Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder
A fridge's larder can be a great location to store food items that are no longer in use. It also allows you to manage a smaller refrigerator and save money on your energy bill!
It's an ideal location to store items such breads, hard cheeses, and eggs. Fresh herbs also benefit from the lack of moisture.
Keep It Well-organized
A refrigerator larder can reduce food waste, and makes it easier to locate the items when cooking. However, like any space in your home the refrigerator can get messy and uncontrollable. Here are a few suggestions to keep your fridge tidy and functioning smoothly.
Take inventory
Holly Blakey, an organizer at Breathing room The Breathing room believes that taking inventory is the most crucial step to organize your refrigerator. "Take everything out and verify the expiration dates. Clean all surfaces." Throw out expired foods or throw them away and dispose of any food items that aren't intended to be eaten before they go bad.
Blakey suggests putting the most frequently used items at the front of your fridge. Then, you can put away the items that aren't used in the back and the bottom of your fridge.
Organize Your Freezer
If you have a chest freezer, you can organize it with clear storage bins that will help you find foods more easily. Clearly label each bin and put similar items together. Store condiments in one bin and sodas in another and cheese sticks in the third. You can also make use of a lazy Susan to store condiments and other items that are frequently used. This will keep them from getting lost in the back of your.
In a side-by-side fridge, store foods that require the coldest temperatures in the back and warmer food items in the front. The lower shelf works well for milk, yogurt cream, butter, and cream (it will not melt). The crisper drawers are ideal to store spillage from produce.
Drawer dividers make your fridge more efficient and are easy to put in. They'll prevent your fruits and vegetables from splattering around, and prevent them from rotting before you are able to use them. Plus, they'll help your drawers stay clean and well-organized. Another simple trick for the fridge is storing tender herbs in water to extend their lifespan. Mason jars containing an inch of liquid work great. You can also purchase an herb preserver to keep in your refrigerator.
Keep it Visible
Keep your fridge well organized to help you select healthy foods and stay content throughout the day. Make sure that all of your containers for food are clear so you can see the contents. This will inform you of the number of days left on your expiration date, and prevent you storing food that's 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 refrigerator a good scrub to get rid of any crumbs or gross spills that might have built up.
Make sure that your fridge is dry and clean. Start with the deli and cheese drawer -- that's where you should keep your cheeses, meats, leftovers and dairy items. Then, you can move to the produce drawer. This is where you should store the leafy greens as they can quickly wilt. Make sure it is at least three-quarters full to ensure freshness.
The pantry drawer in some refrigerators can be helpful for storage of large bags of frozen vegetables and other bulky food items. You can also use this space to store condiments such mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup, as well as nut butters and other canned goods. Be careful not to store milk here though, as it can go bad quickly due to the fluctuating temperatures inside the refrigerator door.
Finally, the refrigerator's back should be reserved for jarred meals such as salad dressings, salad dressings, and other condiments that can last longer. Try using a riser to elevate jars, so they are easier to read. This can save you from having to open and close the lid several times, which can prolong the life of your condiments.
As you stock every bin, make it a effort to label it using markers or stickers that are easy to read. This will make it easy for your family to understand the contents of each bin and to find the items you require. Labeled bins are an excellent method of decluttering your refrigerator and reducing the amount of plastic waste that you produce.
Keep It Cool
A fridge with a good larder can keep food items at the correct temperature to avoid spoilage and also to stop the growth of bacteria. Larders can be integrated into existing cabinets or stand on their own. They are typically placed on the north side of your home to reduce exposure to sun and could also have additional insulation or ventilation systems to stop heat from entering the food storage area. They also typically have more solid walls and less windows to keep the interior at the lower temperature than other parts of the home.
The larder should have drawers for every type of food item, including meat and vegetables. Each drawer can be programmed to the right temperature. This will ensure that the burgers and chicken are cooked to perfection, but the salad greens won't get too discolored. A larder drawer can also be set to a low humidity setting for fruits and vegetables that expel a lot of moisture, like tomatoes or cucumbers.
To preserve cheese, keep it in different drawers of the refrigerator. Wrapped in paper, greaseproof or Clingfilm or greaseproof film to keep it fresher for longer. Drinks, non-perishable condiments like ketchup, eggs, and water can also be kept in the fridge door. The refrigerator door isn't the ideal location to store milk since it tends to be more warm and unstable than other drawers.
To create a more streamlined appearance, you can organize small containers to make them more easily visible. This is helpful for family members who are on the move and need something to eat. Labeling bins or shelves to identify which food items are best eaten first is also helpful, especially in the event that your family members do not know how to read labels!
A larder can also be the ideal place to store leftovers and a selection of food-safe plastic and glass storage containers, which are ideal for smaller portions of food items. These containers are ideal for saving time and money while shopping. And if you have a clean and tidy fridge, with space specifically designated for storage of these items, it will be much easier to keep on top of your food budget!
Keep It Fresh
The most efficient ways to organize your fridge reduce food waste and help your healthy groceries last longer. A few clever strategies will keep your fresh food at the proper temperature and make it easier to know what you have in your fridge and where it is.
Crisper drawers are a part of many refrigerators. They alter airflow and increase humidity, thus extending the life of fruits and vegetables. It's important to use these drawers in a proper manner. If you mix greens with fruits, for instance, the ethylene created by the latter may cause the former to wilt and then spoil quickly. Separating different types of fruits and storing them in appropriate drawers is crucial.
The shelves in the door are the warmest part in the fridge. They are best used for items that don't require extra cold or special storage conditions such as salad dressing jars, jams, chutneys and long-life drinks (anything purchased in bulk and with the same expiration date). The top shelf can be used to store beverages such as milk and water, which can be stored in a upright position.
It can be difficult to keep refrigerator drawers tidy, with things rolling and jumbling together. But there are some simple tips to help. Set up refridgerator with drawer dividers. This will keep your food items separate and prevent them from squishing together. Organizing by size is also helpful. It is easier to store items of similar heights together. Don't store things that aren't the same height in the same drawer.
A thermometer is essential to have in your refrigerator. It's a low-cost, easy to use tool that will make sure that your fridge is at an ideal temperature to ensure your food is fresh and safe.
Keep a supply in your refrigerator of plastic bags to store produce that is not in a container. The moisture trapped inside the bag helps keep vegetables from becoming rotten too quickly. For herbs that typically wilt in days you can keep them fresher for longer by washing them and placing them in a glass of water. This is just as effective as a plastic sack in keeping moisture.