Keep your refrigerator in order

My mother’s refrigerator is a disaster area. Not only is there a multitude of expired goods in it, but there is also product overlap. Product overlap is, for example, having two jars of mayo at once. Salad dressings may be the biggest culprit when it comes to product overlap. How many options do you really need when it comes to topping your salad? Try to limit it to two. I’ve seen fridges with as many as ten!

Finding things in your refrigerator should be easy. Why waste your time and the electricity to re-cool the refrigerator while you keep the door open looking for that jar of olives? Here are some tips on keeping your refrigerator in order:

  • Keep similar items together. Condiments, dairy, meats, refreshments, etc.
  • Every month or two do a quick inventory and remove any outdated items.
  • Keep the refrigerator clear of product overlap. (Don’t store three different brands of mustard or mayonnaise.)
  • If there is something that you do not like, get rid of it. Don’t wait for someone to come along to enjoy it.
  • Keeping batteries in the refrigerator does not save their charge. Keep them in a drawer where they belong.

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Posted by Matt on Jun 5, 2007 | Comments |

12 comments posted

  1. Posted by John Jacobsen - 06/05/2007

    I’m a fan of your blog and like an uncluttered refrigerator - but as a physicist I’d like to clarify one thing - it costs less energy to open the door on a full fridge (where that extra mayo “stores cold” in one place) than an empty one (where all the cold air essentially falls to the floor with a thud, to be replaced with warm air that has to be reheated).

    Keep up the good blogging!
    John

  2. Posted by Dr. Ragan, www.psychologyofclutter.com - 06/05/2007

    Wow, we must be on the same wavelength. Yesterday on my Life Maintenance Monday I posted a plan to clean out the fridge over the course of a week. Most people avoid doing it because it seems too daunting a task. Small steps over several days equals no more funky smell.

  3. Posted by Brendan - 06/05/2007

    I concur with John, its been shown that more energy is lost by the fridge through its walls than is ever lost by opening the door.

  4. Posted by BigNerd - 06/05/2007

    And for God’s sake people, get rid of the crap on the OUTside of the fridge too.

    Not my fridge: http://catcode.com/n900/first/refrig.jpg

  5. Posted by Lisa - 06/06/2007

    Several good points in the post, but don’t forget that amateur foodies like order too! Keeping a tidy fridge doesn’t mean eschewing pre-made dressings if you’re prone to enjoying variety!

    But to get more out of fridge storage:

    You can store condiments, cheeses, meats, etc. in clear shoe drawers. My husband likes charcuterie plates and it’s very easy to keep random packages of specialty meats and cheeses in their own drawers; it’s also a good way to get more out of your space. Also, because we are condiment people and always have multiple types of chutneys, relishes, mustards, garnishes on hand, the drawers are good for storing those jars too.

    Also, I really like our beverage can dispenser. If you’re a household that likes canned drinks (or canned mixers), it comes in handy.

    Finally — so long as you’re keeping that fridge tidy, wipe down the shelves every week! You keep your FOOD in the fridge — do you really want gross mystery puddles in there too?

  6. Posted by Terry - 06/06/2007

    Just curious, why does anyone buy pop can dispensers anymore when all (or at least all that I’ve seen in MN) 12 packs are built ‘as pop can dispensers’?

  7. Posted by Lisa - 06/07/2007

    Two reasons, at least for me:

    1. Because we don’t buy twelve-packs of canned soda. We buy six-packs of mixers like ginger ale and club soda, Hansen’s diet black cherry soda, or Diet Coke. The beverage can dispenser holds a variety; the uncooled cans stay down in the pantry until it’s time to replenish the supply.

    2. Because I really dislike the cardboard — it lacks visibility so you can’t see what you have, it gets soggy if something drips on it, and it’s aesthetically unpleasing.

  8. Posted by Erika - 06/07/2007

    I don’t keep my batteries in the fridge, but I do keep film (my husband and I are both photographers, and have almost a dozen cameras, so we use a variety of film sizes/types) and nail polish in the fridge (since it takes me forever to go through a bottle).

    I’ve heard you’re supposed to keep perfume in the fridge… does anyone do that? I mean, considering you’re supposed to spray it on your skin only, and avoid contact with your clothes, I really can’t imagine opening the fridge in my skivvies just to spritz a little scent on. Ideas?

  9. Posted by Monica Ricci - 06/08/2007

    We clean out our fridge on the night before trash day each week. This way, nothing ever gets old and stinky and the food never sits in our kitchen trash getting warm and smelling bad. It goes from the fridge to the trash and the trash goes out to the curb. Because we do it each week, it only takes a few minutes.

  10. Posted by bine - 06/13/2007

    I never understood why anyone would want to clutter a fridge with ten different pre-made salad dressings. they’re done in less than minute to about five minutes, depending on the dressing. i do, however, need more than one jar of mustard. dijon, extra zingy and honey mustard are the minimum. they never get a chance to expire, we’re mustard freaks.
    i haven’t heard that you’re supposed to keep perfume in the fridge but some cream based makeup and care products keep longer in the fridge, especially if you want those without preservatives.

  11. Posted by Jen - 06/14/2007

    We got a small lazy susan for our fridge that we keep all the jars of PB&J, chili bean paste, pickles, and various other condiments we use regularly. Now, nothing gets buried at the back of the shelf.

  12. Posted by astronomer - 06/28/2007

    thanks Jen - that’s a great idea!

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