Did you know that by proper organizing the contents of your refrigerator, you can save both time and money? By holding the door open and staring into the cold abyss, you can cause more loss of cold air. As a result, the refrigerator will consume more energy and have to run longer to keep it cool. Keep your fridge organized, though, and you’ll be able to reach in and grab what you need instantly. Not only that, but you will be well on your way to the start of an organized kitchen. Here are some tips to help you out:
Meal Planning
Create a specialized place on the refrigerator for copies of your meal plans. You can simply hang it using a magnet. This will help you to organize the contents of your refrigerator better by reminding you to use up leftovers and also by ensuring you have everything you need on hand when it’s time to cook.
Invest in Clear Storage Containers with Lids
It is easier to find the food you are looking for if you can see inside the plastic containers. You don’t have to rummage inside the fridge. You don’t have to spend a fortune, just purchase some inexpensive plastic containers and use them to store leftover foods.
If your leftovers are often thrown away because you forget to eat them, you might want to even take it a step further and label the leftovers with the date you cooked it and put it in the refrigerator. Also, when putting leftovers away, be sure to rotate the contents of your fridge so older food is in the front, while today’s leftovers are in the back. This will help keep spoilage to a minimum.
Place Meat and Poultry in Bowls
Be sure and clean all meat first before placing it in the fridge. Some might contain bacteria that can spread inside the fridge. Get rid of excess blood. You should already cut the meat into the portions that you can use during the week and place in a bowl with a covered lid.
Organize Food by Day of the week
Place the food that you are going to need later that week at the back of the fridge and organize the items you need earlier that week in the areas where you can easily get them.
Place Dairy Items Together
Avoid storing dairy products where you cannot easily find them. These perish easily. It would be a shame to purchase cottage cheese, and then forget that you have it stored in your fridge. Keep cheeses, yogurt, sandwich spreads and milk close to the door of the machine so you can easily see them.
Clean Your Fridge Regularly
Every couple of weeks, go through the fridge and clean it out, throwing out leftovers that were not eaten and wiping down shelves that have had food spilled on them. Wipe off bottle lids that have food dripped on the sides and check the temperature settings frequently.
Stay organized and on your way to a neat kitchen by keeping your refrigerator clean and organized!