In 4 steps to more order in your refrigerator
In the farthest corner of your refrigerator, a long expired package of yogurt is vegetating away? You constantly have to dispose of vegetables because they go bad so quickly and you regularly lose track of the food in your fridge? Then it's high time to organize your fridge. Avoid food waste, save money and redesign your fridge in just 4 steps!
1 - Basic cleaning of your refrigeratorThe best time to clean out your fridge is before your next shopping trip. Because then it is usually quite empty and you get an accurate overview of what food you already have in stock.
First, you should clean out all the products in your refrigerator without exception. Pay attention to which products can be sorted out, for example, because they are spoiled.
Now you also have the chance to clean your fridge from top to bottom. A hygienic refrigerator not only makes you feel better, it also prevents food from going bad more quickly due to bacteria or unpleasant odors. Clean all the drawers, shelves and compartments with warm water and detergent. You can also wipe the door seals with a damp cloth and, if you have the opportunity, vacuum the metal grille on the back and clean the drain for condensation water. For this, we recommend you to turn off the refrigerator and unplug it as a precaution. Is your refrigerator iced up in some places? Then you can now let it defrost in peace while you proceed to the next step.
The best time to clean out your fridge is before your next shopping trip. Because then it is usually quite empty and you get an accurate overview of what food you already have in stock.
First, you should clean out all the products in your refrigerator without exception. Pay attention to which products can be sorted out, for example, because they are spoiled.
Now you also have the chance to clean your fridge from top to bottom. A hygienic refrigerator not only makes you feel better, it also prevents food from going bad more quickly due to bacteria or unpleasant odors. Clean all the drawers, shelves and compartments with warm water and detergent. You can also wipe the door seals with a damp cloth and, if you have the opportunity, vacuum the metal grille on the back and clean the drain for condensation water. For this, we recommend you to turn off the refrigerator and unplug it as a precaution. Is your refrigerator iced up in some places? Then you can now let it defrost in peace while you proceed to the next step.
2 - Subdivide the subjects by categoriesNow the organization begins! So think about which categories and where you want to sort the food before you put it away again. Your refrigerator has different cold zones? Then be sure to take this into account in your plan to keep all products fresh for as long as possible.
- Refrigerator Door: One of the warmest places in the refrigerator is best for storing eggs, butter, ready-made sauces, dips and drinks.
- Upper area: Heat is known to rise to the top. That's why you can store long-lasting foods such as pickles or jams here. But there's also room for leftovers from the previous day, if you eat them promptly.
- Medium range: An optimal temperature of 5° C and the comfortable height are perfect for dairy products, opened canned goods and cold cuts.
- Bottom section: The bottom of the refrigerator is the coldest, so you should store fish and meat here. However, make sure to always separate them from other foods for hygienic reasons.
- Vegetable compartment: As the name suggests, this is the ideal place to store vegetables. However, not all vegetables and fruits tolerate the cold - exotic fruits and watery vegetables should not be stored in the refrigerator.
You can also organize food by categories such as breakfast, snacks, or frequent use. Most importantly, set up your fridge according to your personal living conditions and needs - only you know what works best for you!
Now the organization begins! So think about which categories and where you want to sort the food before you put it away again. Your refrigerator has different cold zones? Then be sure to take this into account in your plan to keep all products fresh for as long as possible.
You can also organize food by categories such as breakfast, snacks, or frequent use. Most importantly, set up your fridge according to your personal living conditions and needs - only you know what works best for you!
Storage boxes - longer shelf life and more orderSo that the products of the individual categories are not jumbled up again after one day, you can use storage boxes. This way, the compartments are divided into further smaller compartments. Which boxes are the best for this? That depends on what food you want to store in them.
For fruits and vegetables there are special containers that make them last longer. This is because they filter out the gas ethylene, which is responsible for the ripening process, and ensure optimum humidity. Cheese and cold cuts can be protected from dehydration with sealable boxes, and sealed foods are best kept in open boxes so you can grab them quickly. With all refrigerator boxes, however, you should always make sure that they are free of BPA and harmful substances - only then are they suitable for food. It also helps to choose transparent material, so the contents are immediately visible.
A tip if you want to set the breakfast table especially quickly: Store everything you need for a delicious breakfast in a box. This way, you can take cold cuts, cream cheese and jam out of the fridge in one go and put them away later in an orderly fashion. You can do the same with the sauces for the barbecue or the snacks for your children.
So that the products of the individual categories are not jumbled up again after one day, you can use storage boxes. This way, the compartments are divided into further smaller compartments. Which boxes are the best for this? That depends on what food you want to store in them.
For fruits and vegetables there are special containers that make them last longer. This is because they filter out the gas ethylene, which is responsible for the ripening process, and ensure optimum humidity. Cheese and cold cuts can be protected from dehydration with sealable boxes, and sealed foods are best kept in open boxes so you can grab them quickly. With all refrigerator boxes, however, you should always make sure that they are free of BPA and harmful substances - only then are they suitable for food. It also helps to choose transparent material, so the contents are immediately visible.
A tip if you want to set the breakfast table especially quickly: Store everything you need for a delicious breakfast in a box. This way, you can take cold cuts, cream cheese and jam out of the fridge in one go and put them away later in an orderly fashion. You can do the same with the sauces for the barbecue or the snacks for your children.
3 - Sort the food againSort your food so that older products don't disappear behind the newest ones and you forget them there. Put new foods in the back and those that are about to expire in the front. Another or additional option: put all food that is already open or soon to be eaten in an extra compartment or container. The goal is to avoid wasting food, and therefore wasting money, as much as possible.
You live together with your family, with your partner or in a shared apartment? So that the other members of the household can also find everything in the refrigerator and sort it correctly, you can label the boxes and compartments with the names of the categories.
Sort your food so that older products don't disappear behind the newest ones and you forget them there. Put new foods in the back and those that are about to expire in the front. Another or additional option: put all food that is already open or soon to be eaten in an extra compartment or container. The goal is to avoid wasting food, and therefore wasting money, as much as possible.
You live together with your family, with your partner or in a shared apartment? So that the other members of the household can also find everything in the refrigerator and sort it correctly, you can label the boxes and compartments with the names of the categories.
4 - Check your refrigerator regularlyHumans are creatures of habit - not always you or others in your household will pay attention to sorting everything correctly and according to the new conditions in the refrigerator. Therefore, take 5 minutes once a week, for example always before your shopping, to create order again. This will also give you an overview of which foods you no longer need to buy and you won't end up with too much in your fridge.
You should also clean the inside of the fridge once a month to prevent the spread of germs. If you store your food in different boxes, it's especially easy to clean them out every now and then to wipe out the fridge.
Humans are creatures of habit - not always you or others in your household will pay attention to sorting everything correctly and according to the new conditions in the refrigerator. Therefore, take 5 minutes once a week, for example always before your shopping, to create order again. This will also give you an overview of which foods you no longer need to buy and you won't end up with too much in your fridge.
You should also clean the inside of the fridge once a month to prevent the spread of germs. If you store your food in different boxes, it's especially easy to clean them out every now and then to wipe out the fridge.
