Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder
A fridge's larder can be the ideal storage space for expired food items. You can also make use of a smaller refrigerator and save money on energy costs!
It's an ideal location to store items such breads, hard cheeses, and eggs. There are also fresh herbs which benefit from low humidity.
Keep It Well-organized
A fridge-friendly larder can reduce food waste, and make it easier to locate the items when cooking. However, like any room in your home, the fridge can become messy and uncontrollable. Here are a few tips to keep your fridge organized and functioning smoothly.
Take inventory
The most important aspect of organizing your fridge is taking inventory, according to Holly Blakey, a professional organizer at Breathing Room. "Take everything out and check 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.
Blakey suggests placing the most frequently used items in the front of your fridge. 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 freezer you can arrange it using clear storage containers that will allow you to find foods more easily. Clearly label each bin and group similar items together. Put condiments in one container, sodas in another, and cheese sticks in another. You can also make use of a lazy Susan for condiments and other commonly used items to prevent them from being lost in the back of your.
Store food items that require coldest temperatures in the back of a side-by-side fridge, and food items that require warmer temperatures towards the front. The lower shelf is great for cream, milk, butter (it will not melt) and yogurt, as well as other items that don't require consistent temperatures. The crisper drawers are ideal to store spilled fruits and vegetables.
Drawer dividers are a cost-effective and easy way to make your refrigerator more functional. They'll stop your fruits and vegetables from rolling around, preventing them from spoiling before you can use them. They'll also help keep your drawers neat and tidy. To prolong the life of tender herbs, keep them in water. (Mason jars that have an inch of water work great.) You can also purchase an herb saver to put in your fridge.
Keep it visible
Keep your fridge tidy to help you select healthy foods and stay satisfied throughout the day. Make sure that all of your food containers and lids are clear to see what's inside. This will tell you the remaining days on your expiration date, and ensure that you don't store food that's over its best.
Get your fridge's larder started with a thorough cleaning by scrubbering the shelves, drawers and racks with warm water and dish soap. Give your refrigerator a good clean to get rid of any food debris and spills that may have built up.
Make sure that your fridge is dry and clean. Start by putting your cheeses and deli meats in the drawer. Then, you can move to the produce drawer. This is where you should store greens that are leafy because they will wilt easily. Keep it about three-fourths full for the best freshness.
fridge for sale near me in certain refrigerators is a great place to store storage of large bags of frozen vegetables, and other food items that are bulky. This area can be used to store condiments such as ketchup and mustard, along with nut-butters and other canned goods. Milk shouldn't be stored in this area as the temperature fluctuates and cause it to spoil quickly.
The back of your refrigerator should be used for condiments, salad dressings and other jarred items that will last for a long time. Consider using a riser in order to elevate jars, so they are easier to read. This will prevent you from having to open and close the lid a few times, which will increase the life of your condiments.
Label each bin using markers or stickers that can be easily read. This will make it easy for your family to identify the contents of each container and also for you to find the items you require. Labeling your bins can also be a great method to clear your fridge and reduce the amount of plastic waste you produce.
Keep Cool
A fridge with a good larder can keep foods at the right temperature to protect against spoiling and also slow down the growth of bacterial. Larders can be integrated into existing cabinets or stand on their own. They are typically placed on the north-facing side of the house to reduce exposure to sun and can also be equipped with insulation or ventilation systems to stop heat from entering the food storage area. They typically also have more solid walls and less windows to keep the inside at a lower temperature than other parts of your home.
The larder should contain drawers for every type of food item, including meat and vegetables. Each drawer can be programmed with the correct temperature. This will ensure that the chicken and burgers are cooked to perfection, but the salad greens will not be too damaged. A drawer for the larder can be set to a low humidity setting for vegetables and fruits that expel a lot of moisture, such as cucumbers or tomatoes.
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 a longer time. Drinks, non-perishable condiments such as ketchup, water and eggs can also be kept in the fridge door. The door of the refrigerator is not the best place to store milk, as it tends to be more warm and unstable than other drawers.
For a streamlined look, corralling small containers of food and snacks can make them more visible as well as beneficial when family members are searching for food while on the move. Labeling bins or shelves to show which food items are best eaten first is also beneficial, especially when your family members don't know how to read labels!
Larders are also an ideal place to store leftovers. You can also store them in various plastic and glass containers that are safe for food preparation. They are ideal to store smaller portions of food items. Preparing these for quick meals is a great way to save money and time when shopping. If you have a neat and organized fridge, with a designated space for these items It will make it easier to keep track of your grocery budget.
Keep It Fresh
The best tips for organizing your fridge reduce food waste by helping your healthy food items last longer. Some smart strategies will keep your fresh food items at the correct temperature and make it easy to check what's in your fridge.
Crisper drawers are included in most refrigerators. They alter the flow of air and increase humidity, thus extending the lifespan of vegetables and fruits. It is essential to use these drawers in a proper manner. If you mix greens and fruits, for instance, the ethylene produced by the latter may cause the former to wilt and then spoil quickly. Separating different types of fruits and storing them in proper drawers is essential.
Door shelves are usually the warmest part of the fridge. They should be reserved for foods that don't require extra cold or special storage conditions such as jars of jam, chutneys salad dressings, and long-life juices (anything that is bought in bulk with the same expiration date). The top shelf is ideal for drinks that can be stored upright without spilling, like milk and water.
It isn't easy to keep refrigerator drawers organized, with items moving and jiggling. However, there are simple tips to help. First, you should invest in a set of refrigerator drawer dividers that keep your food items separated and stop them from colliding with each one. The ability to organize by size is beneficial. Keep produce that is similar in height on the same shelf, and don't keep things that aren't of the same height in close proximity Raw meat shouldn't be kept in the same drawer with cooked Ham!
A thermometer should be in your refrigerator. It's a simple, inexpensive and easy to use tool that will ensure your fridge is at the ideal temperature to keep your food safe and fresh.
Keep a supply in your refrigerator of plastic bags to store produce without a container. The moisture trapped in the bag keeps veggies from rotting too quickly. For herbs that normally die within a few days, an easy method to keeping them fresher longer is to wash and put them in a glass of water which is just as efficient in retaining moisture than the plastic bag.