There’s no doubt that the kitchen is the heart of the home. If you’re like us and spend a large chunk of your day cooking, it’s essential that your space be well thought-out and that your items be kept easily accessible. A well-organized refrigerator is just one aspect that can make dinner prep easier, save you time looking for ingredients and help reduce food waste all at the same time. If you’re unsure where to start, follow these six tips to help you organize your refrigerator and keep items neatly stowed away.
Deep Clean
Start by pulling out the drawers of your fridge and spraying the inside with an all-purpose disinfectant cleaner. After that, scrub the area with a clean sponge until all the debris is gone. Finally, wipe everything down with a microfiber towel and rinse the inside of the drawers before putting them back in place. Maintain an organized refrigerator by deep cleaning at least every three months. This gives you a chance to throw out expired food and keep it smelling fresh.
Style Your Shelves
When placing your items back in the fridge, think about how your fridge works best for you. Consider your family’s habits, as well as which foods you need the most access to, and then start there. It’s recommended that you store the items you use every day at eye level so that they’re easy for all members of your household to access.
Categorize
Now that your fridge is clean, it’s time to start thinking about how to categorize your items. Using transparent bins is a great way to keep your refrigerator organized. This allows you to see what’s inside and gives you the opportunity to stack your groceries which maximizes space. You can organize your bins by fruits, vegetables, milk products, deli meats, and leftovers, making them easily accessible.
Utilize the Space Properly
It’s easy for the doors of your fridge to get messy since these spaces are often smaller and more compact. Admit it, we’re all guilty of housing the most miscellaneous items there too. Since the temperature is inconsistent on the refrigerator doors, it’s important to note that you should refrain from storing certain food products there. Consider keeping your sauces, syrups, wines and beverages on the sides, and leaving room on your shelves for refrigerated items that are more likely to spoil.
Prep Your Groceries
Get into the habit of preparing your groceries when you get home from the store. By slicing and dicing produce before storing, you’ll cut down your cooking time in the future, and help keep your refrigerator organized. Bonus: this simple step makes it easy to grab snacks and go, and reduces the likelihood of food going bad in the fridge.
Adjust Accordingly
Don’t be discouraged if you need to adjust your new organizing routine as time passes. The only way to know if something is working for you is to test it out. Keep track of what works and what doesn’t, and make the necessary changes until you’ve found a routine that feels best.
Looking to try some new recipes? Try mastering chef sous chef’s Sunday Best Lasagna, or if you’re looking for something quicker, why not try the 20-Minute Carbonara recipe? Give it a go and share the final product with us on Instagram and Facebook by using #EmpireRecipeChallenge.
Images courtesy of HGTV (hero); HGTV (clean); HGTV (shelves); Natashas Kitchen (fridge doors); Good House Keeping (containers)’ Food 52 (adjust accordingly).