Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder
A fridge larder is an excellent way to store produce that's past its best. It also helps you manage a smaller refrigerator and save money on your energy bill!
It's a great place to store items like breads, hard cheeses, and eggs. There are also fresh herbs which benefit from low humidity.
Keep It Well-organized
A fridge larder can help reduce food waste and also make it easier to locate items when cooking. The refrigerator, as with any other space in your home can get messy and unorganized. Here are some ways to ensure that your refrigerator runs smoothly and well-organized.
Take Inventory
The most important aspect of organizing your fridge is taking inventory, says Holly Blakey, a professional organizer at Breathing Room. "Take everything out and look for the expiration dates. Clean all surfaces." Throw away expired food, throw or freeze leftovers and dispose of everything that isn't eatable before it spoils.
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 have a chest-freezer it is possible to organize it using clear storage containers that will allow you to find foods more easily. Label each bin clearly and group similar items together. Put condiments in one container, sodas in another, and cheese sticks in another. You can also use a lazy Susan to store condiments and other items that are often used. This will stop them from getting lost in the back of your.
Keep food items that require coldest temperatures at the back of a side by side refrigerator and other items that require warmer temperatures towards the front of. The lower shelf is ideal for milk, yogurt cream, butter and cream (it will not melt). And the cooler drawers are the best to store spillage from produce.
Drawer dividers make your fridge more efficient and are simple to put in. They will prevent your vegetables and fruits from rolling around. This will prevent them from rotting. Additionally, they'll help ensure that your drawers remain clean and tidy. To prolong the time of tender herbs keep them in water. Mason jars that are filled with one inch of liquid are ideal for. You can also purchase an herb preserver to keep in your refrigerator.
Keep it visible
Keep your fridge well organized to make it easier to choose healthy meals and remain satisfied throughout the day. Make sure that all containers for food are clear so you can see the contents. This will also show you how many days you have left on the expiration dates, and prevent you from storing food past its prime.
Begin your fridge's larder off with a deep clean by scrubbering the shelves, drawers and racks with warm water and dish soap. Then give your fridge a thorough clean-up to rid it of any gross crumbs and spills that might have accumulated over the course of time.
Restock your fridge after everything is clean and dry. Start with the deli and cheese drawer -- this is the place to store your cheeses, meats leftovers, dairy products and other items. Then move to the produce drawer, which should be reserved for leafy greens as they tend to fade quickly. Make sure it is at least three-quarters full to ensure maximum freshness.
You can store bulky items in the pantry drawers of some refrigerators, such as party trays and large bags of frozen vegetables. You can also use this space to store condiments such as mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup, as well as nuts, nut butters, and other canned items. Do not store any milk in this area though, as it can become rotten quickly due the fluctuating temperatures within the refrigerator door.
The back of your refrigerator should be reserved for salad dressings, condiments and other jarred items that will last for a long time. Use a riser on containers to make them easier to read. This can save you from having to open and close the lid a few times, which will increase the longevity of your condiments.
As you stock every bin, make it a goal to label it with the help of a marker or stickers that are easy to read. This will make it easier for your family to identify the contents of each container and also for you to find the items you need. Labeling your bins can also be a great method to clear your fridge and decrease the amount of plastic waste you generate.
Keep It Cool
A fridge with a good larder can keep food at a proper temperature, preventing spoilage and slowing the growth of bacterial. Larders can be built into existing cabinetry or stand on their own. They are usually placed on the north-facing side of the house to minimize sunlight exposure. They may also have additional insulation or ventilation to stop heat from entering the food storage area. They also typically have thicker walls and fewer windows to keep the inside at the lower temperature than other areas of the house.
A larder should have an area for meat storage and one for vegetables and fruits, each with a particular setting that can be programmed to the appropriate temperature. This ensures that the burgers and chicken will be cooked to perfection, and that the salad greens won't become excessively wilted. You can set the drawer of your larder to a low-humidity setting for vegetables or fruits that release a lot moisture, like tomatoes or cucumbers.
To preserve cheese, keep 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 like ketchup, eggs, and water can also be stored in the refrigerator door. Milk should not be stored in the refrigerator doors, however - these shelves tend to be warmer and more unstable than other drawers.
For a streamlined look, corralling small bottles of food and snacks will help make the contents more visible, which is also beneficial when family members are searching for food items on the go. Labeling bins or shelves to identify which food items are best eaten first is a good idea, particularly when your family members don't know how to read labels!
A larder is also a great place to keep leftovers. You can also store them in a variety of glass and plastic containers that are safe for food. These are perfect to store smaller portions of ingredients. Preparing these for quick meals is a sure way to save money and time when shopping. If you have a clean, organized fridge with a designated space for these items, it will be easier to keep track of your grocery budget.
Keep it Fresh
The best ways to organize your fridge reduce food waste and make your healthy groceries last longer. A few clever strategies will keep fresh foods at the proper temperature and allow you to know what you have in your fridge and where it is.
Most refrigerators come with crisper drawers designed to change airflow and increase humidity to prolong the life of fruits and vegetables. It is crucial to use these drawers correctly. Mixing fruit and greens could cause the latter, like the greens, to turn brown or become spoiled due to the ethylene created. It is also crucial to separate different types of fruits and vegetables and store them in the proper drawers.
The shelves in the door are the warmest part in the fridge. They should be used for items that do not require special cold or storage conditions such as jars of salad dressings, jams, chutneys and drinks with a long shelf life (anything bought in bulk and with the same expiration date). The top shelf is ideal for beverages that can be stored upright without spilling, like milk and water.
It isn't easy keeping refrigerator drawers tidy, with things rolling and jumbling together. However, there are simple ways to assist. First, invest in fridge on sale of refrigerator drawer dividers that keep the food items separate and prevent them from colliding against each one. It is also helpful to organize by height. Produce of similar heights can be stored together. Don't place items that aren't of the same height in the same drawer.
A thermometer is an additional essential item to have in your fridge. It's a cheap, easy-to use tool that will ensure your fridge is operating at the optimal temperature to keep your food fresh and safe.
Don't forget to keep a stash of plastic grocery bags in your fridge to store produce that doesn't have its own container. The moisture in the bag keeps vegetables from turning brown. For herbs that normally wilt within days, a simple trick to keeping them fresher longer is to wash and put them in a glass of water which is just as effective at retaining moisture as a plastic bag.