Organize a Kitchen - Part 5: The Refrigerator/Freezer
April 25, 2011
by Jodi Granok - Organizing Magic, LLC
This is the final blog in a 5-part series on organizing a kitchen. Click here to read Part 1, here to read Part 2, here to read Part 3, and here to read Part 4.
Get started by removing
ALL contents from the refrigerator. Cleaning
tip: This is the best time to wipe down and wash out the shelves and bins in
your refrigerator.
Group like food
items together, such as meats, cheeses, condiments, beverages, and so on. Check expiration dates and pitch all expired
or questionable food items. To prevent odors in the kitchen, make sure
you put out the trash when you are done organizing the refrigerator and
freezer.
Now that your
food items have been sorted, set up zones in your refrigerator where each type
of item is kept, to make it easier to find and retrieve the item you are
looking for. Here are a few
suggestions:
- Use the door
shelves of your refrigerator for condiments and spices, but NOT eggs. Despite
the fact that some refrigerators have egg-shaped storage slots on the door, eggs
keep longer if you leave them in their original carton and store them on an
interior shelf.
- Most
refrigerators have separate storage bins for fruits and vegetables, which is an
easy way to maintain produce organization.
To keep produce fresher longer, use food storage products that are made
for storing produce, such as Green Bags, Ziploc Produce Bags, or Rubbermaid
Produce Savers. If your refrigerator has
an additional bin, use it to store luncheon meats and cheeses.
- Designate a
specific shelf or area in your refrigerator for leftovers, and use clear
plastic square shaped containers. I
prefer Rubbermaid Premier containers.
Using a clear, square-shaped food storage container maximizes your
storage space and allows you to stack items and still see the contents
easily. Use masking tape to label containers with their contents as well
as the date they were first stored.
- Designate another
space in your refrigerator for quick "grab and go" snacks, such as
string cheese, yogurt cups, single-serve cottage cheese or pudding containers,
and hard boiled eggs. Remember to leave some room in your refrigerator
for air to circulate, or else food spoils faster.
Maximize counter top and pantry space by storing cereal boxes, lunch totes, and
plastic bags on top of the refrigerator. You can make your own plastic
bag holder by using an empty milk jug, or you can purchase a decorative plastic
bag holder. When it comes to plastic bags, keep only what you really use in the home, knowing you will
always be adding more each time you
shop. Determine a reasonable
number for your household, and recycle the rest at your local grocery store.
For freezer
items, yes, you guessed it, start by removing ALL contents. Just make
sure to make this a quick sorting
process! If you have had an item for
more than a year, if you can't identify
the item, or if the item has a thick layer of frost on it, pitch
it. Starting now, make sure that all leftovers placed in the freezer are
labeled with both the contents and the date it was stored. Make sure you
are rotating items so that you are always using the oldest items first.
To keep items
fresh in your freezer as well as your refrigerator, I recommend Arm and Hammer
Fridge and Freezer baking soda boxes. Be
sure to write the date on the top of the box when you first use it, and replace
the box after 90 days as directed.
Many of my
clients have a lot of clutter on the outside of their refrigerator. In my opinion, the best item to keep attached
to the refrigerator is a combination grocery list and coupon container. If you are not able to find one, use a
magnetic notepad for your grocery list, and when you have a coupon for an item
on your list, write a “c” with a circle around it next to that item. Keep your coupons nearby, preferably in the
kitchen near your grocery list.
Want to learn more now? Click here to purchase and download my audio recording, "Reclaim Your Kitchen", now available on iTunes and Amazon!
© Organizing Magic, LLC - 2011. All Rights Reserved.
