Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder
A fridge larder can be a great way to store produce that's over its prime. It also lets you manage a smaller refrigerator and help you save money on your energy bill!
It's a handy space for storing provisions like eggs, bread and hard cheeses. Fresh herbs also benefit from a low moisture.
Keep It Well-organized
A fridge larder helps reduce food waste and makes it easier to find ingredients when cooking. However, like any space in your home, the refrigerator can get messy and chaotic. Here are some suggestions to keep your refrigerator running smoothly and neatly.
Take inventory
The most important part of organizing your kitchen is taking inventory, says Holly Blakey, a professional organizer at Breathing Room. "Take everything out and verify the expiration dates. Clean all surfaces." Get rid of expired food items and throw away leftovers and dispose of anything that won't be eaten before it goes bad.
cheap fridges uk suggests that you place the most frequently used items on the front of your fridge. Then, put the items that are not frequently used in the bottom and the back of your refrigerator.
Organize Your Freezer
If you have a chest-freezer, you can organize it using clear storage bins that will help you find foods more easily. Label each bin clearly and group items that are similar together. Store condiments in one bin and sodas in a different, and cheese sticks in the third. 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 in the back of a side-by-side refrigerator and other items that require warmer temperatures towards the front of. The lower shelf is great for cream, milk or butter (it won't melt) yogurt and other items that don't require constant temperatures. The crisper drawers are best to store spilled fruits and vegetables.
Drawer dividers can make your fridge more functional and are easy to install. They'll prevent your vegetables and fruits from getting lost, preventing them from rotting before you are able to use them. They'll also keep your drawers tidy and organized. To prolong the longevity of tender herbs, keep them in water. (Mason jars that have one inch of water work great.) Alternately, you can purchase an herb saver that you can put in your refrigerator.
Keep It Clearly
Organising your fridge will make it easier to find healthy meals that will keep you feeling full and content throughout the day. Make sure that all of your lids and containers for food are clear so you can see what's inside. This will let you know the remaining days on your expiration date, and prevent you storing food that is past its prime.
Start by giving your refrigerator's larder a thorough cleaning. Scrub the shelves, drawers, and racks using warm water and dish detergent. Give your fridge a good wipe down to get rid of any gross crumbs and spills that might have accumulated over time.
Once everything is dry and clean, it's time to restock your refrigerator. Start with the cheese and deli drawer -- this is the place to store your cheeses, meats leftovers, dairy products and other items. Then move to the produce drawer which should be reserved for leafy greens as they tend to fade quickly. Keep it at least three-fourths full to ensure maximum freshness.
You can store bulky items in the pantry drawers of certain refrigerators, such as tray sets for parties and large bags of frozen veggies. It is also a great space to store condiments such ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise and nut butters and other canned goods. Milk should not be stored here since the temperature can fluctuate and cause it to spoil quickly.
Finally, the rear of your fridge should be a place for jarred food items such as salad dressings, salad dressings, and other condiments that will last longer. Use a riser on containers to make them easier to read. This will help you avoid closing and opening the lids multiple times.
Label each bin using a marker, or with stickers that can be read easily. This will make it easy for your family to understand the contents of each container and to find the items you require. Adding some labeled bins can also be a great method to organize your fridge and reduce the amount of plastic waste you produce.
Keep Cool
A good fridge larder will keep food at the proper temperature to protect against spoiling and also to stop the growth of bacteria. Larders are installed into cabinets that are already in place or can stand alone. They are typically placed on the north-facing side of the house to limit sun exposure, and may have extra insulation or a ventilation system to prevent heat from entering the food storage area. They have thicker walls, fewer windows and generally are located on the north side of your house to minimize the transfer of heat.
A larder should include 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 burgers and chicken will be cooked to perfection, and that the salad greens won't become overly damaged. You can also set the larder drawer to low humidity for any fruit or vegetable that release a lot of moisture, like tomatoes or cucumbers.
Other drawers in the fridge can hold items like cheese -- fresh cream, hard and fresh- wrapped in paper or greaseproof or clingfilm to preserve it for longer. Other items that can be kept in the refrigerator door include beverages as well as condiments that are not perishable (like ketchup) eggs, water, and other liquids. The fridge door is not the best location to store milk since it tends to be warmer and less stable than other drawers.
To give your home a more organized appearance, you can organize small containers to make them more easily visible. This is useful for family members who are on the move and require food. Labelling shelves or bins to show which food items should be consumed first is also beneficial, especially in the event that your family members do not know how to read labels!
A larder can also be a great place to keep leftovers. You can also store them in a variety of glass and plastic containers that are safe for food preparation. They are ideal to store smaller portions of ingredients. Preparing these for quick meals is a good way to save time and money when shopping. And if you have a clear, tidy fridge with a dedicated space for storing the items, it will be easier to stay on top of your food budget!
Keep it Fresh
The best fridge organization tricks reduce food waste and make your healthy groceries last longer. Some smart strategies help keep fresh foods at the appropriate temperature and make it easier to find what you have in your fridge and where it is.
Most refrigerators have crisper drawers designed to alter airflow and boost humidity to extend the lifespan of vegetables and fruits. However, it's crucial to use them properly. If you mix greens with fruits, for instance, the ethylene created by the latter can cause the former to turn brown and then spoil quickly. Separating produce types and storing them in proper drawers is essential.
Door shelves are typically the warmest part of the fridge and should be reserved for food items that don't require a colder temperature or special storage conditions like jam jars, chutneys, salad dressings and long-life juices (anything that is bought in bulk with the same expiration date). The top shelf can be used to store drinks such as milk and water, which can be stored in a upright position.
Refrigerator drawers can be tricky to keep sorted with things moving around and getting mixed up There are easy tricks to help. First, purchase refrigerator drawer dividers to keep your food items separated and stop them from squishing against each one. It is also helpful to organize by height. It is easier to store items of similar heights together. Don't place items that aren’t the same height in the same drawer.
A thermometer is an additional must-have for your fridge larder. It's a cheap, easy-to use device that will ensure your fridge is operating at the ideal temperature to ensure your food is fresh and safe.
Keep a supply in your fridge of plastic bags to store produce without a container. The moisture contained in the bag stops vegetables from becoming rotten. For herbs that normally die within a few days, one of the best ways to keep them fresher longer is to wash them and place them in a glass of water which is just as effective at retaining moisture as the plastic bag.