How To Arrange Your Fridge So Nothing Will get Misplaced Or Wasted

[ad_1] <img width="800" height="534" src="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fridge-organization-tips-1024x683.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="How to organize your fridge for optimal freshness | MyFitnessPal" decoding="async" srcset="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fridge-organization-tips-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fridge-organization-tips-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fridge-organization-tips-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fridge-organization-tips.jpg 1504w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /> Let’s face it—fridge group isn’t nearly an Insta-worthy look. It could actually make or break your capacity to take care of a nutritious diet. A well-organized fridge may also allow you to get monetary savings and minimize down on meals waste (3, 4).

As a dietitian, I’ve labored with so many purchasers who go grocery procuring with the most effective intentions. The one bother is that they overlook concerning the contemporary produce tucked behind the fridge at house. And we will all relate to the unrecognizable science experiment we uncover from the again of the fridge.

Right here’s what I’ve discovered: A disorganized fridge can result in last-minute takeout as a result of you possibly can’t discover what you want. It’s a double whammy on your pockets: you spend cash on takeout and waste cash on groceries that spoil earlier than you utilize them.

With a little bit technique, you possibly can create a system that retains your meals seen, contemporary, and able to go.

Listed here are a few of my favourite ideas that will help you maintain your fridge organized, cut back waste, and set your self up for more healthy, stress-free meals all week lengthy.

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The Science of Fridge Group

The best way you retailer meals in your fridge could make or break its freshness. This may have a ripple impact in your well being and pockets (4). Meals like fruits, greens, and dairy all have totally different ultimate storage situations, and putting them within the incorrect spot may cause them to go dangerous quicker (1).

For instance, extremely perishable objects like milk are greatest saved on the center shelf, the place the temperature is most constant (5). In the meantime, veggies do greatest within the crisper drawers the place there’s extra humidity (5). Organizing your fridge with this in thoughts helps protect freshness so meals doesn’t go dangerous ahead of it ought to (5). However extra on all that in a bit.

An organized fridge may also nudge you towards making more healthy decisions (2). When contemporary, ready-to-eat snacks like cut-up veggies, hummus, or Greek yogurt are seen and simply accessible, you’re much more more likely to seize them as a substitute of reaching for much less nutritious choices (2).

In regards to the Specialists

Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, is a nationally acknowledged meals and diet knowledgeable, media character, diet marketing consultant, and creator. Cassetty is a former diet director for Good Housekeeping and the co-author of the guide Sugar Shock.

Denise Hernandez, RD, is a Meals Knowledge Curator at MyFitnessPal. Denise accomplished her Grasp’s Diploma in Diet from Texas Girl’s College. Her areas of focus embody grownup and childhood weight administration, ladies’s diet, and continual illness administration.

The Meal Prep-Fridge Group Connection

Meal planning and fridge group go hand-in-hand.

When your fridge is neat and arranged, it’s simpler to see what you have got, plan meals round these elements, and keep away from overbuying (2).

Plus, it makes wholesome consuming extra handy—in case your go-to snacks and meal staples are straightforward to seize, you’re much less more likely to attain for processed choices.

One instrument that pairs properly with fridge group is MyFitnessPal, which helps you monitor meals and make aware decisions. By planning forward (that’s what Meal Planner does!) and retaining your fridge stocked and arranged with prepped elements, you set your self up for fulfillment.

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Meal Prep & Storage Suggestions

Use clear, stackable bins. Retailer staple elements like cooked grains, proteins, and roasted veggies in easy-to-see containers for fast meal meeting. “This makes it simpler to see what you have got and discover what you want,” says Denise Hernandez, MS, RD, LD, MyFitnessPal nutritionist.

Attempt containers with compartments. These are nice for meal prepping whole dishes, serving to with portion management and retaining meals from mixing.

Hold wholesome snacks at eye stage. Place contemporary fruit, hard-boiled eggs, or small containers of guacamole the place you’ll see them first, making it simpler to seize one thing nutritious whereas avoiding meals waste (2).

Label and date leftovers. A easy sticker or dry-erase marker helps you retain monitor of what must be eaten first, lowering meals waste.

With a little bit planning and group, your fridge can develop into a instrument that helps your well being objectives as a substitute of a chaotic black gap of forgotten elements.

Fridge Zones Defined: The place to Retailer Totally different Meals

Correct fridge group helps preserve meals security and freshness whereas making it simpler to seek out what you want (1).

“Divide your fridge into sections for several types of meals, comparable to fruits, greens, dairy, proteins, and leftovers. This can make it simpler to seek out what you want and stop meals from getting misplaced behind different meals,” says Hernandez (2).

Right here’s a breakdown of the easiest way to prepare your fridge.

Prime shelf

That is the warmest shelf of the fridge, so it’s greatest for ready-to-eat meals, together with (5):

Non-perishable drinks

Nuts

Nut butters

Seeds

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Center cabinets

This space maintains a constant, cool temperature, making it ultimate for sure perishable meals, comparable to (5):

Milk

Cheese

Yogurt

Cottage cheese

Eggs

Ready meals

Leftovers

Backside shelf

That is the coldest a part of the fridge, so it’s the place your uncooked meals belong. All the time retailer your uncooked meals on a tray or in a leak-proof container to stop juices from dripping onto different meals and inflicting cross-contamination (5).

Uncooked meat

Uncooked poultry

Uncooked seafood

Crisper drawers

These drawers management humidity ranges to assist vegetables and fruit keep contemporary longer (5). Right here’s find out how to kind your produce (5).

Use the high-humidity drawer for greens that wilt simply, like leafy greens, broccoli, and carrots.

Retailer fruits, comparable to apples and berries within the low-humidity drawer.

Door cabinets

The fridge door is the warmest space (6). It’s not applicable for temperature-sensitive objects like milk or egg, even when your fridge comprises an egg compartment on this zone (6). As a substitute, use the cabinets for (6):

Condiments

Nonperishable drinks

Good Storage Options to Forestall Meals Waste

Labeling and relationship your meals containers may really feel like an additional step, nevertheless it’s tremendous useful for lowering waste and reminding you the order through which sure objects must be eaten (7).

By clearly marking what’s inside and when it was ready or bought, what must be used first (7).

That brings me to the primary in, first out methodology. It includes organizing your meals in order that older objects are positioned on the entrance and newer objects are saved behind them (7). This prompts you to make use of the older meals earlier than you open one thing new, stopping objects from being forgotten and expiring (7).

One other system I exploit is grouping comparable objects collectively. The walnuts are saved subsequent to the cashews. All particular person yogurt containers go in the identical spot. Grouping objects like this allows you to shortly see what you have got readily available.

Often Requested Questions (FAQs)

What’s the perfect fridge temperature for meals security? The perfect fridge temperature is at or under 40°F (1). This vary retains perishable meals contemporary whereas slowing the expansion of dangerous micro organism that may trigger foodborne sickness (1). I exploit a fridge thermometer on a center shelf to ensure it’s retaining the best temperature.

How usually ought to I clear my fridge and what cleansing merchandise ought to I exploit? Wipe down any spills as quickly as they occur utilizing both a dishcloth with delicate soapy water or a water and vinegar resolution (1). Outdoors of that, there aren't any set guidelines, nevertheless, you must clear it frequently to keep at bay smells and stop the expansion of micro organism (1).

How lengthy can I retailer leftovers? Many leftovers can sometimes be saved within the fridge for 3 to 4 days (7). Mark them whenever you get house noting the date they should be eaten by (7).

What meals ought to by no means go within the fridge? Meals like tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic, and complete melons ought to by no means go within the fridge. The chilly can have an effect on their taste, texture, or ripening course of (8). As a substitute, retailer them in a cool, dry place for the very best quality. Bread is one other merchandise that's greatest to go away out of the fridge as a result of it stales quicker in there (8). You may retailer it on the counter or within the freezer (8). Additionally, don’t put honey within the fridge as a result of it could kind crystals (8).

How do I forestall leafy greens from wilting too shortly? Retailer them in a container lined with a paper towel to soak up extra moisture (9). Additionally, maintain them within the crisper drawer of your fridge(5). For pre-washed greens, merely line the container with a dry paper towel to take care of freshness.

The Backside Line

Consider your fridge like a well-organized closet. When the whole lot has a chosen place, it’s simpler to seek out what you want, put collectively meals effortlessly, and keep away from forgetting what you have already got.

Identical to a cluttered closet can result in forgotten outfits and last-minute purchases, a disorganized fridge may cause you to miss contemporary elements, resulting in meals waste and pointless takeout (7).

However with a number of easy methods—like storing meals of their ultimate zones, utilizing clear bins, and following the primary in, first out methodology—you possibly can create a fridge that works for you and your objectives (7).

With these storage methods, you’ll spend much less time looking and extra time having fun with straightforward, scrumptious meals, making it simpler to realize your weight reduction and wellness objectives.