How I Organize The Fridge & Keep It That Way

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I want to share with you today my method for keeping a fridge organized, neat and tidy. I don’t know about you but I can’t stand going to the grocery store, coming home, and then cramming everything into the fridge pushing the old to the back. That seems to be the method my hubby likes to use. He always shops with me, carries everything inside, and then I rush to the fridge to take care of things. I’ve got to get there before he does! 

I always put the cold items away first, then the boxed and can goods into the pantry, then I wash and prepare all the fruits and veggies for the week. I put everything into storage bags and have each bag designated for a dinner that week. Meal prep is so much faster when I have a well organized fridge, with food prep done ahead of time. If I have fruit that doesn’t happen to get eaten I slice it all, flash freeze it, and bag it to use in my morning smoothies. It only takes about an hour once a week and it’s SO worth it. 

Next I head down to the freezer and pull all the meat we’ll need and get it thawing in a refrigerator bin. To me an organized refrigerator is pretty to look at. It’s also a good time to look over the dates on any jar items. If they’re outdated give them a toss and add that item to the grocery list for next week (you can find my printable grocery list notepad here.) Maybe I’m strange, but who want’s to open up the fridge and find stuff rotting, stinking and disheveled looking? 

You can see the before and after photo here. See what a huge difference 6 storage bins can make? And here’s another tip, it makes for easier cleaning. If there’s any spills it happens in the clear bin which can be put in the dishwasher to be cleaned up. It really keeps the inside much cleaner. It’s amazing how much dust and dirt are on store bought things that we don’t even realize. 

I did it all with this 6pc Refrigerator & Freezer Stackable Storage Organizer Bins with Handles

What’s in the bins and drawers:

• A – I use this bin for all the meat I’ll cook during the week. I remove it from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge.
• B – Cut, chopped, and prepped vegetables to be used for meals during the week. 
• C – Cheese and nuts
• 1 – Soda (Bin)
• 2 – Egg (Bin)
• 3 – Washed hand held fruit for snacks (Bin)
• 4 – Cut up vegetables for snacks, my family knows the veggies in the drawer are designated for meals (Bin)
• 5 – Overflow containers that don’t fit in the door (Bin)
• 6 – Yogurt (Bin)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THE MEAL PLANNER

I find using my meal planner is not only a good idea for knowing what you’ll need to prepare on a given day, it also keeps me from overbuying things I can’t get used up during the week. We have our own meat supply in the freezer so I normally just shop for fresh fruits, veggies, breads, cheese, and any staple items that’s needed to complete a meal. 

So for instance if we’re having fresh green beans with a meal I only buy a portion for each person eating dinner at our home that night. It avoids overspending and also wasting food. My son takes his lunch with him to work everyday so if it’s something he can take with him I’ll make an extra portion of dinner and pack it in his lunch thermos the next day or I’ll have it for lunch so it’s used up. 

Keeping a neat and organized refrigerator helps with keeping things fresh and not overlooked at the back of the fridge. No one want’s a science project growing in there. 

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