Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder

A fridge larder is a great way to store produce that's over its prime. It also allows you to run a smaller fridge and help you save money on your energy bills!

It's an ideal location to store items such as hard cheeses, breads and eggs. Fresh herbs are another option which benefit from low humidity.

Keep It In Order

A Second Fridge larder can help reduce food waste, and also make it easier to find items when cooking. However, like any space in your home, the refrigerator can get messy and chaotic. Here are some tips to keep your fridge organized and running smoothly.

Take Inventory

The most important aspect of organizing your fridge is taking inventory, says Holly Blakey, a professional organizer at Breathing Room. "Take everything out and look for the expiration dates. Clean all surfaces." Get rid of expired food items, toss or freeze leftovers and dispose of any foods that aren't going to be eaten before they go bad.

Blakey suggests putting the most frequently used items at the front of your fridge. Then, put those items that aren't often used in the back and back of your refrigerator.

Organize Your Freezer

If you have a chest-freezer, you can organize it using clear storage bins which will allow you to locate food items more easily. Label each bin clearly and categorize items that are similar together. Keep condiments in one bin, sodas in another, and cheese sticks in a third. You can also make use of a lazy Susan to store condiments and other items that are frequently used. This will prevent them from getting lost in the back.

In a side-by-side fridge place food items that require the coldest temperatures in the back, and warmer food items in the front. The lower shelf is ideal for second fridge milk, yogurt, cream and butter (it does not melt). The crisper drawers are ideal for spilled food items.

Drawer dividers are a cheap and easy way to make your refrigerator more efficient. They'll keep your vegetables and fruits from splattering around, and prevent them from rotting before you use them. Additionally, they'll help ensure that your drawers stay clean and tidy. To extend the time of tender herbs place them in water. Mason jars filled with an inch of liquid work great. You can also purchase an herb preserver to keep in your refrigerator.

Keep It Visible

Keep your fridge organized to make it easier to choose healthy meals and remain content throughout the day. Make sure that all of your containers for food are clear so you can see the contents. This will also show you how many days remain on the expiration dates, and prevent you from keeping food that is past its expiration date.

Begin by giving your refrigerator's larder a thorough clean. Scrub the shelves, drawers, and racks with warm water and dish detergent. Give your refrigerator a thorough clean to get rid of any crumbs or gross spills that could have been accumulating.

Once everything is dry and clean now is the time to replenish your refrigerator. Start by putting your deli meats and cheeses in the drawer. Then, move on to the produce drawer. This is where you should put away leafy greens because they quickly wilt. Keep it about three-fourths full for maximum freshness.

The pantry drawer in some refrigerators can be helpful for storage of party trays, large bags of frozen vegetables and other bulky food items. This drawer can be used to store condiments such as mustard and ketchup as well as nut-butters and other canned items. Milk should not be stored in this area as the temperature may fluctuate and cause it to spoil quickly.

Finally, the rear of your fridge should be a place for jarred food items such as salad dressings, salad dressings, and other condiments that can last longer. Use a riser to elevate jars, so they are easier to read. This will prevent you from closing and opening the lids multiple times.

Label each bin using markers or with stickers that can be easily read. This will help your family members quickly identify what each container is and will help you to find what you're looking for. The addition of bins with labels is also a great way to declutter your fridge and reduce the amount of waste that you create.

Keep it Cool

A good fridge larder keeps food at the right temperature to prevent spoilage and slowing the growth of bacteria. Larders can be built into existing cabinets or stand on their own. They are typically located on the north side of your home to limit sun exposure and can also be equipped with insulation or an air-conditioning system to keep heat from getting into the food storage area. They have walls that are thicker with fewer windows, and are usually situated on the north-facing side of your home to minimize the transfer of heat.

The larder should have a drawer for each type of food, such as meat and vegetables. Each drawer should be programmed to maintain the proper temperature. This will ensure that the burgers and chicken are cooked to perfection, but the salad greens will not be too damaged. You can set the drawer of your larder to a low-humidity setting for vegetables or fruits which release a lot of moisture, like tomatoes or cucumbers.

To preserve cheese, you can keep it in different drawers of the fridge. Wrapped in paper, greaseproof or clingfilm or greaseproof film to keep it fresher for longer. drinks, non-perishable condiments, such as ketchup, water and eggs can also be stored inside the outdoor fridge's door. Milk shouldn't be stored in the doors of the fridge however, as these shelves are warmer and more unstable than drawers in other drawers.

For a streamlined look, corralling small bottles of food and snacks will help make the contents more visible as well as helpful when family members are searching for food items while on the move. Labelling shelves and bins to show what should be eaten first may be beneficial, especially if family members aren't accustomed to reading labels!

A larder can also be the ideal place to store leftovers and various food-safe plastic and glass storage containers, which are ideal for smaller portions of food items. These containers are ideal to save time and money when shopping. And if you have a clear and tidy fridge, with an area specifically for storing these, it will be easier to stay on top of your food budget!

Keep it fresh

The best ways to organize your fridge reduce food waste and make your healthy food items last longer. A few smart strategies ensure that fresh food items are kept at the right temperature and help to see what you have in your fridge and where it is.

Most refrigerators have crisper drawers that are designed to alter airflow and boost humidity to extend the life of fruits and vegetables. It's important to use these drawers properly. If you mix greens and fruit, for instance the ethylene produced by the latter may cause the former to turn brown and spoil prematurely. It is also essential to separate different types of fruits and vegetables and place them in the proper drawers.

The shelves in the door are the warmest part in the fridge. They should be used for items that don't require extra cold or specific conditions of storage such as jars of salad dressings, jams, chutneys and drinks with a long shelf life (anything purchased in bulk and with the same expiration date). The top shelf can be used to store beverages such as milk and water, which can be stored compact upright freezer.

Refrigerator drawers can be difficult to keep sorted with things that are bouncing around and scattered However, there are easy tricks to help. First, invest in refrigerator drawer dividers that keep your food items separated and stop them from squishing against each one. The ability to organize by size is useful. Store produce of similar heights together. Don't place things that aren't the same height in the same drawer.

A thermometer is essential to have in your fridge. It's a cheap, easy-to-use tool that will ensure the fridge is operating at the right temperature to keep your food fresh and safe.

Don't forget to keep a supply of plastic grocery bags in your refrigerator for storing items that don't have their own container. The moisture in the bag keeps vegetables from turning brown. For herbs that typically will wilt over time you can keep them fresher for longer by washing them and second Fridge putting them in a glass of water. This is just as effective as a plastic sack in keeping moisture.