Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder
A fridge's larder is the ideal storage space for expired food items. It also helps you run a smaller fridge and help you save money on your energy bills!
It's a convenient place to store items such as eggs, bread, and hard cheeses. There are also fresh herbs, which benefit from low humidity.
Keep It Organized
A fridge's larder helps cut down on food waste and makes it easier to locate items when cooking. But, just like any other room in your home, the refrigerator can become messy and chaotic. Here are a few suggestions to keep your refrigerator organized and functioning smoothly.
Take Inventory
Holly Blakey, an organizer at Breathing room, says that taking inventory is the most important thing to do in organizing your refrigerator. "Take everything out and look for the expiration dates. Clean all surfaces." Get rid of expired food items, toss or freeze leftovers and dispose of any foods that aren't going to be consumed before they go bad.
When you stock up your fridge, be sure the items you use most often used are placed front and center, Blakey advises. Then, tuck away the less frequently used items 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 bins which will allow you to locate foods more easily. Label each bin clearly and group similar items together. For instance, you can put a bin in the pantry to store condiments, another for sodas and a third for cheese sticks. You can also use a lazy Susan for condiments and other frequently used items to prevent them from being lost in the back.
In a refrigerator with a side-byside place food items that require the coldest temperatures in the back, and warmer items towards the front. The lower shelf is ideal for milk, yogurt cream, butter, and cream (it does not melt). And the cooler drawers are the best to store spillage from produce.
Drawer dividers are a cheap and simple method of making your refrigerator more efficient. They'll keep your vegetables and fruits from rolling around, preventing them from spoiling before you can use them. In addition, they'll make sure your drawers remain clean and tidy. To extend the longevity of tender herbs, store them in water. (Mason jars with one inch of water are ideal.) You can also buy an herb preserver to keep in your refrigerator.
Keep It In View
Keep your fridge well organized to help you choose healthy foods and stay content throughout the day. Make sure that all containers for food are clear so that you can see the contents. This will let you know the number of days left on the expiration date and make sure you don't store food that is past its prime.
Start your fridge larder off with a thorough clean by cleaning the drawers, shelves and racks using warm water and dish soap. Give your fridge a good wipe down to get rid of any gross spills and crumbs that might have accumulated over the course of time.
Once everything is dry and clean now is the time to replenish your refrigerator. Start with the deli and cheese drawer -- that's the place to store your cheeses, meats leftovers, dairy items and other food items. Then, move to the produce drawer. This is where you should put away the leafy greens as they can are prone to wilting. Keep it at least three-fourths full for the best freshness.
The pantry drawers in certain refrigerators can be useful for storing party trays, large bags of frozen vegetables, and other bulky food items. It is also a great space to store condiments such ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise and nuts and other canned goods. Be careful not to store milk here though, as it can be spoiled quickly due to the fluctuating temperatures within the fridge's door.
The back of your refrigerator should be used for salad dressings, condiments, and other jarred foods that will last for longer. Use a riser on jars to make them easier to read. This will save you from having to open and close the lid multiple times, which can prolong the shelf life of your condiments.
As you fill every bin, make it a point to label it with a marker or stickers that are easy to read. This will make it easier for your family to understand the contents of each bin, and for you to locate the items you need. Labeled bins are an excellent method of decluttering your refrigerator and reducing the amount plastic waste you create.
Keep It Cool
A good fridge larder keeps food at the right temperature to prevent spoilage and slowing the growth of bacterial. Larders can be built into existing cabinets or stand on their own. They are typically placed on the north-facing side of the house to limit sun exposure. They could also be equipped with additional insulation or ventilation to keep heat from entering the food storage area. They typically also have thicker walls and less windows to keep the inside at less temperature than other areas of the house.
A larder should include one drawer for meat and one for vegetables, each with a specific setting that can be programmed to the appropriate temperature. This will ensure that chicken and burgers are cooked well, but that the salad greens won't become excessively damaged. A larder drawer can also be set to a low humidity setting for fruits and vegetables that release a lot of moisture, like cucumbers or tomatoes.
To preserve cheese, store it in other drawers in the refrigerator. Wrapped in greaseproof paper, clingfilm or greaseproof film to keep it fresher for longer. drinks, non-perishable condiments, such as ketchup, eggs, and water can also be stored inside the fridge door. Milk should not be kept in the fridge doors however - these shelves are warmer and more unstable than drawers in other drawers.
To give your home a more organized appearance, you can organize small containers to make them more visible. This is useful for family members who are moving around and need something to eat. Labeling bins and shelving to show what should be eaten first can also be beneficial, especially when family members aren't used to reading labels!
A larder is also an excellent place to store leftovers. You can keep them in a variety of glass and plastic containers that are safe for food items. They are great for storing smaller portions of ingredients. These containers are ideal for saving time and money while shopping. If you have a clean well-organized fridge that has the space designated for these items it will make it easier to keep track of your grocery budget.
Keep it Fresh
The best fridge organization tips reduce food waste by ensuring your good-for-you groceries last longer. Some smart strategies will keep your fresh foods at the correct temperature and allow you to check what's in your fridge.
Crisper drawers are found in many refrigerators. They alter the flow of air and increase humidity, extending the lifespan of vegetables and fruits. But it's important to use them in a proper manner. Mixing fruits and greens can cause the latter, like the greens to wilt or become spoiled due to the ethylene produced. It is also essential to separate different types of fruits and vegetables and store them in the correct drawers.
The shelves that are in the door are the warmest part in the fridge. built-in fridge should be used for items that don't require special cold or storage conditions such as jars of salad dressings jams, chutneys, jams and drinks with a long shelf life (anything bought in bulk and having the same expiration date). The top shelf can be used to store beverages like water and milk that can be stored upright.
Refrigerator drawers can be difficult to keep organized with items moving around and getting mixed up However, there are easy tricks to help. Invest in a set refrigerator drawer dividers. This will help keep your food items separated and stop them from squishing together. Organizing by height also helps. Keep items of similar heights on the same shelf and don't store 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 is an additional essential item to have in your fridge. It's an inexpensive, easy-to-use tool that can ensure that your fridge is operating at the right temperature to keep your food in the best condition and is freshest.
Don't forget to keep a stash of plastic grocery bags in your fridge for storing items that don't have their own container. The moisture trapped inside the bag helps keep vegetables from rotting too fast. For herbs that normally wilt within days, a simple trick to keep them fresher longer is to wash and place them in the glass of water which is as effective in retaining moisture as the plastic bag.