Fridge 101: Fridge Organization Kaizen Style

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When I started researching fridge organization, I wanted science-backed info for this guide. The first thing I did was to hit up The Google but that was sending me down all kinds of rabbit holes and all I was getting was a load of conflicting information.

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Should fridge 101 AKA fridge organization REALLY be so hard?

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So I cut to the chase and reached out to the world’s number one manufacturer of refrigerators, Samsung. The information shared here is based on their findings, and they really should know what they are talking about!

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Not all fridges are the same in design but most have:

• Compartments in the door
• A chiller section
• The main section
• Freezer

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Another thing to think about is that climate can play a big part on what you keep in the fridge. Back in the UK I have never kept jams, ketchup or eggs in the fridge yet in Japan these are a must! So take the ‘rules’ as a guide and throw in a dollop of common sense too.

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Take your first cue from your own fridge, if there are special compartments for say, eggs or bottles, meat, dairy – take it as given that you should put those items in those compartments. The exception here is the “use soon rule”.

Anything that needs using up, should be on the eye-level shelf.

USE SOON

This is the most important shelf in your fridge – yes even more important than the wine shelf!
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This shelf is the one that is at your eye level, so pick a shelf, assign it as the “use soon” shelf and stick to it.
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The rule is simple, any leftovers get put on this shelf, anything that is nearing its use-by-date gets put on here too. That’s because you will see it every time you open the fridge, reminding you to use it up. It will be at the forefront of your mind.
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Often items get shoved to the back and lost only to be discovered three weeks later with a layer of green fur on them!
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Using this method will stop food from going to waste and save you money
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DAIRY

Using the use-by date is the best point of reference for dairy products. Keep hard cheeses tightly packed in a moisture-proof wrap. Soft cheeses keep in their original packing and reseal. DON’T return unused portions to the original pack.

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Dairy likes to hang out in the cooler parts of the fridge.

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MEAT & FISH

Fresh, uncooked meat – store in the coldest part of the fridge in original packing. Package in moisture-proof and vapour proof container for freezing.

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If you have a choice, place the meat on the lowest section of the fridge, that way if there is a spill of meat juices, the rest of the food in your fridge won’t be contaminated. Be conscious of cross-contamination with raw meats.

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Cooked meats –  store in the coldest part of the fridge in original packing.

Package in moisture-proof and vapour proof container for freezing.

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Fish – store in the coldest part of the fridge in original packing.

Package in moisture-proof and vapour proof container for freezing.

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Shellfish – Package in moisture-proof and vapour proof container for freezing.

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FRUIT & VEG

These are general guidelines because of the huge variety of fruit and veg and the climate makes a big difference in how fruit and veg are stored too. Some fridges come with a ‘crisper’ drawer, this is designed for fruit and veg.

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Do not wash fruit and veg before storing, wash before you are about to use it.

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Store in moisture-resistant bags or containers. Wrap cut fruit/veg.

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Citrus fruits, store uncovered.

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EGGS

Often fridges come with an eggs section, if yours has one, use it. When restocking move the older eggs to the front so that they get used first. Otherwise, keep uncooked eggs in the coolest part of the fridge in their original container.

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Cooked eggs and leftover egg dishes are best stored in a covered container and on the Use Soon shelf.

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MILK & JUICE

Opened milk and fresh juice cartons are best stored in the door compartments if you have them. Keep the container closed and never return unused portions to the container.

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CONDIMENTS

Most condiments are happy in the fridge door or can be stored on spare shelves, they are pretty happy-go-lucky as far as fridge residency goes unless there are specific instructions on the item’s label.

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Final Tips

Keeping your fridge clean will extend its life and keep it free of odor and germs.

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Make it a habit to wipe down the inside shelves, walls, and accessories on a regular basis – just before you do a big shop is a great time!

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Use a mild detergent and dry everything before you return the food back to the fridge.

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Don’t forget to do the outside too, lots of grubby little hands tend to touch the outside of the fridge (when you have kids at home!)

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Revert to your fridge’s manual if you have parts of the fridge you are unsure about cleaning, especially for added extras like drink and ice dispenser.

Grab the Wonder Mom Cleaning Checklist so that staying on top of the house is easy and doable (plus there are lots of things in the library to keep the kids bust too!)

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