Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder
A fridge's larder can be the ideal location to store food items that are no longer in use. It also lets you manage a smaller refrigerator and save money on your energy bill!
It's a convenient place to store things like eggs, bread, and hard cheeses. There are also fresh herbs that benefit from the low humidity.
Keep It In Order
A fridge-friendly larder can reduce food waste and also make it easier to find items when cooking. The refrigerator, as with any other room in your house, can become overcrowded and out of control. Here are a few suggestions to keep your refrigerator organized and functioning smoothly.
Take inventory
The most crucial aspect of organizing your fridge is taking inventory, says Holly Blakey, a professional organizer at Breathing Room. "Take everything out and verify the expiration dates. Clean all surfaces." Throw away expired food and throw away leftovers and dispose of any food items that aren't eaten before it spoils.
Blakey suggests that you place the most frequently used items on the front of your fridge. Then, put away the less frequently used items in the back and the bottom of your fridge.
Organize Your Freezer
If you have a chest freezer, organize it with clear storage bins that aid in the easy search for food items. Label each bin clearly and classify items that are similar together. Put condiments in one container and sodas in another and cheese sticks in another. You can also use a lazy Susan to store condiments and other items that are often used. This will stop them from being lost in the back.
In a refrigerator with a side-byside you can store food items that require the coldest temperatures in the back and warmer foods toward the front. The lower shelf is great for milk, yogurt, cream and butter (it won't melt). And the crisper drawers are best to store spillage from produce.
Drawer dividers can make your fridge more efficient and are simple to install. They'll keep your fruits and veggies from rolling around. This will prevent them from spoiling. In addition, they'll make sure your drawers stay cleaner and tidy. To extend the life of tender herbs, keep them in water. (Mason Jars that hold one inch of water work well.) You can also purchase an herb preserver to keep in your refrigerator.
Keep it Visible
Keeping your fridge organized will help you reach for healthy meals that keep you satisfied and content throughout the day. Make sure that all containers for food are clear so that you can see the contents. This will also show you how many days you have left on the expiration dates, and prevent you from conserving food that has expired.
Start your fridge larder off with a thorough clean by cleaning the drawers, shelves and racks with warm water and dish soap. Give your fridge a thorough clean to rid of any gross spills and crumbs that may have accumulated over time.
Restock your fridge once everything is clean and dry. Start with the deli and cheese drawer -- this is where you should store your cheeses, deli meats leftovers, dairy items and other food items. Then, move on to the produce drawer. This is where you should store the leafy greens as they can wilt easily. Keep it at least three-fourths full to ensure maximum freshness.
The pantry drawer in some refrigerators can be helpful for storage of large bags of frozen vegetables, and other bulky food items. It is also a great space to store condiments such as ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise, as well as nuts, nut butters, and other canned items. Milk shouldn't be stored here since the temperature can fluctuate and cause it to spoil quickly.
The back of your refrigerator should be used for salad dressings, condiments, and other jarred foods that last for an extended period of time. Use a riser to raise the jars so they are easier to read. This will prevent you from opening and closing the lids several times.
Label each bin with the help of a marker or stickers that can be read easily. This will help your family members quickly identify the contents of each bin and help you to locate what you're looking for. Labeled bins are a great method of decluttering your refrigerator and reducing the amount of plastic waste you generate.
Keep Cool
A fridge with a good larder can keep food at a proper temperature which prevents spoilage and slows the growth of bacteria. Larders can be built into existing cabinetry or stand on their own. They are typically located on the north side of the house to minimize sun exposure, and may have extra insulation or an air-conditioning system to keep heat from entering the food storage area. They also typically have more solid walls and less windows to keep the interior at less temperature than other areas of your home.
A larder should include one drawer for meat and one for vegetables, each with a specific setting that can be programmed to the right temperature. This ensures that chicken and burgers will be cooked properly, and the salad greens won't be excessively wilted. A drawer for the larder can be set to a low humidity setting for vegetables and fruits that release a lot of moisture, such as cucumbers or tomatoes.
To preserve cheese, store it in other drawers of the fridge. Wrapped in paper, greaseproof or clingfilm or greaseproof film to keep it fresher for longer. Drinks, non-perishable condiments such as eggs, ketchup and water can also be stored inside the fridge door. The refrigerator door isn't the best location to store milk as it tends to be warmer and less stable than other drawers.
To give your home a more organized appearance, you can arrange small containers to make them more visible. This is beneficial for family members who are on the move and require food. Labeling bins and shelving to indicate what needs to be eaten first could be beneficial, especially when family members aren't used to reading labels!
A larder is also an ideal place to store leftovers and various food-safe glass and plastic storage containers, which are perfect for storing smaller portions of food items. Making these available for quick meals is a great way to save money and time when shopping. If you have a neat well-organized fridge that has the space designated for these items, it will be easier to keep track of your budget for groceries.
Keep It Fresh
The best tips for organizing your fridge help reduce food waste and make your good-for-you groceries last longer. Some smart strategies help ensure that fresh food items are kept at the proper temperature and help to know what you have and where it is.
Crisper drawers are a part of many refrigerators. They alter the flow of air and increase humidity, which can extend the lifespan of fruits and vegetables. However, buy fridge uk to use them properly. Mixing fruits and greens can cause the former, such as the greens, to turn brown or spoil too quickly due to the ethylene produced. Separating different types of fruits and storing them in the proper drawers is essential.
Door shelves are typically the warmest part of the fridge. They should be reserved for food items that don't require extra cold or special storage conditions such as jam, chutneys, jars of jam salad dressings, long-life juices (anything purchased in bulk and with the same date of use). The top shelf can be used to store beverages such as milk and water, which can be stored upright.
Refrigerator drawers can be tricky to organize with all the items moving around and getting jumbled together There are simple tips to aid. Consider investing in a set of refrigerator drawer separators. This will keep your produce separated and prevent them from getting squished together. The ability to organize by size is beneficial. Produce of similar heights can be stored together. Don't store things that aren't the same height in the same drawer.
A thermometer is an additional must-have for your fridge larder. It's a low-cost, simple-to-use tool that will ensure the fridge is at the optimal temperature so your food stays at its safest and freshest.
Keep a supply in your fridge of plastic bags to store produce that is not in a container. The moisture contained in the bag keeps vegetables from turning brown. For herbs that typically go through a slow decline in the course of a day, you can keep them fresher for longer by washing them and putting them in a glass of water. This is as efficient as a plastic bag at keeping moisture.