Organize Your Fridge Before the Feast: A Step-by-Step Guide

 Pre-Holiday Organization Series - Part 1 of 3

You know that big rectangular box in the kitchen, whose optimal body temp is a cool 37 degrees Fahrenheit?

The one who keeps our seltzers, yogurt, and lettuce staying chilled, unspoiled, and crisp? The magnet board for cherished child drawings and selfies with besties.

You got it, folks. It's the refrigerator. Or rather, "The Fridge". It's where we keep the healthy snacks for kid's lunches, nightly dinner ingredients, and midnight snacks. The guilty pleasures and the motivational sustenance alike. It's also the place where things get lost, hidden in dark corners on the bottom shelf, or trapped behind too many bottles of salad dressing.

The Fridge is an important appliance in our every day lives. It's also one of the areas we see the most temporary change happening with regards to getting ready for the holidays. Cranberries, Turkey, Brussels Sprouts, Ham, several different pies, and a nice 1/2 gallon of heavy whip to make homemade whipped cream to plop on top of those delicious pies.

Throughout the year we bring things in and place them in an open space in the fridge with little to no thought as to the organization of it. We get frustrated when things go bad because we forgot about them. Why did we forget about them? Likely because they're tucked out of view behind several other items they don't match with. So where are these temporary holiday items going to fit amidst the existing chaos?

Cleaning and organizing the fridge is an endeavor, no doubt, and the results are so satisfying to see and experience. If you have an extra set of hands in the house, this could be a fun project together. If you have a kid that needs to earn money to contribute to Taylor Swift tickets or buy a birthday gift for their pal, this can be a great task for them to earn that dough and learn some organizational skills at the same time. Plus, we all know that when we can take ownership of something, we tend to care a bit more and follow-through on maintaining it, right?

Before we begin...

A list of supplies that will make this process flow smoothly

• Cooler(s)/cooler bag(s)/tote(s)
  

• Trash bin
  

• Counterspace with a towel/absorbent material laid out

• Warm soapy water, rag/sponge, drying towel

• Label maker/Painter's tape & a Sharpie

• Lazy Susan (Just for in case you decide to go this fun route!)

• Clear storage containers that fit on the shelves, for various item types

IMPORTANT NOTE: Measure the interior of your fridge and evaluate items to be sure you're picking out and/or purchasing the appropriately sized containers that will fit and work for your needs.

There are a plethora of options for how you can organize your fridge.  From clear open-top containers, to produce crispers, to the lovely smooth spinning Lazy Susan.

Be sure you're choosing containers that you like, and can envision creating a system with. I think we've all at one time or another bought something we thought we would use, but didn't have a solid plan for how, so didn't end up using it. So when you're choosing your containers, envision what will go in them and how they will make the organization of your fridge work for you.

Here are some ideas of what storage products are available out there for you to choose from

Produce Crispers are a great way to keep loose produce together, and maintain freshness and longevity in the fridge. This storage container allows your precious produce to breathe, just like us when we take those moments to refresh & reset. Inhale. Exhale. Ahhh.

Pro-Tip: Place a light cloth or paper towel at the bottom to add that next level moisture prevention.

Clear storage bins store more than just veggies. From string cheese and yogurt to onions and peppers, these containers allow you to see the contents, and limits their ability to start sprawling and finding their way elsewhere. There are options for open top clear storage, which can help prevent unnecessary stacking and easy access, and also lidded clear storage for those that need to maximize their fridge space, while keeping things contained, visible and organized.

Lazy Susan. It may sound strange to put this piece in your fridge, because traditionally it's just round. And although you can put a round Lazy Susan in your fridge, there are also options for rectangular Suzie's, should you decided to take that route. Whichever shape you choose, it can sure make accessing items much easier! Who says the bottles of regularly used condiments need to go in the door? Perhaps those regularly used bottles can be placed on a shelf, atop a Lazy Susan. When it's time to grab the hot sauce or your favorite vinaigrette, just give ol' Suz a little spin, and ta-da, there it is for easy pickin'!

Alright! Let's get after it!

Once you have your supplies ready, and some time to take on the task, it is time to begin.

1.   Pull everything out.

This is where the cooler(s)/cooler bag(s)/tote(s) and trash bin come into the picture, to toss or temporarily store your food stuffs so you can take the time needed to clean and organize.

Consider the following, as you pick and choose what to keep:

• Old, moldy, spoiled? Pretty apparent, it should go in the trash bin
• Expiration has passed, the product is still good, and you have no clear and near future plans to use? Donate or toss out if you don't plan to use immediately
• More than a few bottles of almost empty and rarely used condiments? Get 'em gone
• Keep only what you know you'll use.

This is a great opportunity to see how your shopping habits could be adjusted to avoid waste in the future, and encourage cost-saving on the grocery front.

2. Take out all removable shelves and drawers: That's right, we are starting with a fresh and clean canvas!

• Wash with warm, soapy water
• Hand dry and leave to finish air drying completely on the counter while you continue the project

Safety Tip: If you are removing glass shelves, allow them to get to room temp before putting under hot water!

3. Wipe down the inside of the fridge

• With warm, lightly soapy water or whatever your preferred cleaner is, wipe down the entire fridge
• Get all those nooks and crannies and seeped remnants from pourable bottles that are stuck to the bottom
• Dry with a towel

Now, the long awaited, and likely most satisfying part of the process...

4. Place all of your storage containers out on the counter

Consider the following as you start placing items in the container:

• Are these like items?

• Will I know that "this" goes with "that" so I know exactly where to find it?

• Frequency of use

• What needs to be used immediately
  

Photo courtesy of Taya.May - Pinterest

Place items in the containers. Once the containers are filled to a reasonable and manageable level, place them in the appropriate spot in the fridge. If there are items that need notes or dates go ahead and put a piece of painter’s tape and write with a sharpie the information you need to see. This is a great way to keep track of when something was placed in the fridge, when it needs to be used by, what the contents are, etc.

Pro-Tips:

• Keep these labeling supplies handy near the fridge for easy access to continue your fridge management.
• Try to follow the 80/20 rule: Fill the containers a maximum of 80% full, leaving 20% open space as consistently as possible.

As you place the storage containers back in the fridge, remember that you want to be leaving some room for those temporary holiday items to fit. I have found that consistently leaving an open space in my fridge allows me to have some regular space flexibility for the long-term as well.

Maintaining the system

Not only is your new system probably amazing to look at, it is now set up for managing the influx and rotation of holiday foods, and far beyond that for your daily, weekly, monthly organizational success. 

This new system will help you keep track of what you have and what you need, leading to cost-saving benefits and less waste. 

If you share the fridge with roommates or family members, take the time to show them what you’ve put together, and what they can do to help maintain it.

Now, who's ready for Turkey & Pumpkin Pie?!

Head back to Organizing by Olympia to schedule a Free 15 minute Consultation

-Disclaimer-

Products listed in this blog are simply recommendations and ideas. We do not earn from the sharing of these product recommendations.