Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder
A fridge larder is a great way to store produce that's over its prime. It also lets you manage a smaller refrigerator and reduce your energy bill!
It's a great place to store items such as eggs, bread and hard cheeses. Fresh herbs also benefit from the lack of moisture.
Keep It Well-organized
A fridge larder helps reduce food waste and makes it easier to locate ingredients when cooking. The refrigerator, just like any other room in your home, can become cluttered and out of hand. Here are a few suggestions to keep your refrigerator organized and running smoothly.
Take inventory
The most important aspect of organizing your kitchen is to take inventory, according to Holly Blakey, a professional organizer at Breathing Room. "Take everything out and check the expiration dates. Clean all surfaces." Throw away expired food, throw or freeze leftovers and throw away anything that won't be eaten before it gets rotten.
When you replenish your fridge, make sure the items you use most frequently used are in the front and center, Blakey advises. Then, you can put away the less-used items in the back and the bottom of your fridge.
Organize Your Freezer
If you have a chest-freezer, you can organize it with clear storage bins that will help you find foods more easily. Label each bin clearly and group similar items together. Store condiments in one bin, sodas in another, and cheese sticks in the third. You can also use a lazy Susan to store condiments and other items that are frequently used. This will stop them from getting lost in the back of your.
Store food items that require coldest temperatures at the rear of a side by side fridge and foods that require warmer temperatures towards the front of. The lower shelf is ideal for yogurt, milk cream, butter and cream (it will not melt). The crisper drawers are best for spilled produce.
Drawer dividers make your refrigerator more functional and are easy to put in. They'll keep your fruits and veggies from splattering around. They will also stop the food from spoiling. They'll also help keep your drawers clean and organized. Another tip for your fridge is storing tender herbs in water to extend their lifespan. Mason jars that are filled with one inch of liquid work great. You can also purchase an herb preserver to keep in your refrigerator.
Keep It Visible
Keeping your fridge organized will make it easier to find healthy meals that keep you full and content throughout the day. Make sure that all of your lids and containers for food are clear to see what's inside. This will also inform you of the number of days remain on the expiration dates, and prevent you from keeping food that is past its expiration date.
Start by giving your fridge's larder a thorough clean. Scrub the drawers, shelves, and racks using warm water and dishwashing detergent. Give your refrigerator a good scrub to get rid of any crumbs and gross spills that may have built up.
Once everything is clean and dry now is the time to replenish your refrigerator. Start by storing your deli meats and cheeses in the drawer. Then, move to the produce drawer. This is where you should put away greens that are leafy because they will wilt easily. Keep it at least three quarters full to ensure maximum freshness.
The pantry drawers in certain refrigerators can be helpful for storage of party trays, large bags of frozen vegetables and other bulky food items. It is also a great area to house condiments like mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup, as well as nut butters and other canned goods. Milk should not be stored here as the temperature may fluctuate and cause it to spoil quickly.
The rear of your fridge should be a place for jarred food items like salad dressings, salad dressings and other condiments that can last longer. Use a riser on jars to make them easier to read. This will save you from opening and closing the lids several times.
Label each bin with markers or stickers that can be easily read. This will make it easy for your family members to know the contents of each container, and for you to locate the items you require. The addition of bins with labels is also a great way to organize your fridge and decrease the amount of waste that you create.
Keep Cool
A fridge with a good larder can keep food items at the correct temperature to prevent spoilage and also to stop bacterial growth. Larders can be built into existing cabinetry or stand on their own. They are typically located 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 typically also have more solid walls and less windows to keep the inside at a lower temperature than other areas of the house.
A larder should have a drawer for meat and one for vegetables each with a distinct 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 wilted. A drawer for the larder can be set to a low humidity setting for vegetables and fruits that release a lot of moisture, like tomatoes or cucumbers.
To preserve cheese, store it in other drawers of the refrigerator. Wrapped in paper, greaseproof or Clingfilm or greaseproof film, you can keep it fresher for longer. Other items that can be kept in the refrigerator's door include drinks, condiments that are not perishable (like ketchup), water and eggs. fridge sale should not be stored in the doors of the fridge, however - these shelves are warmer and more unstable than drawers in other drawers.
To create a more streamlined appearance, you can arrange small containers to make them easier to see. This is useful for family members who are moving around and require food. Labelling shelves and bins to show what should be eaten first may be beneficial, especially in the case of family members who aren't used to reading labels!
A larder is also an ideal storage space for leftovers, as well as an assortment of food-safe glass and plastic storage containers, which are ideal for holding smaller portions of ingredients. These containers are ideal for saving time and money when shopping. If you have a tidy and organized fridge, with a designated space for these items It will be easier to keep track of your budget for groceries.
Keep it Fresh
The best tips for organizing your fridge reduce food waste by ensuring your healthy food items last longer. Some smart strategies will keep your fresh foods at the correct temperature and allow you to see what's in your fridge.
The majority of refrigerators have crisper drawers that are designed to change airflow and increase humidity to extend the lifespan of fruits and vegetables. It is essential to use these drawers properly. If you mix greens and fruit, for instance the ethylene released by the latter can cause the former to wilt and spoil prematurely. It is also important to separate the different types of produce and store them in the correct drawers.
The door shelves are the most warm part of the fridge. They are best used for items that don't require special cold or storage conditions such as salad dressing jars jams, chutneys, jams and long-life drinks (anything bought in bulk and having the same expiration date). The top shelf can be used to store drinks such as milk and water, which can be stored in a upright position.
Refrigerator drawers can be difficult to keep organized with items that are bouncing around and jumbled together, but there are some simple tips to aid. Set up a refrigerator with drawer dividers. This will help keep your food items separated and prevent them from squishing together. It is also helpful to organize by height. It is easier to store items of similar heights together. Don't put items that aren’t the same height in the same drawer.
A thermometer should be located in your refrigerator. It's a simple, inexpensive and easy to use tool that will ensure your fridge is at the ideal temperature to ensure your food is safe and fresh.
Don't forget to keep a stash of plastic grocery bags in your fridge for storing produce that doesn't have its own container. The moisture contained in the bag keeps vegetables from turning brown. For herbs that typically wilt in a matter of days, an easy method to keep them fresher for longer is to wash them thoroughly and put them in the glass of water which is as effective in retaining moisture as a plastic bag.