How To Organize a Kitchen - Fridge & Freezer
Organizing a kitchen can be a big task. Break it down into sections to make it more manageable.
If you don't have a lot of time but need to get your kitchen organized it's much easier if you do it section by section. There are 4 sections to focus on: drawers, cabinets, under the sink, and the fridge/freezer. We are going to focus on the fridge & freezer in this article. Let's get started.
1. Get organizers.
The best fridge and freezer organizers are clear plastic. You need to be able to see what's in them and you need to be able to easily wipe them down. Our fridge organizing pack comes with everything you need.
2. Empty the fridge & freezer.
Pull everything out. And give the fridge & freezer a good wipe down.
Group everything as you pull it out. Common groups: dairy, condiments, meats, cheese, drinks, snacks, fruits, vegetables etc.
3. Time to purge.
Food is either a toss or a keep. And there are some hard and fast rules around it:
- Toss anything expired or smelling funky.
- Toss too soft fruits or veggies.
- Toss anything moldy.
- Combine multiples of the same products as long as they are about the same age (I'm looking at you soy sauce and ketchup).
- Toss anything you know will never get eaten.
4. Consider the layout.
Fridges and freezers come in a variety of sizes. Many have adjustable shelves. It may take a few rearranges to get yours to it's perfect arrangement. That's ok. Work with it and it will be worth it in the end.
4. Start filling.
Look at the sizes of your groups and match them to the sizes of the organizers. Do not feel like you need to use all the bins in just the fridge. I use some in my freezer too because I like a couple open spaces in my fridge for rotating foods.
4. Finishing up.
Label all bins. If your fridge is full but you still have more items, DO NOT keep stuffing and overfill the fridge or freezer. Do another round of purging.
Sometimes there are things in the fridge that do not need to be refrigerated like bread & some fruits and vegetables. Take those out to make more space and possibly add them to your pantry. If you have more room in your freezer, consider freezing some fridge items like cheese & meats, bonus...they keep longer!
Your fridge & freezer should now be in top shape. You know where everything is and everything is in a place that makes sense. Your clearly labeled bins will keep everything right where they should be and help you stay organized.
You are now ready to organize another section of your kitchen!
For super easy fridge organizing check out our complete fridge organizing pack. It comes with everything you need right down to the labels. If you are needing a complete kitchen organizing solution check out our kitchen organizing packs. They come in every size you need.
This post is part of the kitchen organizing series: drawers, cabinets, under the sink, and the fridge/freezer.
Happy organizing!