Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder
A fridge's larder is the ideal place to store expired produce. It also helps you run a smaller fridge and help you save money on your energy bill!
It's a handy space to store items such as eggs, bread and hard cheeses. Fresh herbs also benefit from the lack of moisture.
Keep It Well-organized
A fridge larder can help reduce food waste and make it easier to locate items when cooking. The refrigerator, just like any other room in your house can become messy and unorganized. Here are a few tips to keep your fridge organized and functioning smoothly.
Take Inventory
Holly Blakey, an organizer at Breathing room The Breathing room believes 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 and throw away leftovers, and get rid of any food items that aren't eaten before it gets rotten.
Blakey suggests that you place the most frequently used items in the front of your fridge. Then, tuck away the less-used items in the back and bottom of your fridge.
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 food items more easily. Clearly label each bin and place similar items together. For example, store a bin to store condiments, another for sodas, and another for cheese sticks. You can also make use of a lazy Susan to store condiments and other items that are often used. This will keep them from being lost in the back.
Store food items that require coldest temperatures at the rear of a side by side fridge and foods that require warmer temperatures towards the front. The lower shelf is ideal for cream, milk or butter (it won't melt), yogurt and any other items that don't require constant temperatures. The crisper drawers work best for spilled produce.
Drawer dividers are a cost-effective and simple method of making your refrigerator more functional. They'll prevent your vegetables and fruits from getting lost, preventing them from spoiling before you can use them. Additionally, they'll help ensure that your drawers remain clean and well-organized. To prolong the longevity of tender herbs, keep them in water. (Mason Jars that hold an inch of water work well.) You can also purchase an herb saver to put in your refrigerator.
Keep it visible
Keep your fridge well organized to make it easier to choose healthy food choices and feel satisfied throughout the day. Make sure all your food containers are transparent so that you can see the contents. This will also let you know how many days you have left on the expiration dates and will prevent you from keeping food that is past its expiration date.
Start by giving your refrigerator's larder a thorough clean. Scrub the drawers, shelves, and racks with warm water and dish detergent. Then give your refrigerator a good clean to rid of any gross spills and crumbs that may have accumulated over the course of time.
Once everything is clean and dry It's time to replenish your refrigerator. Start with the deli and cheese drawer -- this is where you should keep your cheeses, deli meats, leftovers and dairy items. Then, move to the produce drawer which should be reserved for greens with a lot of leaf as they tend to fade quickly. Keep it filled to three-fourths to ensure maximum freshness.
The pantry drawer in some refrigerators is a great place to store storing party trays, large bags of frozen vegetables, and other food items that are bulky. This drawer can be used to store condiments such as mustard and ketchup, along with nut-butters and other canned goods. Milk shouldn't be stored here since the temperature fluctuates and cause it to spoil quickly.
The back of your refrigerator should be reserved for condiments, salad dressings and other jarred food items that last for a long time. Try using a riser to raise jars so that they are easier to read. This can save you from having to open and close the lid several times, which can prolong the longevity of your condiments.
Label each bin with a marker, or with stickers that can be easily read. This will let your family members easily identify the contents of each bin and will help you to find what you're looking for. Labeled bins are a great method of reducing the clutter in your fridge and reducing the amount of plastic waste you create.
Keep it Cool
A good fridge larder keeps food at the correct 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 placed on the north-facing side of your house to reduce exposure to sun, and may have extra insulation or a ventilation system to prevent heat from getting into the food storage area. They have walls that are thicker and have fewer windows. They are generally situated on the north-facing side of your home to limit the transfer of heat.
A larder should have one drawer for meat and one for vegetables each with a distinct setting that can be programmed to the right temperature. This will ensure that chicken and burgers will be cooked to perfection, and that the salad greens won't become overly damaged. A drawer for the larder can be set to a low-humidity setting for fruits and vegetables that expel a lot of moisture, like cucumbers or tomatoes.
To preserve cheese, keep it in different drawers in the fridge. Wrapped in greaseproof paper, clingfilm or greaseproof film to keep it fresher for longer. Other items that can be stored in the refrigerator's door include drinks as well as non-perishable condiments (like ketchup) as well as eggs, water and. Milk should not be kept in the refrigerator doors, however - these shelves tend to be warmer and more unstable than drawers in other drawers.
To create a more streamlined appearance, you can organize small containers to make them more visible. This is helpful for family members who are traveling and need food. Labelling shelves or bins to show which food items should be consumed first is also beneficial, especially if your family members don't know how to read labels!
A larder is also a great place to store leftovers and an assortment of food-safe glass and plastic storage containers, which are ideal for holding smaller portions of ingredients. fridge on sale are great to save time and money while shopping. If you have a neat, organized fridge with the space designated for these items it will be easier to stay on top of your budget for groceries.
Keep It Fresh
The best fridge organization tips reduce food waste by ensuring your healthy foods last longer. A few clever strategies will keep your fresh food at the proper temperature and help to find what you have in your fridge and where it is.
Most refrigerators come with crisper drawers designed to alter airflow and increase humidity to prolong the life of fruits and vegetables. However, it's crucial to use them in a proper manner. Mixing greens and fruit can cause the former, like the greens to wilt or spoil prematurely due to the ethylene produced. Separating produce types and storing them in appropriate drawers is crucial.
Door shelves are typically the warmest part of the fridge. They should be reserved for foods that don't require extra cold or special storage conditions like jam jars, chutneys salad dressings, long-life juices (anything bought in bulk with the same expiration date). The top shelf can be used to store beverages like water and milk that can be stored in a upright position.
It can be difficult to keep refrigerator drawers tidy, with things moving and jiggling. But there are some simple tricks to help. Set up a refrigerator with drawer dividers. This will keep your food items separate and stop them from squishing together. The ability to organize by size is helpful. It is easier to store items of similar heights together. Don't put things that aren't the same height in the same drawer.
A thermometer is a essential item to have in your fridge. It's a cheap, easy-to use device that will ensure that your fridge is at an optimal temperature to keep your food fresh and safe.
Keep a supply in your refrigerator of plastic bags for storing produce without containers. The moisture in the bag prevents vegetables from rotting. For herbs that normally will wilt over time you can keep them fresher for longer by washing them and placing them in a glass of water. This is just as efficient as a plastic bag at retaining moisture.