Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder
A fridge larder can be a great location to store food items that are no longer in use. You can also use smaller refrigerators to save money on energy bills!
It's a great location to store items such breads, cheeses, and eggs. Fresh herbs also benefit from low moisture.
Keep It Well-organized
A fridge-friendly larder can reduce food waste and also make it easier to find items when cooking. However, as with any room in your home, the refrigerator can get messy and out of control. Here are some tips to keep your refrigerator running smoothly and neatly.
Take inventory
Holly Blakey, an organizer at Breathing room, says that taking inventory is the most important step in organizing your fridge. "Take everything out, look up expiration dates, and wash the surfaces." Get rid of expired food items, throw or freeze leftovers, and get rid of anything that won't be eaten before it spoils.
Blakey suggests putting the most frequently used items at the front of your fridge. Then, put the items that are not often used in the back and back of your refrigerator.
Organize Your Freezer
If you have a chest freezer it is possible to organize it using clear storage containers that will allow you to find foods easier. Clearly label each bin and put similar items together. For example, keep a container for condiments, another one for sodas, and another for cheese sticks. You can also use a lazy Susan for condiments and other frequently used items to keep them from being lost in the back of your.
In a refrigerator with a side-byside, store foods that require the coldest temperatures in the back and warmer food items in the front. The lower shelf is ideal for milk, cream or butter (it doesn't melt), yogurt and any other items that don't need consistent temperatures. And the crisper drawers are best for storing spillage of produce.
Drawer dividers make your fridge more efficient and are simple to install. They'll keep your vegetables and fruits from splattering around. They will also stop them from spoiling. They'll also keep your drawers clean and organized. To prolong the time of tender herbs store them in water. Mason jars that are filled with an inch of liquid work great. Alternatively, you can buy an herb saver to place in your fridge.
Keep it Visible
Organising your fridge will help you reach for healthy food choices that keep you satisfied and happy throughout the day. Make sure that all of your food containers are transparent so that you can see the contents. This will inform you of the number of days left on the expiration date and prevent you storing food that's beyond its expiration date.
Begin by giving your refrigerator's larder a thorough clean. Scrub the shelves, drawers, and racks using warm water and dishwashing soap. Give your refrigerator a thorough clean to get rid of any food debris and spills that may have accumulated.
Once everything is clean and dry, it's time to restock your refrigerator. Start with the cheese and deli drawer -- this is where you should store your deli meats, cheeses leftovers, dairy items and other food items. Then, you can move to the produce drawer. This is where you should store leafy greens because they quickly wilt. Keep it about three-fourths full for maximum freshness.
The pantry drawer in some refrigerators can be useful for storage of large bags of frozen vegetables, and other food items that are bulky. fridges for sale can be used to store condiments like ketchup and mustard, as well as nut-butters and other canned items. Milk shouldn't be stored in this area as the temperature may fluctuate and cause it to spoil quickly.
Also, the back of your fridge should be reserved for jarred meals, salad dressings and other condiments that will last longer. Use a riser to elevate jars, so they are easier to read. This will save you from closing and opening the lids several times.
Label each bin using the help of a marker or with stickers that can be read easily. This will make it easier for your family to understand what each container contains, and for you to find the items you require. Labeled bins are a great method of reducing the clutter in your fridge and reducing the amount plastic waste you create.
Keep It Cool
A good fridge larder keeps food at the correct temperature, preventing spoilage and slowing the growth of bacterial. Larders are installed into cabinets that are already in place or can stand alone. They are typically located on the northern side of the house to limit sunlight exposure. They could also be equipped with additional insulation or ventilation to stop heat from entering the food storage area. They have walls that are thicker with fewer windows, and are generally placed on the north side of your house to limit the transfer of heat.
A larder should include an area for meat storage and one for vegetables each with a distinct setting that can be programmed to the right temperature. This will ensure that the chicken and burgers are cooked to perfection, but the salad greens won't get too discolored. You can also set the larder drawer to a low-humidity setting for any fruit or vegetable that release a lot of moisture, like tomatoes or cucumbers.
To preserve cheese, keep it in other drawers of the refrigerator. Wrapped in greaseproof paper, clingfilm or greaseproof film to keep it fresher for longer. Drinks, non-perishable condiments such as eggs, ketchup and water can also be stored in 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 space a more sleek appearance, you can organize small containers to make them easier to see. This is beneficial for family members who are traveling and need something to eat. Labelling shelves or bins to indicate which foods are best eaten first is also beneficial, especially if your family members don't know how to read labels!
A larder can also be a great place to store leftovers and a selection of food-safe glass and plastic storage containers, which are ideal for smaller portions of ingredients. Preparing these for quick meals is a good way to save money and time when shopping. And if you have a clear, tidy fridge with space specifically designated for storage of the items, it will be much easier to stay on top of your grocery budget!
Keep It Fresh
The best ways to organize your fridge reduce food waste and make your healthy food items last longer. Some smart strategies will keep your fresh foods at the correct temperature and make it easy to find what's in your fridge.
Most refrigerators come with crisper drawers designed to alter airflow and boost humidity to prolong the life of fruits and vegetables. But it's important to use them correctly. Mixing greens and fruit can cause the former, like the greens to wilt or spoil too quickly because of the ethylene that is produced. Separating different types of fruits and storing them in proper drawers is essential.
Door shelves are often the warmest part of the fridge and should be reserved for food items that don't require extra cold or storage conditions that are special, such as jam, chutneys, jars of jam salad dressings, and long-life juices (anything that is bought in bulk with the same expiration date). The top shelf is ideal for beverages that can be stored upright without leaks, such as milk and water.
Refrigerator drawers can be tricky to keep organized with items that are bouncing around and mixed up However, there are easy tricks to help. First, invest in refrigerator drawer dividers to keep produce separated and prevent them from colliding against each one. Organizing by height also helps. Produce of similar heights can be stored together. Don't place items that aren't of the same height in the same drawer.
A thermometer is essential to have in your fridge. It's a cheap, easy-to-use tool that will ensure the fridge is at the optimal temperature to ensure that your food is at its safest and freshest.
Don't forget to keep a supply of plastic grocery bags in your fridge for storing food items that don't come in its own container. The moisture trapped in the bag keeps veggies from rotting too fast. For herbs that normally wilt in days they can be kept fresher for longer by washing them and placing them in a water glass. This is just as effective as a plastic sack in keeping moisture.