Expecting a house full of guests this holiday season? For many hosts, the more, the merrier. But while your home may be full of cheer, your fridge might be feeling the pinch. If you’re limited on fridge space but still want to prepare everyone’s favorite dishes for your holiday feasts, try this simple trick.
Introduce Your Condiments to the Cooler
This trick is so simple, you’ll be kicking yourself for not thinking of it sooner. For instant fridge space, move all of your condiments from the refrigerator to an insulated cooler. This will immediately clear out room in your fridge doors and perhaps even a few shelves, depending on how saucy you like your meals. Once the condiments are in the cooler (using a two-to-one ratio of ice to items), simply move it to a spot out of the way. Now you can use that extra fridge space for whatever you need. Remember: Many condiments, including hot sauce, mustard, ketchup, soy sauce, and even store-bought mayonnaise, can be safely stored at room temperature, so move those right into the pantry if the cooler gets cramped.
More Ways To Make Room
Still need more space? Don’t sweat it — there are plenty of other ways to make room in your fridge. First, tackle oversized packaging by transferring items, such as lettuce or grapes, out of their bulky plastic cartons and into space-saving Ziploc bags. Next, check your produce: Some uncut fruits, including apples and oranges, can go from the crisper to the cupboard. (For reference, here is an extensive list of fruits that should and should not be refrigerated.)
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Finally, if large liquid containers such as soda or juice are taking up valuable shelf space, try one of two tricks: Either buy smaller sizes the week you host, or pour them into water bottles. You can then store those bottles in the fridge doors to free up shelves for bigger dishes, such as turkeys, hams, casseroles, and pies. (Because the fridge door is subject to temperature fluctuations, avoid storing any perishable dairy items there.)
You don’t have to battle your kitchen just to pull off a festive get-together or a long weekend with your favorite visitors. Instead, get a little creative and use what you have on hand.
