Organizing the refrigerator can be like a game of Tetris, as every ounce of free space matters. You may find yourself precariously balancing a jar of pasta sauce atop a box of leftover pizza with a bottle of ketchup shoved in between, all to maximize your total storage capacity. But these haphazard arrangements can make…
Clean the Fridge Regularly
An organized fridge begins with a regular cleaning routine, which should be done once a month. Dispose of any items past their expiration dates or foods you know you’ll never actually eat. It’s also a good idea to clean out the refrigerator ahead of any major holidays or events where you know there will be tons of prep and leftovers. By being proactive, you won’t be left struggling to find room for all the post-dinner Tupperware you’ll inevitably end up with.
Place Food on Cooling Racks
Premade dishes need room in the fridge without the risk of getting smushed; cooling racks are an excellent way to achieve this. Purchase a few cooling racks (such as those made for quarter-sheet baking pans) and place them on top of your food storage containers. This effectively creates another shelf, maximizing vertical space. If you’re storing anything delicate, like pies or mashed potatoes, avoid placing it on the bottom “shelf,” unless the container has adequate space between the food and rim or comes with a rigid lid.
Utilize Lazy Susans
Lazy Susans and other rotating organizers can help you reach condiments, jars, and sauces that would otherwise be hidden in the back of the fridge. Place a lazy Susan on a shelf with enough clearance and fill it up with any items that you expect to use regularly. (Tip: A rectangular lazy Susan, such as this one, can squeeze into corners and pulls forward for easy access.)
Add Pull-Out Drawers
Installing pull-out drawers that attach to the bottom of existing shelves is a great way to reclaim some of the vertical fridge space you may not be fully utilizing. These drawers are easy to install, and are also excellent for sorting food items into different categories such as dairy, meats, fruits, vegetables, and more.
Install Clear Stacking Drawers
Stackable drawers are another way to ensure you’re using all of the available vertical space. These clear bins are much like pull-out drawers, but they sit on top of shelves rather than hang. They’re perfect for fruits and vegetables, yogurt cups, deli meat, or anything else you wish to organize. Best of all, they come in multiple sizes and will stack as high as your refrigerator allows.
With a few organizers and a regular cleaning schedule, you won’t have to struggle to find room in the fridge any longer. Just be proactive and the results will pay off immediately — you’ll have no reason to pass up that extra-large jar of pickles from Costco.
