Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder
A fridge larder is a great method to store produce that's past its best. It also lets you run a smaller fridge and save money on your energy bills!
It's the perfect place to store items like breads, hard cheeses, and eggs. Fresh herbs are another option which benefit from low humidity.
Keep It In Order
A fridge-friendly larder can reduce food waste, and also make it easier to find items when cooking. But, just like any other room in your home, the refrigerator can get messy and out of control. Here are a few tips to keep your refrigerator organized and running smoothly.
Take Inventory
The most important part of organizing your fridge is taking inventory, according to Holly Blakey, a professional organizer at Breathing Room. "Take everything out and look for the expiration dates. Clean all surfaces." Dispose of food that has expired, throw or freeze leftovers and dispose of any food items that aren't eaten before it spoils.
Blakey suggests putting the most frequently used items on the front of your fridge. Then, you can put away the less frequently used items in the back and bottom of your fridge.
Organize Your Freezer
If you have a freezer in your chest put it in order with clear storage bins that will help you easily locate foods. Clearly label each bin and place similar items together. For instance, you can put a bin in the pantry for condiments, another one for sodas and one for cheese sticks. You can also use a lazy Susan for condiments and other frequently used items to prevent them from being lost in the back.
Store food items that require coldest temperatures at the rear of a side-by-side refrigerator and other items that require warmer temperatures towards the front of. The lower shelf works well for milk, yogurt cream, butter, and cream (it won't melt). The crisper drawers are best for spilled food items.
Drawer dividers are an affordable and simple way to make your refrigerator more functional. They'll stop your fruits and vegetables from rolling around, preventing them from spoiling before you can use them. Additionally, they'll help ensure that your drawers stay cleaner and tidy. To prolong the longevity of tender herbs, store them in water. Mason jars filled with one inch of liquid work well. You can also buy an herb preserver to keep in your refrigerator.
Keep it visible
Keeping your fridge organized will allow you to reach for healthy foods that keep you full and happy throughout the day. Make sure all your containers for food are clear so you can see the contents. fridge uk will let you know the number of days left on the expiration date and prevent you storing food that's over its best.
Get your fridge's larder started with a thorough clean by cleaning the drawers, shelves and racks with warm water and dish soap. Then give your refrigerator a thorough clean to rid of any soiled crumbs and spills that may have accumulated over time.
After everything is dry and clean now is the time to replenish your refrigerator. Start with the cheese and deli drawer -- this is where you should keep your cheeses, deli meats, leftovers and dairy items. Then, move to the produce drawer. This is where you should keep leafy greens because they quickly wilt. Make sure it is at least three-quarters full to ensure freshness.
The pantry drawer in some refrigerators can be useful for storage of party trays, large bags of frozen vegetables and other food items that are bulky. This drawer can be used to store condiments such as ketchup and mustard, as well as nut-butters and other canned goods. Be careful not to store milk here however, as it could go bad quickly due to the fluctuating temperatures in the refrigerator door.
The back of your refrigerator should be reserved for salad dressings, condiments, and other jarred foods that will last for longer. Use a riser to raise the jars so they are easier to read. This will prevent you from opening and closing the lids a few times.
Label each bin using the help of a marker or with stickers that can be read easily. This will help your family members easily identify what each container holds and make it easier to locate what you're searching for. Labeled bins are an excellent method of reducing the clutter in your fridge and reducing the amount plastic waste you generate.
Keep Cool
A fridge with a good larder can keep food at the proper temperature to protect against spoiling and also to stop the growth of bacterial. Larders can be installed into cabinets that are already in place or can stand alone. They are typically placed on the north-facing 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 are also usually built with thicker walls and fewer windows to keep the interior at the lower temperature than other areas of the house.
The larder should include a drawer for each type of food, such as meat and vegetables. Each drawer should be programmed to maintain the proper temperature. This will ensure that the chicken and burgers are cooked to perfection, however the salad greens will not get too wilted. You can set the drawer of your larder to a low-humidity setting for any fruit or vegetable that release a lot of moisture such as cucumbers or tomatoes.
To preserve cheese, store it in other drawers in the fridge. Wrapped in greaseproof paper, Clingfilm or greaseproof film, you can keep it fresher for longer. Other items that can be stored in the refrigerator's door include beverages and non-perishable condiments (like ketchup) as well as eggs, water and. The door of the refrigerator is not the ideal location to store milk since it tends to be more warm and unstable than other drawers.
To create a more streamlined appearance, you can arrange small containers to make them more easily visible. This is beneficial for family members who are traveling and require food. Labelling shelves and bins to indicate what needs to be eaten first can also be beneficial, especially if family members aren't accustomed to reading labels!
A larder can also be the ideal place to store leftovers and a selection of food-safe plastic and glass storage containers, which are ideal for holding smaller portions of ingredients. Having these ready for quick meals is a sure way to save money and time when shopping. And if you have a clean, tidy fridge with a dedicated space for storing the items, it will be much easier to stay on top of your food budget!
Keep it Fresh
The most efficient ways to organize your fridge reduce food waste and help your healthy groceries last longer. Some smart strategies help ensure that fresh food items are kept at the proper temperature and make it easier to see what you have in your fridge and where it is.
Most refrigerators come with crisper drawers designed to alter airflow and increase humidity to extend the life of vegetables and fruits. It is essential to use these drawers properly. Mixing fruits and greens can cause the former, like the greens, to turn brown or become spoiled due to the ethylene produced. Separating different types of fruits and storing them in the proper drawers is essential.
Door shelves are typically the most warm part of the fridge. They should be reserved for foods that don't need extra cold or special storage conditions like jam, chutneys, jars of jam, salad dressings and long-life juices (anything purchased in bulk and with the same expiration date). The top shelf is perfect for beverages that can be stored upright and without leaks, such as milk and water.
It isn't easy to keep refrigerator drawers arranged, with items rolling and jumbling together. However, there are simple tips to help. First, invest in a set of refrigerator drawer dividers to keep the food items separate and prevent them from colliding against each one. It is also helpful to organize by height. Keep produce of similar heights on the same shelf, and don't store things that aren't the same height adjacent to one another Raw meat shouldn't be kept in the same drawer with cooked Ham!
A thermometer is a important item to have for your fridge's larder. It's a low-cost, easy to use device that will ensure your fridge is operating at the ideal temperature to ensure your food is safe and fresh.
Have a stash in your fridge of plastic bags to store produce without containers. The moisture contained in the bag prevents vegetables from rotting too quickly. For herbs that usually go through a slow decline in the course of a day you can keep them fresher longer by washing them and placing them in a glass of water. This is as efficient as a plastic bag at keeping moisture.