Refrigerator Organization, Part 1

​Today’s tip is a request by my friend Renee. I’m going to break it into three tips, so be sure to check back here for the next two weeks to get your fridge in tip-top shape.
 
How do you organize the refrigerator?

It’s not so different from organizing other things like desk drawers and bookshelves. The tricky part is that the contents of the fridge are always shifting as you use things up and buy new things.
 
The first aspect we’ll tackle is temperature, which guides the basic layout of the fridge.
 
Even though you set it to the recommended 35-38°F, the temperature isn’t constant or consistent throughout the fridge. Here’s the breakdown:
 

• The door is the warmest part. Every food-safety expert says not to store milk here, but I still do because my kids go through it quickly and it’s the most convenient spot. We’ve never had a problem with it spoiling and I would know because I have a very sensitive nose for spoiled milk! Other than that, the door is best used for condiments, juice, and butter (doesn’t need to be kept as cold as other dairy).
• The temperature is most consistent on the upper shelves, so this is where to store foods that don’t need to be cooked (leftovers, ready-to-eat foods, berries, etc.).
• The lower shelf is the coldest spot. This is where you store raw meat. My husband has also claimed half of the bottom shelf for beer.
• Crisper drawers keep produce fresher by creating a moist atmosphere. Keep fruits and veggies separate. Better yet, keep fruit in an appealing bowl on the counter or table. It doesn’t need refrigeration, looks pretty, and you’ll remember to eat it. Now that the fruit drawer is free, use one crisper drawer for vegetables and one for salad greens. 
• The middle of the fridge is for everything else. (Check back next week for help with this.)

 
One big rule for the fridge is not to overcrowd it. The cold air needs to circulate to keep things fresh. Better to have to make another trip to the store later in the week than to have to throw out a whole bunch of spoiled food.
 
Next week, I’ll help you de-clutter the fridge and group items for convenience. Stay tuned!