How to organize your refrigerator so that nothing is lost or wasted

Let’s face it – the fridge organization is more than just a look worth mentioning. It can make or undermine your ability to maintain a healthy diet. A well-organized refrigerator can also help you save money and reduce food waste (3,,,,, 4).

As a nutritionist, I work with many clients who go shopping at the grocery store with the best intentions. The only trouble is that they forget the fresh produce behind the refrigerator at home. And we can all be related to unrecognized scientific experiments we found from the back of the refrigerator.

Here’s what I learned: a messy refrigerator can lead to last-minute takeaway because you can’t find what you need. This is the double blow to your wallet: You spend money on takeout and then waste money on groceries before using them.

With a little strategy, you can create a system that makes food visible, fresh and ready.

Here are some of my favorite tips to help you organize your refrigerator throughout the week, reduce waste, and prepare for healthier, stress-free meals.

Science of refrigerator organization

The way you store food in the refrigerator can make or destroy freshness. This can have a chain reaction to your health and your wallet (4). Foods like fruits, vegetables and dairy have different ideal storage conditions, and placing them in the wrong places may cause them to change faster (1).

For example, it is best to store highly perishable items (such as milk) on an intermediate shelf with the most consistent temperature (5). Meanwhile, vegetables perform best in a more soaked crisp drawer (5). With this in mind, organizing a refrigerator helps retain freshness so the food won’t be earlier than expected (5). But it all goes into more.

An organized refrigerator can also drive you to make healthier choices (2). When fresh, ready-to-eat snacks (such as cut vegetables, hummus, or Greek yogurt) are visible and easy to use, you are more likely to grab them than reach for less nutritious options (2).

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About the Expert

Samantha Cassetty, MS, RDis a nationally recognized food and nutrition expert, media personality, nutrition consultant and author. Cassetty Sugar shock.

Denise Hernandez Is MyFitnessPal’s food data curator. Denise received her Master of Nutrition from Texas Women’s University. Her areas of focus include weight management for adults and children, nutrition for women and chronic disease management.

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Meal pretreatment organizational connection

Meal planning and refrigerator organization go hand in hand.

When your refrigerator is neat and well organized, it is easier to see the food you have, make meals around these ingredients and avoid overcommitment (2).

Plus, it makes a healthy diet more convenient – if your snacks and dining nails are easy to grab, you are unlikely to find a processed option.

MyFitnessPal is a tool that pairs with refrigerator tissue that helps you track meals and make mindful choices. By planning ahead (this is what diners do!), keeping the refrigerator stock and organized, and organizing with prepared ingredients, you can prepare for success.

Meal preparation and storage tips

• Use transparent, stackable bins. Store staple ingredients such as cooked cereals, protein, and roasted vegetables in an easy-to-view container for a quick meal. “This makes it easier for you to see what you have and find what you need,” said MyFitnesspal nutritionist MS RD, LD MS Denise Hernandez.
• Try a container with compartment. These are great for preparing the whole dish, helping to control portions and preventing food from mixing.
• Maintain healthy snacking levels. Place fresh fruit, boiled eggs or small containers in avocado sauce2).
• Tags and date leftovers. A simple sticker or dry correction marker that helps you keep track of what you want to eat first, thus reducing food waste.

With some planning and organization, your refrigerator can be a tool to support your health goals, rather than a messy black hole of forgotten ingredients.

The refrigerator area explains: Where to store different foods

Proper refrigerator tissue helps maintain food safety and freshness while making it easier to find what you need (1).

“Dividing the refrigerator into parts of different types of foods, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein and leftovers. This will make it easier for you to find the food you need and prevent food from getting lost behind other foods,” Hernandez said (2).

This is a breakdown of the best way to organize your refrigerator.

Top rack

This is the warmest shelf in the refrigerator, so it is best to be ready-to-eat food, including (5):

• A non-rotten drink
• nut
• Nut butter
• seed

Central shelf

The area remains consistent, cooler temperatures, making it ideal for certain perishable foods (for example)5):

• milk
• cheese
• yogurt
• cottage cheese
• egg
• Prepared food
• Leftovers

Bottom shelf

This is the coldest part of the refrigerator, so this is where your raw food is. Always store biological food in a tray or leakproof container to prevent juice from dripping into other foods and causing cross contamination (5).

• Raw meat
• Primitive poultry
• Raw seafood

Crispy drawer

These drawers control humidity levels to help keep fruits and vegetables fresh for the time (5). This is the method of classifying products (5).

• Use high humidity drawers, vegetables, vegetables, such as green leaves, broccoli and carrots.
• Store fruits such as apples and berries in low humidity drawers.

Door frame

The refrigerator door is the warmest area (6). Even if your refrigerator contains an egg chamber in the area, it is not suitable for temperature-sensitive items (such as milk or eggs) (6). Instead, use the shelf for (6):

• condiment
• A non-rotten drink

Smart storage solutions to prevent food waste

Tagging and dating food containers can be an extra step, but this is very helpful for reducing waste and reminding you that you should eat certain items (7).

By clearly marking what’s inside and when to prepare or buy, you know what you need to use first (7).

That brings me there First, the first method. It involves organizing food so that older items are placed in front and newer items are stored behind them (7). This will prompt you to use old food before opening new things to prevent items from being forgotten and expiring ((7).

Another system I use is Group similar items together. Store walnuts next to cashew nuts. All individual yogurt containers are in the same location. Grouping such items allows you to quickly view what’s on hand.

FAQ (FAQ)

Bottom line

Think of your refrigerator as an organized closet. When everything has a designated place, it is easier to find what you need, put the meals together effortlessly and avoid forgetting what you already have.

Just as a messy closet can lead to forgotten outfits and last-minute purchases, a messy refrigerator can cause you to ignore fresh ingredients, resulting in food waste and unnecessary takeaways (7).

However, with some simple systems (e.g., using a clear trash bin to store food and then following the method you use first – you can create a refrigerator that suits you and your goals (7).

With these storage strategies, you will spend less time searching and more time enjoying simple, delicious meals, making it easier to achieve weight loss and health goals.

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