no matter what. It’s not a fridge organization tip but it’s something that everybody should do.
The best way you can keep your fridge from smelling bad is by placing an open box of baking soda. Arm and Hammer sells a fridge filter that sit inside the door to help keep your fridge smelling fresh.
Another idea is placing a cotton ball or paper towel covered in vanilla extract on a plate inside the fridge. Then place it inside the fridge to deodorize the smell.
Once the cotton ball/paper towel is dry, you can take out the plate and your fridge will stop smelling funny.
Tip #10: Clean Out Your Fridge Periodically
To keep your fridge organized and clutter-free at all times come up with a routine to clean your fridge. This could be going through sauces and bottles every month to see if they are expired. as well as clearing out spoiled food and leftovers the day before garbage day.
I try to clean out my fridge of anything spoiled or hasn’t been used usually the day before garbage day. Because I won’t have the spoiled items sitting in the house for a long time.
Overall…
Following these tips will help you have a fridge that is inviting for you and any of your guests that come over. If you are looking to not only organize your fridge but your entire kitchen as well, I have a blog post with great kitchen organization ideas you can choose from!
