The fridge is a great way to keep food fresh and organized. All those spaces for storing different types of food – it’s a beautiful thing! However, it can also be a nightmare if you don’t know how to utilize every inch of space in your fridge. Here are some tips on how to make the most of your refrigerator:
Put milk at the back
This will prevent light from hitting it while keeping its colder temperature constant until you’re ready to use it. The same advice goes for other dairy products like yogurt, cheese, or eggs that have been opened – put them in the back so they don’t get moved around too much while opening and closing the door.
Keep your fruits and veggies accessible
Fruits and vegetables are important parts of a balanced diet. They can be easily forgotten about if they’re tucked away in the back of your fridge, where you won’t see them until they’ve gone bad. Use clear containers for easy viewing or put them on shelves specially designated to hold produce. This will make it easier to keep track of what needs eating soon – don’t let anything go to waste!
Protect meat with paper towels
Don’t just toss that package of chicken into the fridge right after bringing it home! The cold temperature in the fridge will stop bacteria growth, but only temporarily. To prevent bacteria from multiplying too quickly, blot all pieces of meat dry with paper towels before putting them in.
Store yogurt upright
Most people can’t resist the tasty goodness that is a serving of yogurt, but there’s a trick to keep it from going bad too quickly. To prevent separation and lengthen its shelf life, be sure to store it in an upright position after opening.
Make sure bread gets enough air flow
Bread has a shorter lifespan than other foods like veggies and eggs because it doesn’t contain preservatives or chemicals that inhibit bacterial growth. Keep it fresh by wrapping it in paper towels before putting it away to ensure that any moisture stays on the paper towel instead of the bread.
Keep eggs in their own spot
In order to prevent messes, cracking, and bacterial growth, always keep your eggs in their own designated spot in the fridge instead of leaving them out on a counter. If you’re going to be cooking or baking with them soon, that’s fine – just make sure they go back into the fridge within two hours of taking them out! Save yourself some trouble by not leaving anything out too long.
Keep fruit on top
Fruits like apples give off ethylene gas that can cause veggies and other fruits below it to perish faster than intended. Store fruit where it doesn’t touch anything else whenever possible – this will prevent whatever is below it from going bad even more quickly.
Don’t overload your freezer
This is a no-brainer: clogging up your freezer with food won’t make it run better, but instead will cause the temperature to drop and prevent too much frost buildup. It’s best to keep plenty of space so that air can circulate properly and keep foods evenly chilled.
Use egg trays
Egg shells are porous and absorb smells easily; using egg trays makes storing eggs fresh and free of odours that may seep into your fridge. They’re also more sanitary than just setting eggs on the shelf or storing them in a carton – bacteria can easily seep onto porous surfaces, so if you’re going to use the latter of these options, be sure to clean it at least once a week!
Label everything
And we don’t mean “fridge” and “freezer.” Use those sharpie pens (or label makers!) to label all leftovers as such and keep track of what needs eating first. This makes for faster food prep and ensures that no one’s wasting time digging through cups full of mystery ingredients. For added precaution, mark expiration dates with permanent marker; this’ll make things foolproof! Make life easier by keeping a list of all fridge contents on a whiteboard or chalkboard.
Utilize that back space
Many fridges have a little area behind the main shelves that is often overlooked. Try using a few wire racks or a lazy Susan to use this otherwise wasted space for storage – you could place canned goods there, salad dressings, spices and oils – just about anything can fit! If you don’t have enough room for both shelves, try putting taller items on the bottom shelf instead of cramming it all into one spot.
Clear up freezer space
Sort through the freezer and get rid of anything that’s expired or hasn’t been eaten yet. When you put your food back, do so in an organized manner so that next time it’ll be easier to find what you’re looking for!
The most important thing to remember is that it’s not about the size of your fridge. It’s how you use its space efficiently and effectively, so there are no wasted spaces or food items. If these tips seem simple enough for you, start planning out what needs to be taken care of in order to maximize efficiency before starting with anything else! You can even look online to get inspired. If you notice any problems with your refrigerator, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at 1 877-650-0775!