Here are 42 clever Refrigerator Organization Tips and Hacks to maximize the space in your fridge. Apply them for decluttering yours in a systematic way.
Check out the exclusive list of the Refrigerator Organization Tips and Hacks and apply them to have a well-arranged fridge at home!
Have a look at some awesome homesteading hacks here
Refrigerator Organization Tips and Hacks
1. Avoid Storing Milk in the Door
Food items like eggs and milk tend to spoil soon. Store them on the middle shelf and not in the door as this spot has constant temperatures. The refrigerator door and top-shelf are the warmest areas.
Also, do not put eggs in sections of the door. You can keep condiments high in salt and vinegar in the door, store leftovers and snacks on the top shelf.
2. Keep Refrigerator Two-Third Full
If food items come out every time you open the fridge, then it’s time to declutter it. Overloading a refrigerator can lead to blocked air vents, obstructed air flows, and decreased energy efficiency.
Also, if your fridge is empty, fill it with a few water bottles as it helps to maintain the cool temperature when chilled. The best bet will be to keep the fridge two-third full.
3. Do Not Store Pre-Cut Veggies and Fruits
Many people pre-wash and cut fruits and vegetables before storing them in the fridge. Pre-chopped vegetables can deteriorate quickly and take more surface area.
The best habit is to wash and cut before consumption.
4. Keep Meat in the Lower Shelf
You can store meat in the freezer or on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator, where it does not drip on the other food.
You can also put a tray under the meat on the lower shelf, and it will assist in holding any spillage and makes it quite easy to clean if any leakage takes place.
5. Bins, Baskets, and Trays have a Spot in the Fridge
Trays, bins, and baskets can be used to compartmentalize food items in the fridge. Use bin to store condiments, trays to keep the meat on the bottom shelf, and colander for saving citrus fruits.
6. Label Everything
Label each and every container in the refrigerator if you store many items. The will help you to remind these things.
7. Use Deli Containers
Pack your leftover food in the deli containers, stack them neatly in the fridge. They also don’t leak if they get knocked over.
8. Separate Veggies and Fruits
Take out fruits and veggies from the plastic bags before storing them in the fridge, it will allow sufficient airflow and prevent mold and early ripening.
Also, Keep veggies and fruits in the middle of the refrigerator.
9. Long-Lasting Lemons in the Fridge
Lemon and limes can last up to a month if you keep them in a plastic ziplock bag filled with a bit of water in the refrigerator. Citrus fruits are porous, so they dry out fast when kept in the open air.
10. Arrange Items According to the Needs
Before arranging food products, veggies, fruits, jellies, meat, and cheese in the fridge, think about your requirements, prioritize, and then store things that you approach most often.
11. Use Shelf Liners for a Better Look & More
Apply non-adhesive shelf liners for a clean, organized look in the fridge. It will also help with spills. This is one of the best Refrigerator Organization Hacks No One Ever Told You!
12. Uniform Sized Mason Jars and Square Boxes
Organize food items, veggies, spices, and sauces in the Tupperware boxes and mason jars in the refrigerator for a neat and tidy appearance.
13. Tie Veggies Before Storing
Take out long-leaf green veggies from plastic bags, tie them with bands, and store them in the fridge. It will expand the storage, see here.
14. Follow 4-Easy Steps
- Take everything out from the fridge, wipe it down
- Organize the top shelf first
- Then the middle shelf
- Arrange the bottom shelf
Use uniform size transparent leak-proof containers for storing food items.
15. Follow the Refrigerator Storage Chart
Top shelf: Store tall items and containers here.
Middle shelves: Keep milk, leftovers, drinks, and ready-to-eat foods in this section.
Bottom Shelf or Meat Drawer: Place wrapped raw meat on a tray to hold drips and avoid cross-contamination.
Crisper Drawers: Specifically designed for fruits with low humidity and others for veggies with high humidity.
Door: Place items with a long shelf life, like soft drinks and condiments.
16. Small Fridge Organization
Use the same color storage boxes for organizing small refrigerators neatly, arrange things according to your daily needs.
17. Similar Things Together
Club similar items together like; dairy or protein items, vegetables and herbs. By doing this, you will get everything easily and will not lose things in the refrigerator’s black hole.
18. Arrange Items According to Expiry Date
Organize things at eye level that is going to expire soon such as milk and leftovers in the fridge.
19. Free Up Space
You can have more space in the refrigerators by not keeping onions, tomatoes, potatoes, citrus fruits, and winter squash in it.
20. Multipurpose Fridge Storage Sliding Drawers
Buy colorful multipurpose fridge storage sliding drawers and expand the space for keeping veggies and chocolates. This is one of the best Refrigerator Organization Hacks No One Ever Told You!
21. Draw a Food List on the Fridge
Make a list of items inside the fridge and maintain track of what things are required separately in a columnar chart.
22. Organize Freezer
Firstly, determine what is truly needed to go inside the freezer. Also, try to freeze things flat in sealable freezer bags. Flat items can be stacked easily, you can use upright containers as well.
23. Plastic tubs for Freezer
However, you can stack frozen food on each other, but do this in a tidy way by keeping things in organizers or plastic tubs. You can designate categories for each food in a separate organizer.
24. Freezer Binder Clips
You must be aware of binder clips, use them to enlarge the space in the fridge, and save food items from spilling.
25. Office Organizers as Freezer Shelf
Use office organizers and make instant shelves for storing things in the freezer. This cost-saving idea will look nice as well.
26. Use Rotating Tray in Refrigerator
For a clean and organized look, use a rotating tray for keeping items in a correct manner.
27. Peel-Off Plastic Wraps
Wrap the shelves using cling film or plastic wraps, when there is any spilling, peel it off.
28. Keep the Fridge Clean
Clean up the spills when fresh to maintain the tidiness, eliminate expired things to save space for storing food and leftovers you want to consume.
29. Label Box as ‘Eat Me First!’
Label a box as ‘Eat me First’ and store food items that are going to expire soon.
30. Six-Pack Containers for Fridge Doors
Organize door shelves by using six-pack containers, it will extend storage capacity and also give a structured look.
31. Absorb Odor through Activated Carbon
Remove the fridge odor by keeping a container of activated carbon. It works better as compared to baking soda.
32. Buy an Egg Holder
An egg holder protects the eggs and gives an option to stack other containers on it too!
33. Use Rectangular and Square Containers
Instead of using round containers, go for square ones as they are more space-savvy.
34. Go For Transparent Bins
This idea will help you to ascertain the quantities in the clear bins, by doing this, you can restock them. It is one of the best Refrigerator Organization Hacks and Tips you can use!
35. ‘First in, First out’ Rule
Follow this simple rule of placing old items in front. This way, you will consume them first. Also, always store new items behind the old ones.
36. Food Pouch Storage System
Find this space-saving solution by buying a food pouch storage system like this online.
37. Sliding Wall Organizer
Include this wall organizer for the refrigerator, which will help you to find out the expiry date of the product and can be taken out easily as well.
38. Use Add-On Drawer
You can use this add-on drawer for keeping eggs and other utilities that has an awkward fit in the fridge. This is one of the best Refrigerator Organization Hacks No One Ever Told You!
39. Ziplock Bag Organizer
A ziplock bag organizer works great without occupying much space in the refrigerator. You can use it in the freezer as well.
40. Add a Wire Shelf in the Fridge
Add a wire shelf to store big boxes or food items, it can slide on other shelves and enlarge storing capacity.
41. Save Bulbs in the Entire Section
While saving bulbs of flowers, it will be a good idea to keep them away from the cooked food in the fridge. Store them in an entire section planted in a growing medium in containers.
42. Herbs
To save herbs, you can either keep them in an air-tight plastic container or small glass jars dipped in water. They will remain fresh for 3-6 days.
