Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder

A fridge larder is an excellent way to store produce that's past its best. You can also make use of smaller refrigerators to reduce your energy costs!

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

Keep It Organized

A fridge larder helps reduce food waste and makes it easier to find ingredients when cooking. However, as with any space in your home the refrigerator can become messy and chaotic. Here are a few suggestions to keep your fridge tidy and functioning smoothly.

Take Inventory

Holly Blakey, an organizer at Breathing room, says that taking inventory is the most important step to organize your refrigerator. "Take everything out and look for the expiration dates. Clean all surfaces." Throw away expired food, throw or freeze leftovers and dispose of anything that won't be eaten before it gets rotten.

When you restock your fridge, make sure the items you use most frequently used are in the front and center, Blakey advises. Then, put away the items that aren't used in the back and the bottom of your fridge.

Organize Your Freezer

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

In a refrigerator with a side-byside, store foods that require the coldest temperatures in the back and warmer items towards the front. The lower shelf is great for milk, yogurt cream, butter and cream (it will not melt). And the crisper drawers are best to store spillage from produce.

Drawer dividers make your fridge more efficient and are easy to put in. They'll stop your vegetables and fruits from splattering around. They will also stop them from spoiling. They'll also help keep your drawers clean and organized. Another easy hack for the fridge is storing tender herbs in water to extend their lifespan. (Mason Jars that hold an inch of water work great.) You can also buy an herb preserver to keep in your refrigerator.

Make sure it is visible

A well-organized fridge will help you reach for healthy foods that keep you full and content throughout the day. Make sure all your containers for food are clear so you can easily see the contents. This will let you know how many days remain on the expiration dates, and also prevent you from conserving food that has expired.

Begin your fridge's larder off with a thorough clean by scrubbering the shelves, drawers and racks with warm water and dish soap. Give your refrigerator a good scrub to get rid of any food debris and spills that could have built up.

Once everything is clean and dry, it's time to restock your refrigerator. Start with the cheese and deli drawer -- this is where you should store your deli meats, cheeses, leftovers and dairy items. Then, move on to the produce drawer. This is where you should keep leafy greens because they quickly wilt. Make sure it is at least three-quarters full to ensure maximum freshness.

The pantry drawers in certain refrigerators can be helpful for storage of large bags of frozen vegetables, and other bulky food items. You can also use this space to store condiments such mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup, as well as nut butters and other canned items. Milk should not be stored here since the temperature may fluctuate and result in it spoiling quickly.

The back of your refrigerator should be used for condiments, salad dressings and other jarred food items that will last for longer. Use a riser for containers to make them easier to read. This will prevent you from having to open and close the lid a few times, which will prolong the shelf life of your condiments.

When you fill each bin, make a effort to label it using the help of a marker or stickers that are easy to read. This will make it easier for your family to understand what each container contains and to find the items you need. The addition of bins with labels is a great way to declutter your fridge and reduce the amount of plastic waste you produce.

Keep Cool

A good fridge larder will keep food items at the correct temperature to prevent spoilage and also slow down the growth of bacterial. Larders can be built into existing cabinetry or stand on their own. They are typically located on the northern side of the house to reduce sunlight exposure. They could also be equipped with additional insulation or ventilation to prevent heat from entering the food storage area. They have walls that are thicker, fewer windows and are generally situated on the north-facing side of your house to limit the transfer of heat.

A larder should include an area for meat storage and one for vegetables, each with a specific setting that can be programmed to the proper temperature. This will ensure that the chicken and burgers are cooked to perfection, but the salad greens will not be too damaged. Larder drawers can also be set to a low humidity setting for vegetables and fruits that expel a lot of moisture, like tomatoes or cucumbers.

Other drawers in the refrigerator can be used to store items such as cheese -- fresh, cream and hard -wrapped in paper or greaseproof or clingfilm to keep it for longer. Drinks, non-perishable condiments like eggs, ketchup and water can also be kept in the fridge door. The refrigerator door isn't the best location to store milk since it tends to be warmer and less stable than other drawers.

For a sleek look, corralling small bottles of food and snacks can make them more visible and helpful when family members are looking for something to eat on the go. Labeling bins or shelves to show which food items should be consumed first is a good idea, particularly in the event that your family members do not know how to read labels!

A larder can also be a great place to store leftovers and various food-safe plastic and glass containers for storage, which are ideal for holding smaller portions of food items. These containers are great for saving time and money while shopping. If you have a tidy, organized fridge with an area designated for these items It will make it easier to stay on top of your grocery budget.

Keep It Fresh

The best fridge organization tips help reduce food waste and make your healthy foods last longer. A few clever strategies will keep your fresh food at the right temperature and allow you to know what you have in your fridge and where it is.

Most refrigerators come with crisper drawers that are designed to alter airflow and increase humidity to extend the life of fruits and vegetables. However, it's crucial to use them properly. Mixing fruit and greens could cause the former, like the greens, to wilt or spoil too quickly because of the ethylene that is produced. Separating the different types of produce and storing them in the appropriate drawers is also crucial.

Door shelves are often the warmest part of the fridge and should be reserved for items that don't require a colder temperature or special storage conditions such as jars of jam, chutneys salad dressings, long-life juices (anything bought in bulk with the same use-by date). The top shelf is great for beverages that can be stored upright without leaking, including water and milk.

Refrigerator drawers can be difficult to keep sorted with things that are bouncing around and scattered However, there are simple tricks that can help. Invest in a set refrigerator drawer separators. This will keep your produce separated and stop them from squishing together. Organizing by size is also useful. Store produce of similar heights together. Don't put items that aren't of the same height in the same drawer.

A thermometer is a important item to have for your fridge's larder. It's a low-cost, easy to use tool that will ensure your fridge is operating at the ideal temperature to ensure your food is fresh and safe.

Don't forget to keep a stash of plastic grocery bags in your fridge for storing produce that doesn't have its own container. The moisture contained inside the bag helps keep vegetables from rotting too fast. For herbs that typically will wilt over time they can be kept fresher for longer by washing them and placing them in a glass of water. This is as effective as a plastic sack in conserving moisture.