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Tips for Organizing a Refrigerator |
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Food safety should be taken into consideration when organizing a refrigerator. Just stuffing things in wherever they fit is not the best storage solution for many foods. Follow these guidelines to keep your fridge orderly and your food fresh.
What to Store Where
In the Door |
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When organizing a refrigerator, it’s tempting to put milk and other dairy products in the door. Many refrigerators even have special bins or shelves designed to hold these foods, but the inside of the door is the warmest spot in the refrigerator, so you need to be careful about what you store there.
Foods that are safe to keep in the door of your refrigerator include sodas and wine, condiments which are high in natural preservatives, and orange juice because it’s pasteurized and has a high citric acid content which hinders bacterial growth.
Foods that should generally not be placed in the door include milk and other dairy products such as butter or yogurt, eggs, and meat.
Foods that are safe to keep in the door of your refrigerator include sodas and wine, condiments which are high in natural preservatives, and orange juice because it’s pasteurized and has a high citric acid content which hinders bacterial growth.
Foods that should generally not be placed in the door include milk and other dairy products such as butter or yogurt, eggs, and meat.
Top Shelf |
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Remember that heat rises so the top shelf is slightly warmer than shelves lower down. This is a good place to store produce that won’t fit in the crisper as the temperature here is just about right for keeping produce fresh.
Middle Shelves |
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The middle of the refrigerator is the best place to store butter, yogurt, cheeses, eggs, and so forth. The best place for eggs is actually in the carton they came in and not in the special egg container that comes with many refrigerators. They will stay fresher longer and be less susceptible to bacteria.
The middle shelves are also a good place for leftovers.
The middle shelves are also a good place for leftovers.
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Preserving Freshness |
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Always cover your food when you put it in the refrigerator. Many foods develop a crust or film when left uncovered which is most unappetizing. Others have a tendency to wilt or shrivel when exposed. In addition, open exposure makes food vulnerable to bacteria.
Bottom Shelf |
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This is where the milk and the meat go since it’s the coldest spot in the fridge and these items are most affected by fluctuating temperatures.
Crisper Drawers |
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Most refrigerators have two crispers designed for storing produce. Most fruits and vegetables can be stored together without a problem, but be aware that apples give off ethylene which will cause other fruits and vegetables to decay more quickly. For this reason, you may want to store them separately from other produce if you don't plan to eat them right away.
Store Like Things Together |
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A good practice to establish when organizing a refrigerator is to keep like things together. You can line related items up on a shelf or you can purchase bins to group like items together. There are several advantages to grouping items according to type when organizing a refrigerator. Doing so makes it easy for everyone to find what they are looking for. In addition, it makes it easier for you to determine what you are out of when it’s time to go shopping. This can save you money and help you avoid waste by preventing double purchases. Best of all, your refrigerator will look great!
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Make the Most of Your Refrigerator Space |
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There are tons of great products on the market designed to increase the functionality of a refrigerator by maximizing the space. Here are just a few samples to help make organizing a refrigerator fun and rewarding.
Note: These are affiliate links.
Note: These are affiliate links.