How to arrange a refrigerator so that there is always enough space in it: professional advice

The rotating rack, or Lazy Susan as it is also called, is perfect for cans and bottles that like to hide in the farthest corners. “This is one of the best tips for organizing the fridge and is the perfect solution for condiments, sauces, sour cream and ricotta cups, jams and nut butters. Place them on a rotating rack and they’ll never get lost behind large packages again,” says space organizer Darla DeMorrow.

“It’s easy to forget what you don’t see. Objects sometimes literally disappear because of the colorful containers in which they are stored. Clear stackables are much more suitable for organizing refrigerator shelves – when you can see not only the container itself, but also what is in it, then you are more likely to remember where is where and d ‘use these ingredients while cooking. Darla explains.

The term “decanting” is usually used when talking about wine: this means that the drink is poured from a bottle into a special decanter – a decanter. However, space organizer Amy Tokos thinks decanting is a great idea for organizing a fridge. “Do you have a little piece of cheese left?” Transfer it to a small container. It’s both a method for optimally storing food in the refrigerator and a way to control inventory so you always know what you’re running low on,” she says.

Read also: How to clean your refrigerator if it smells bad

Here’s how to properly store food in the refrigerator, taking into account the expiration date: put those you have just bought behind those that are already on the shelves, like supermarket employees do. “The ‘first in, first out’ rule should work. Put the old behind the new and the amount of expired food you have to throw away will significantly reduce,” advises Amy.

Storing food in the refrigerator should be systematic, but there is no universal way to divide everything into categories. “You always decide for yourself how to organize your refrigerator, depending on your needs. For example, I have a “Breakfast” shelf – there is everything you need to prepare scrambled eggs and sandwiches. But you can choose your own way of dividing foods into groups that works best for you,” says DeMorrow.

Can dates go with fish? Darla is sure of it, if both are about to expire. “Dedicate a designated area to soon-to-be-expired foods. First, you will always know what you need to eat as early as possible. Second, it can motivate you to try new recipes with unusual combinations of ingredients, which is always a fun and inspiring experience,” she explains.

Here’s how to increase space in your refrigerator using organizers: Open the door, step back, and see which shelves have the most empty space all the way to the “ceiling.” Experts recommend adding stackable transparent shelves. Do not look for special models for the refrigerator – choose those that correspond to the market size.

“Using them is one of the best ways to declutter your refrigerator. Partitions come in a variety of varieties – some are attached to the door, others are inserted into drawers for vegetables and fruits. Think about which ones you need, get the ones you need and very soon you will appreciate their benefits,” says Amy.

“In my opinion, effective use of the refrigerator without such napkins is simply impossible. Yes, you can now find containers of all sizes, but there will always be situations where the smallest one will prove cumbersome and take up extra space on the shelf. In this case, a napkin is ideal – you just take and wrap, say, half an avocado in it. You don’t have to buy these wrappers, you can make them yourself,” advises Darla.

“This is one of my favorite fridge hacks. There are always bowls of food left over after a party, but the extra space to store them doesn’t magically appear. Put a bowl on a shelf, put two chopsticks on it, place the next plate on top, and anyone who sees it will think you’re a genius at organizing space,” says Darla.

Read also: Not only the rules for storing food in the refrigerator are important, but also their proper cleaning: advice from professional cleaners

“Whenever we discuss how to organize refrigerator shelves, everyone thinks of organizers. But that’s not the only way to keep your refrigerator clean and tidy. Consider other options, like cloth bags and reusable silicone bags, which make storing food in tight spaces much easier and work well when paired with plastic containers, says Kristen Hong, author of Refrigerator Love.

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