Organize More

Start with a purge.  Have two cans handy, one for garbage and one for the compost heap (what, you don't compost? START HERE). Don't agonize over whether to keep something or not -- if you have to think twice, it goes. If you'd like more information about how long food "keeps", go to www.stilltasty.com.

Pile everything that is left on the kitchen counter. Only do the refrigerator right now. We will repeat the process for the freezer.

 

Now we need to clean all of the shelves.  Start with the top shelf and work your way down (crumbs and other nasty things fall to the lower shelves as you move along). I like to wash mine out with soapy water and a sponge and finish with Windex Multi-Surface Cleaner (I've got a "thing" for Windex). Make sure you clean each shelf, each drawer, and all of the door compartments.  You may need to put a little "elbow grease" into the old yellow mustard stain, but it will come clean.

 

Separate the items that you are going to put back in two ways, 1) by what is most used and least used and 2) by height. What is used most (milk, juice, butter, cheese) should be at eye level.  Then it should be arranged by height with the shortest items in front and the tallest in back. Lesser used items can go on higher and lower shelves. If you have kids, a lower shelf might be specifically for their favorite items.  Wipe off containers before returning them to your newly cleaned refrigerator.  If a container is not clearly marked, use a Sharpie Marker and label it. You are more likely to use what's in it if you know what's in it.

Everything should have a place in your refrigerator.  Most come with crispers for veggies and fruit -- use them.  If you have a butter shelf on the door, put the butter there.  If you have an egg container on your door, put your eggs in it and the carton in the recycling.  If your family eats a lot of cheese or cold cuts (which they probably shouldn't) use the drawer for that or a large see-through container with a lid.

 

Never, ever put anything loose, unwrapped or uncovered in your refrigerator.  It will spoil everything else in there.

 

 

Make it a habit to clean out anything semi-funky on trash day.  Our trash is picked up on Wednesday mornings so we clean out the refrigerator on Tuesday nights.  Sometimes there is nothing to toss, and sometimes there's a lot.  

 

There was a time when I would buy things that I already had because I didn't see them in the cabinets or the "fridge".  There are times, even now, when we buy too much because we haven't felt like eating the fish in the freezer and so we go out and pick up a couple of steaks.  Eat the fish!

 

The neater, more labeled and more organized your food is, the more you will get out of it and the more you will save at the grocery store.  Don't be afraid of it, and remember that an open box of baking soda goes a long way in the "fresh" department.