By Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful
The first essential ingredient for an efficient kitchen? A well-organized fridge. Read through our tips laid out in eight easy steps. Then, be sure to shop all the life-changing fridge organization and food storage products—yes, they'll actually change your day-to-day existence for the better, as you'll be able to keep your produce fresh longer, navigate your fridge (and the entire kitchen) better, and prep better food.
Clean and Clear It Out
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Things have to get worse before they can get better... So, before you can really get organized, start by clearing out your entire fridge and cleaning it properly so you can start anew.
Read More: How Do I Shop for the Holidays Without Wasting Money?
Separate Fruits and Veggies
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Make sure your fridge and its various sectioned-off compartments are set to the right humidity levels and keep your fruits and veggies separate for this exact reason (fruits prefer lower moisture levels). Separate the drawers for different foods (ideally one for fruits, and another for veggies).
Get Your Leftovers in Order
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If you meal prep or order take out a lot, make sure you have a designated zone for leftovers. But it doesn't stop there: You also need to make sure you're storing them the right way. These bowl covers are also great if you don't want to transfer anything into other containers.
Find a Spot for Milk and Eggs
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Put your milk and eggs on a shelf, not the side door compartment—save that area for your condiments. If you don't have space on the same shelf because of other beverages that require that extra, you can put your eggs on the top shelf.
Read More: How to Use a Can Opener the Right Way
Put Meats on a Tray
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Meats should be stored on the lowest shelf to prevent any drippings from reaching other foods. And if you’re worried about drippings or you want to minimize fridge clean up, put a tray under them. Even better? A lazy Susan so you can grab and go more quickly.
Stack Your Bottles
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Fun fact: Wine is actually supposed to be stored horizontally, so a little space in your fridge for chilling will do the trick. If you're a wine drinker, don't overlook this step. Lay wine in stackable holders to take up less space, put all leftovers in containers with leak-proof lids in their own area. You can also use these to store other bottles.
Store Your Herbs Properly
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If you have any herbs that require refrigeration, take them out of the package once opened and place them in a glass cup or container with a bit of water. Some items may benefit from being kept in containers or in market bags, like lettuce and herbs.
Tuck Canned Goods Away
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Canned goods, homemade sauces, and any fermented goods should be kept in glass jars in the side door or on the highest shelf, where they don't need the same height that other products require.
And voilà ! Your fridge is now organized.
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