Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder

A fridge larder can be an ideal location to store food items that are no longer in use. It also allows you to run a smaller fridge and Frydge save money on your energy bills!

It's a great location to store items such hard cheeses, breads and eggs. Fresh herbs also benefit from the lack of moisture.

Keep It In Order

A fridge's larder can help reduce food waste and makes it easier to locate items when cooking. The refrigerator, just like any other room in your house can get overcrowded and out of control. Here are a few suggestions 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 look for the expiration dates. Clean all surfaces." Dispose of food that has expired and throw away leftovers and dispose of anything that won't be eaten before it gets rotten.

Blakey suggests that you place the most frequently used items on the front of your fridge. Then, put those items that aren't often used in the back and back of your refrigerator.

Organize Your Freezer

If you own a chest freezer it is possible to organize it using clear storage bins that will help you find foods more easily. Label each bin clearly and categorize items that are similar together. Put condiments in one container and sodas in a different, and cheese sticks in another. You can also use a lazy Susan for condiments and other frequently used items to keep them from getting lost in the back.

Keep food items that require coldest temperatures at the rear of a side by side fridge, and food items that require warmer temperatures towards the front. The lower shelf is great for cream, milk or butter (it won't melt) and yogurt, as well as other items that don't require constant temperatures. The crisper drawers are ideal for storing spillage of produce.

Drawer dividers make your Cookology Undercounter Fridge 80L Capacity Black - Adjustable Temperature more efficient and are easy to put in. They'll keep your fruits and veggies from rolling around. This will stop them from spoiling. They'll also keep your drawers tidy and organized. To extend the time of tender herbs store them in water. Mason jars filled with one inch of liquid work great. You can also buy an herb preserver to keep in your refrigerator.

Make sure it is visible

A well-organized fridge will allow you to reach for healthy foods that keep you full and content throughout the day. Make sure that all your food containers and lids are clear to see what's inside. This will also show you how many days are left until the expiration dates, and prevent you from conserving food that has expired.

Start your fridge larder off with a deep clean by cleaning the drawers, shelves and racks using warm water and dish soap. Give your fridge a thorough clean-up to rid it of any gross spills and crumbs that might have accumulated over time.

After everything is dry and clean now is the time to replenish your refrigerator. Start with the cheese and deli drawer -- this is the place to store your cheeses, deli meats, leftovers and dairy items. Then, move to the produce drawer. This is where you should put away leafy greens because they quickly wilt. Keep it at least three-fourths full to ensure maximum freshness.

The pantry drawers in certain refrigerators can be helpful for storage of large bags of frozen vegetables, and other bulky food items. You can also use this area to house condiments like mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup, as well as nut butters and other canned items. Be careful not to store milk here however, as it could become rotten quickly due the fluctuating temperatures inside the refrigerator door.

The back of your refrigerator should be reserved for condiments, salad dressings, and other jarred foods that can last longer. Use a riser for containers to make them easier to read. This will help you avoid closing and opening the lids multiple times.

Label each bin with a marker, or stickers that can be easily read. This will help your family members quickly identify the contents of each bin, and it'll help you to locate what you're looking for. Labeled bins are a great method of decluttering your refrigerator and reducing the amount plastic waste you create.

Keep Cool

A well-designed fridge larder will keep food at the correct temperature which prevents spoilage and slows bacterial growth. Larders can be built into existing cabinets or stand on their own. They are typically placed on the north side of your home to reduce exposure to sun and could also have additional insulation or an air-conditioning system to keep heat from entering the food storage area. They have thicker walls, fewer windows and are usually placed on the north side of your house to reduce heat transfer.

A larder should have a drawer for meat and one for vegetables, each with a specific setting that can be programmed to the appropriate temperature. This will ensure that the burgers and chicken are cooked to perfection, however the salad greens won't be overly damaged. A drawer for the larder can be set to a low-humidity setting for vegetables and fruits that release a lot of moisture, such as cucumbers or tomatoes.

To preserve cheese, store it in other drawers of the fridge. Wrapped in greaseproof paper, Clingfilm or greaseproof film to keep it fresher for longer. drinks, non-perishable condiments, such as ketchup, water and eggs can also be stored inside the fridge door. The door of the refrigerator is not the best location to store milk as it tends to be warmer and less stable than other drawers.

For a sleek appearance, separating small containers of food and snacks can make the contents more visible as well as beneficial when family members are looking for something to eat in the car. Labelling shelves and bins to show what should be eaten first can also be helpful, especially in the case of family members who aren't used to reading labels!

Larders are also a great place to keep leftovers. You can store them in a variety of glass and plastic containers that are safe for food preparation. They are ideal to store smaller portions of food items. Making these available for quick meals is a great way to save time and money when shopping. And if you have a clean well-organized fridge that has space specifically designated for storage of these, it will be easier to stay on top of your food budget!

Keep it fresh

The best fridge organization tricks reduce food waste and help your healthy groceries last longer. A few smart strategies ensure that fresh food items are kept at the proper temperature and help to see what you have and where it is.

Crisper drawers are included in many refrigerators. They alter airflow and increase humidity, thus extending the life of fruits and vegetables. It's important to use these drawers in a proper manner. If you mix greens and fruit, for instance, the ethylene released by the latter can cause the former to turn brown and spoil before it's time. It is also important to separate different types of fruits and vegetables and keep them in drawers that are appropriate for the type of produce.

The door shelves are the warmest part in the fridge. They should be used for items that don't require special cold or conditions of storage like salad dressing jars jams, chutneys, jams and drinks with a long shelf life (anything bought in bulk and with the same expiration date). The top shelf can be used to store drinks such as milk and water, which can be stored upright.

Refrigerator drawers can be difficult to keep organized with items moving around and getting scattered However, there are easy tricks to aid. First, purchase a set of refrigerator drawer dividers that keep your food items separated and stop them from squishing against each one. The ability to organize by size is beneficial. Keep items of similar heights on the same shelf, and don't store things that aren't the same size adjacent to one another -- raw meat shouldn't be kept in the same drawer with cooked Ham!

A thermometer is essential to have in your fridge. It's a cheap, easy-to-use device that will ensure that the fridge is at the optimal temperature to ensure that your food is in the best condition and is freshest.

Keep a stash in your fridge of plastic bags for storing produce without containers. The moisture contained in the bag prevents vegetables from rotting too quickly. And for herbs that would typically wilt in a matter of days, a simple trick to keep them fresher for longer is to wash and put them in the glass of water which is just as effective at retaining moisture as the plastic bag.