Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder
A fridge's larder is a great place to store expired produce. It also helps you manage a smaller refrigerator and help you save money on your energy bill!
It's an ideal place to store items like breads, cheeses, and eggs. Fresh herbs also benefit from the lack of moisture.
Keep It Organized
A fridge larder can help reduce food waste, and also make it easier to locate items when cooking. The refrigerator, like any other space in your home can get messy and unorganized. Here are some tips to ensure that your refrigerator runs smoothly and neatly.
Take inventory
The most crucial aspect of organizing your fridge is taking inventory, according to Holly Blakey, a professional organizer at Breathing Room. "Take everything out and verify the expiration dates. Clean all surfaces." Get rid of expired foods and throw away leftovers and dispose of any food items that aren't intended to be eaten before they turn bad.
Blakey suggests putting the most frequently used items at the front of your fridge. Then, put away the less frequently used items in the back and bottom of your fridge.
Organize Your Freezer
If you have a chest-freezer it is possible to organize it using clear storage bins which will allow you to locate food items more easily. Label each bin clearly and group items that are similar together. For instance, you can keep a container for condiments, another one for sodas and one for cheese sticks. You can also use a lazy Susan to store condiments and other items that are often used. This will prevent 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 works well for milk, yogurt, cream and butter (it does not melt). The cooler drawers are the best to store spillage from produce.
Drawer dividers make your fridge more efficient and are simple to install. They'll stop your fruits and veggies from getting lost in. They will also stop them from spoiling. Additionally, they'll help ensure that your drawers stay cleaner and tidy. To extend the longevity of tender herbs, keep them in water. Mason jars containing an inch of liquid work great. You can also buy an herb preserver to keep in your refrigerator.
Keep it Visible
Keeping your fridge organized will make it easier to find healthy foods that will keep you feeling full and content throughout the day. Make sure that all your food containers and lids are clear so you can see what's inside. This will also let you know how many days you have left on the expiration dates, and also prevent you from keeping food that is past its expiration date.
Start by giving your refrigerator's larder a thorough clean. Scrub the shelves, drawers, and racks with warm water and dishwashing soap. Give your refrigerator a good scrub to get rid of any crumbs or gross spills that may have built up.
Restock your fridge after everything is dry and clean. Start with the deli and cheese drawer -- this is the place to store your cheeses, meats leftovers, dairy products and other items. Then move on to the produce drawer, which should be kept for leafy greens as they tend to fade quickly. Keep it about three-fourths full for the best freshness.
You can store bulky items in the pantry drawers of some refrigerators, including party trays and large bags of frozen vegetables. You can also use this space to store condiments such mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup and nuts, nut butters, and other canned items. Do not store any milk in this area however, as it could be spoiled quickly due to the fluctuating temperatures in the fridge door.
The back of your refrigerator should be reserved for condiments, salad dressings and other jarred food items that last for a long time. Consider using a riser in order to raise the jars so they are easier to read. This will save you from having to open and close the lid several times, which will prolong the life of your condiments.
Label each bin using markers or use stickers that are able to be easily read. This will let your family members to easily recognize the contents of each bin and make it easier for you to find what you're looking for. Adding some labeled bins is also a great way to organize your fridge and decrease the amount of waste that you create.
Keep It Cool
A good fridge larder keeps food at a proper temperature which prevents spoilage and slows the growth of bacteria. Larders are built into existing cabinets or can stand alone. They are typically located on the north-facing side of your home to reduce exposure to sun and can also be equipped with insulation or a ventilation system to prevent heat from entering the food storage area. They are also usually built with more solid walls and less windows to keep the interior at less temperature than other parts of the house.
The larder should have a drawer for each type of food item, including meat and vegetables. Each drawer can be programmed to maintain the proper temperature. This ensures that the burgers and chicken will be cooked to perfection, and that the salad greens won't be excessively discolored. A larder drawer can also be set to a low-humidity setting for fruits and vegetables which release lots of moisture, such as tomatoes or cucumbers.
Other drawers inside the fridge can be used to store items such as cheese, fresh, cream and hard -- wrapped in paper or greaseproof or clingfilm to keep it for a longer time. Other items that can be stored in the refrigerator door include beverages and condiments that are not perishable (like ketchup), water and eggs. The fridge door is not the best place to store milk, since 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 more visible. This is beneficial for family members who are traveling and need food. Labeling bins or shelves to identify which food items are best eaten first is also beneficial, especially in the event that your family members do not know how to read labels!
A larder can also be a great place to keep leftovers. You can keep them in various plastic and glass containers that are safe for food preparation. They are ideal to store smaller portions of ingredients. Making these available for quick meals is a good way to save time and money when shopping. If you have a clear, tidy fridge with a dedicated space for storing the items, Frydge it will be easier to stay on top of your grocery budget!
Keep it Fresh
The best fridge organization tricks reduce food waste and help your healthy food items 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.
Crisper drawers are found in the majority of refrigerators. They alter the airflow and increase humidity, thus extending the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. It is essential to use these drawers correctly. Mixing fruits and greens can cause the latter, like the greens, to turn brown or spoil prematurely due to the ethylene produced. It is also crucial to separate produce types and keep them in drawers that are appropriate for the type of produce.
Door shelves are often the warmest area of the fridge. They should be reserved for food items that don't require extra cold or storage conditions that are special, such as jam jars, chutneys salad dressings, long-life juices (anything that is bought in bulk with the same use-by date). The top shelf is ideal for beverages that can be stored upright and without leaks, such as milk and water.
Refrigerator drawers can be tricky to organize with all the items moving around and getting mixed up There are simple tips to help. First, purchase a set of refrigerator drawer dividers to keep your food items separated and stop them from colliding with each one. The idea of organizing by height is helpful. Keep produce that is similar in height on the same shelf and don't place items that aren't the same size in close proximity Raw meat shouldn't go in the same drawer as cooked ham!
A thermometer is an additional essential item to have in your fridge. It's a cheap, easy-to use tool that will ensure your fridge is at the ideal temperature to ensure your food is fresh and safe.
Have a stash in your refrigerator of plastic bags to store produce without containers. The moisture contained in the bag prevents vegetables from becoming rotten too quickly. For herbs that normally go through a slow decline in the course of a day they can be kept fresher for longer by washing them before putting them in a glass of water. This is as efficient as a plastic bag at conserving moisture.