Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder
A fridge larder can be a great location to store food items that are no longer in use. It also helps you run a smaller fridge and save money on your energy bill!
It's a convenient place to store items such as eggs, bread, and hard cheeses. Fresh herbs are another option, which benefit from low humidity.
Keep It Organized
A fridge's larder helps cut down on food waste and helps you find items when cooking. However, like any space in your home the refrigerator can become messy and uncontrollable. Here are some tips to keep your refrigerator organized and functioning smoothly.
Take Inventory
The most crucial aspect of organizing your kitchen is taking inventory, according to Holly Blakey, a professional organizer at Breathing Room. "Take everything out, check expiration dates, and wash the surfaces." Get rid of expired food items or throw them away and get rid of all food items that aren't likely to be eaten before they turn bad.
When you replenish your fridge, be sure the items that are frequently used are in the front and the center, Blakey advises. Then, place the items that are less often used in the bottom and back of your refrigerator.
Organize Your Freezer
If you have a chest freezer, organize it with clear storage bins that aid in the easy search for food items. Label each bin clearly and place similar items together. Keep condiments in one bin and sodas in a different, and cheese sticks in a third. You can also use a lazy Susan to store condiments and other items that are frequently used. This will stop them from getting lost in the back.
In a fridge with a side-by-side layout you can store food items that require the coldest temperatures in the back and warmer foods toward the front. The lower shelf is ideal for milk, cream and butter (it won't melt), yogurt and any other items that don't need consistent temperatures. And the crisper drawers are best to store spillage from produce.
Drawer dividers are an affordable and simple method of making your refrigerator more functional. They will prevent your fruits and veggies from splattering around. They will also stop them from rotting. Plus, they'll help your drawers remain clean and organized. To extend the longevity of tender herbs, place them in water. (Mason jars with one inch of water work great.) Alternately, you can purchase an herb saver to place in your fridge.
Keep It Visible
Keep your fridge tidy to help you choose healthy food choices and feel satisfied throughout the day. Make sure that all your food containers and lids are clear to see what's inside. This will also inform you of the number of days you have left on the expiration dates, and prevent you from conserving food that has expired.
Begin by giving your refrigerator's larder a thorough clean. Scrub the drawers, shelves, and racks with warm water and dishwashing detergent. Give your fridge an excellent clean to rid of any gross crumbs and spills that might have accumulated over time.
After fridge for sale is dry and clean now is the time to replenish your refrigerator. Start with the cheese and deli drawer -- this is where you should store your cheeses, meats leftovers, dairy products and other items. Then, move to the produce drawer. This is where you should store the leafy greens as they can quickly wilt. Keep it at least three quarters full to ensure freshness.
You can store bulky items in the pantry drawers of some refrigerators, such as tray sets for parties and large bags of frozen vegetables. It is also a great space to store condiments such ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise as well as nut butters and other canned goods. Milk should not 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 foods that will last for an extended period of time. Consider using a riser in order to raise the jars so they are easier to read. This can save you from having to open and close the lid several times, which will prolong the shelf life of your condiments.
Label each bin with markers or use stickers that are able to be read easily. This will let your family members easily identify what each container is and will help you to find what you're looking for. Labeled bins are a great way of decluttering your fridge and reducing the amount of plastic waste you generate.
Keep Cool
A good fridge larder will keep food at the proper temperature to prevent spoilage and to slow down the growth of bacteria. Larders can be built into existing cabinets or can stand alone. They are usually placed on the north-facing side of the home to limit sunlight exposure. They could also be equipped with additional insulation or ventilation to stop heat from entering the food storage area. They have walls that are thicker with fewer windows, and are generally situated on the north-facing side of your home to reduce heat transfer.
The larder should contain an area for each kind of food, like meat and vegetables. Each drawer should be programmed to the right temperature. This will ensure that chicken and burgers will be cooked to perfection, and that the salad greens won't be excessively wilted. You can set the drawer of your larder to low-humidity for vegetables or fruits that release a lot moisture such as cucumbers or tomatoes.
To preserve cheese, you can keep it in different drawers of the fridge. Wrapped in paper, greaseproof or Clingfilm or greaseproof film, you can keep it fresher for longer. Other items that can be kept in the refrigerator door include drinks as well as non-perishable condiments (like ketchup), water and eggs. The door of the refrigerator is not the best place to store milk because it is warmer and less stable than other drawers.
To give your home a more organized appearance, you can arrange small containers to make them more easily visible. This is helpful for family members who are on the move and need food. Labeling bins and shelving to identify what should be eaten first may be helpful, especially in the case of family members who aren't used to reading labels!
A larder can also be a great place to store leftovers and a selection of food-safe glass and plastic containers for storage, which are ideal for smaller portions of ingredients. These containers are ideal for saving time and money while shopping. And if you have a clean, tidy fridge with space specifically designated for storage of these, it will be much easier to keep on top of your food budget!
Keep it Fresh
The best fridge organization tips help reduce food waste and make your healthy foods last longer. A few smart strategies will keep your fresh food at the correct temperature and make it easy to find what's in your fridge.
Crisper drawers are found in many refrigerators. They alter airflow and increase humidity, extending the lifespan of vegetables and fruits. It is essential to use these drawers properly. Mixing fruit and greens could cause the former, such as the greens, to wilt or spoil prematurely because of the ethylene that is produced. It is also important to separate different types of fruits and vegetables and store them in drawers that are appropriate for the type of produce.
Door shelves are often the most warm part of the fridge and should be reserved for food items that don't require extra cold or special storage conditions like jars of jam, chutneys salad dressings, long-life juices (anything bought in bulk with the same expiration date). The top shelf is great for drinks that can be stored upright without leaking, including milk and water.
It isn't easy keeping refrigerator drawers tidy, with things that are moving and jumbling. However, there are simple tips to help. First, you should invest in a set of refrigerator drawer dividers to keep the food items separate and prevent them from colliding with each other. The idea of organizing by height is helpful. It is easier to store items of similar heights together. Don't store items that aren't of the same height in the same drawer.
A thermometer should be located in your fridge. It's a simple, inexpensive and easy to use tool that will ensure your fridge is operating at the ideal temperature to keep your food fresh and safe.
Don't forget to keep a supply of plastic grocery bags in your refrigerator for storing items that don't have their own container. The moisture contained in the bag prevents vegetables from rotting too fast. For herbs that usually will wilt over time they can be kept fresher for longer by washing them and putting them in a water glass. This is just as efficient as a plastic bag at conserving moisture.