Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder

A fridge larder is a great method to store produce that's past its best. You can also make use of a smaller refrigerator and save money on energy bills!

It's a great place to store items such as eggs, bread, and hard cheeses. Then there's fresh herbs that benefit from the low humidity.

Keep It In Order

A fridge larder helps reduce food waste and makes it easier to locate items while cooking. The refrigerator, like any other room in your home can get messy and unorganized. Here are some tips to keep your fridge tidy and running smoothly.

Take inventory

Holly Blakey, an organizer at Breathing room, says that taking inventory is the most crucial step in organizing your refrigerator. "Take everything out, check expiration dates and clean the surfaces." Get rid of expired food items and leftovers, or throw them away or freeze them and dispose of everything that isn't eatable before it spoils.

Blakey suggests placing the most frequently used items in the front of your fridge. Then, tuck away the items that aren't used in the back and the bottom of your fridge.

Organize Your Freezer

If you own a chest freezer you can arrange it with clear storage bins which will allow you to locate foods easier. Clearly label each bin and put similar items together. Store condiments in one bin and sodas in a different, and cheese sticks in another. You can also use a lazy Susan to store condiments and other items that are often used. This will prevent them from getting lost in the back.

In a refrigerator with a side-byside, store foods that require the coldest temperatures in the back, and warmer food items in the front. The lower shelf is ideal for cream, milk and butter (it will not melt) and yogurt, as well as other items that don't require consistent temperatures. The crisper drawers are best for spilled produce.

Drawer dividers make your refrigerator more efficient and are easy to install. They'll stop your fruits and veggies from splattering around. This will stop them from rotting. They'll also help keep your drawers clean and organized. Another tip for your refrigerator is to keep tender herbs in water to prolong their life. Mason jars that are filled with one inch of liquid work great. You can also buy an herb preserver to keep in your refrigerator.

Make sure it is visible

Keep your fridge well organized to help you select healthy meals and remain content throughout the day. Make sure that all of your containers for food are clear so that you can see the contents. This will let you know the remaining days on your expiration date, and ensure that you don't store food that's beyond its expiration date.

Start your fridge larder off with a thorough clean by scrubbing the shelves, drawers and frydge racks using warm water and dish soap. Give your fridge a good wipe down to get rid of any gross spills and crumbs that may have accumulated over time.

After everything is clean and dry, it's time to restock your refrigerator. Start with the cheese and deli drawer -- this is where you should keep your deli meats, cheeses leftovers, dairy items and other food items. Then, move to the produce drawer. This is where you should store the leafy greens as they can are prone to wilting. Keep it at least three quarters full to ensure maximum freshness.

The pantry drawers in certain refrigerators can be useful for storage of large bags of frozen vegetables, and other bulky food items. It is also a great space to store condiments such mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup, as well as nuts and other canned goods. Milk should not be stored here as the temperature can fluctuate and cause it to spoil quickly.

The back of your refrigerator should be used for salad dressings, condiments, and other jarred foods that last for longer. Consider using a riser in order to elevate jars, so they are easier to read. This will prevent you from closing and opening the lids several times.

As you stock each bin, make it a goal to label it with the help of a marker or stickers that are easy to read. This will make it easier for your family members to know what each container contains and to find the items you require. The addition of bins with labels can also be a great method to declutter your fridge and reduce the amount of plastic waste you generate.

Keep It Cool

A good fridge larder will keep food at the proper temperature to protect against spoiling and also slow down the growth of bacteria. Larders can be built into existing cabinets or stand on their own. They are usually placed on the north-facing side of your house to reduce exposure to sun, and may have extra insulation or a ventilation system to prevent heat from entering the food storage area. They have thicker walls, fewer windows and generally are situated on the north-facing side of your home to minimize the transfer of heat.

The larder should include an area for each kind of food, such as meat and vegetables. Each drawer should be programmed with the correct temperature. This ensures that chicken and burgers are cooked well, but that the salad greens won't become overly wilted. You can set the drawer of your larder to low-humidity for any fruit or vegetable which release a lot of moisture, like tomatoes or cucumbers.

Other drawers inside the fridge can contain items such as cheese, fresh, cream and Frydge hard -wrapped in paper or greaseproof or clingfilm to preserve it for longer. Drinks, non-perishable condiments like ketchup, water and eggs can also be stored in the fridge's door. The fridge door is not the ideal place to store milk as it tends to be more warm and unstable than other drawers.

To give your space a more sleek appearance, you can arrange small containers to make them easier to see. This is helpful for family members who are on the move and need food. Labeling bins or shelves to identify which food items should be eaten first is also helpful, especially if your family members don't know how to read labels!

A larder can also be a great storage space for leftovers, as well as various food-safe plastic and glass storage containers that are ideal for holding smaller portions of food items. These containers are great to save time and money when shopping. If you have a tidy and organized fridge, with an area designated for these items, it will make it easier to stay on top of your budget for groceries.

Keep It Fresh

The best tips for organizing your fridge help reduce food waste and make your healthy foods last longer. Certain smart strategies will help keep your fresh food items at the correct temperature and make it easier to see what's in your fridge.

Most refrigerators come with crisper drawers designed to change airflow and increase humidity to prolong the life of fruits and vegetables. But it's important to use them properly. If you mix greens and fruit, for Fridge freezers instance the ethylene released by the latter could cause the former to wilt and then spoil quickly. Separating different types of fruits and storing them in the proper drawers is essential.

The shelves in the door are the most cosy part of the fridge. They are best used for items that do not require extra cold or special storage conditions, such as jars of salad dressings jams, chutneys, jams and long-life drinks (anything bought in bulk and with the same expiration date). The top shelf can be used to store drinks like milk and water that can be stored in a upright position.

Refrigerator drawers can be difficult to keep sorted with things moving around and getting jumbled together However, there are simple tricks that can help. First, purchase refrigerator drawer dividers to keep your food items separated and stop them from colliding with each one. It is also helpful to organize by height. Keep items of similar heights on the same shelf, and don't store things that aren't of the same height adjacent to one another -- raw meat shouldn't go in the same drawer as cooked ham!

A thermometer is another must-have for your fridge larder. It's an inexpensive, easy-to-use tool that will ensure the fridge is at the optimal temperature to ensure that your food is in the best condition and is freshest.

Don't forget to have a bag of plastic grocery bags in your refrigerator for storing food items that don't come in its own container. The moisture trapped in the bag keeps veggies from rotting too quickly. And for herbs that would normally die within a few days, a simple trick to keeping them fresher longer is to wash them thoroughly and place them in the glass of water which is equally effective at retaining moisture as plastic bags.