9 Fridge Organization Blunders They Never Told You About

A Johns Hopkins University study revealed that Americans waste 31 to 40% of the food they buy. This wastage amounts to a whopping $161.6 billion annually. Poor fridge organization is one of the leading causes of this rampant food wastage. That’s why knowing how to organize a fridge correctly can significantly reduce this food wastage. 

It’s also imperative to learn and avoid some of the fridge organization mistakes that waste food. Here are the leading fridge organization blunders you should avoid like the plague. 

Storing Milk in the Door

Storing your milk in the fridge’s door is a free passport to food wastage because the chances of spoiling are high at the door. Why? Because the door is your fridge’s warmest spot. Instead, store your milk on the middle shelf that enjoys consistent temperatures. You can also do the same for eggs if you want them to remain fresher for longer. 

Not Storing Meat in the Lowest Shelf

You only have two spots to store your meat unless you want to waste it. These positions are the freezer or the shelf’s lowest shelf where it can’t drip on other foods. It’s also critical to place the meat on a tray on the lowest shelf to avoid leaks and facilitate easy cleaning if the meat leaks.

Forgetting That Trays, Bins, and Baskets Have Their Rightful Place

Bins, trays, and baskets have their rightful place in the fridge. You can use trays to hold meat to avoid unsightly leaks. You may also use bins to hold foods that don’t fit in the fridge’s door. This way, you will preserve your food without messing up your fridge. 

Overfilling or Underfilling the Fridge 

Nothing in life is more beautiful than balance. You have to organize your fridge to ensure that it is neither overfilled or empty. Overfilling your fridge can make you forget some stored foods since they get out of sight. Overstocking also blocks air vents, impedes airflow, and reduces energy efficiency. Eventually, you beat the very reason for refrigerating the food since it is most likely to spoil faster.

What about an empty fridge? You can organize it by filling it with some water bottles. These bottles will chill and help the fridge maintain its cool temperatures. Ensure that the refrigerator is at least two-thirds full.

Storing Vegetables and Fruits in the Same Drawer

Storing fruits and veggies in the same drawer is another organizational blunder that promotes food wastage. The latest fridges have two drawers designed for fruits and veggies. If the veggie drawer is full, don’t try to store the extras in the fruit drawer. Why? Because the vegetable drawer is designed for high-humidity foods that wither slowly when exposed to moisture. 

Inversely, the fruit drawer is designed for fruits because they go bad slower in low humidity. Additionally, mixing the two products means that fruit ethylene will make your veggies rot faster. 

Not Zoning the Fridge

Failing to zone your fridge is another blunder to avoid. Don’t place food anywhere in the fridge just because it has space. This temporary convenience could cause bigger organizational problems.

Therefore, zone your fridge and inform everybody in the home about it. Using dividers to separate different foods makes navigating the fridge easier for everyone at home. It also allows you to take stock of your food easily and organize it more conveniently. 

Storing Pre-cut Fruits and Veggies in the Fridge 

Many people prefer washing and pre-cutting vegetables and fruits before refrigerating them to promote healthy snacking. However, chopping most fresh produce makes it faster because it exposes most of its surface. Thus, it’s better to wash and cut only those fruits and vegetables needing immediate consumption. 

Placing New Foods in the Fridge’s Front 

Placing new foods in your fridge’s front is another organizational mistake to avoid. You must organize your fridge so that you remove the foods that came in first before those that come in later. This way, you will be better placed to eat the food that is nearing expiry before the one that’s still fresher. 

Not Labeling Your Food 

Failing to label your food is another mistake to avoid. Therefore, start labeling your food because it helps you remember when you prepared which food. It also helps you know how much time you have before you finish each stored food.

Poor fridge organization significantly promotes food wastage in many American homes. This post exposed the nine top fridge organization blunders to avoid. Use these insights to organize a fridge in a manner that gives you more value for your food.