[ad_1]
Refrigerators do the job of prolonging the freshness of food by preventing bacteria from growing and spoiling it, and that’s where refrigerator organization comes in.
Plus, the refrigerator organization helps you get the most out of your healthy foods, so you eat them more often. After all, who hasn’t experienced the irritation of buying fresh produce only to have it spoiled before you get to it?
The Refriger organization helps you maintain a healthy diet.
Learning how to organize your refrigerator is a powerful tool that will help you maintain a healthy diet and fresh organic food that will nourish your entire family.
As a foodie, I know that real food spoils, period. This is why many foods today use chemicals and preservatives to slow spoilage and extend shelf life.
These chemical additives help the manufacturers and marketers of your food more than you, since their ingestion over time has proven to be problematic for your health.
So while the simple process of cold storage or refrigeration works to keep your food non-toxic and healthy for you to eat, the refrigerator organization process can also help you ensure that those same healthy foods are available to you whenever and wherever. want. .
After downsizing a large refrigerator freezer, I learned how to organize my smallest refrigerator, perfect for two, with empty nests.
Refrigerator organization helps combat “refrigerator blindness.”
Nothing is more frustrating than not finding the black bean hummus you bought the other day. Or how about your partner standing with the refrigerator door open and asking you, “Honey, where’s the _____?”
This is refrigerator blindness in action!
Having things organized so you know their place in the fridge gives you that magical power of knowing without looking. It’s like you have eyes in the back of your head!
Think of refrigerator organization as a classification based on food type, size, and frequency of use.
As a general rule, the refrigerator door is not the coldest place in the refrigerator and should only be used to store condiments, bottled liquids, and butter.
So it’s okay to keep bottled seasonings and liquids there. For example, bottles labeled “refrigerate after opening.” Most refrigerators also have room in the door for butter, which works well since butter is a frequently used item.
Storing eggs on the refrigerator shelf is better than on the door, because it is opened frequently and tends to be less cold.
Here are some general recommendations for refrigerator organization:
- Meats: Keep meats separate and wrapped in store packaging with an extra plastic bag to collect juices. Store them on the bottom shelf to make sure any leaks don’t drip and contaminate other foods.
- Produces: Place the vegetables in plastic bags in the vegetable drawers. Separate fruits from vegetables, as fruit can accelerate spoilage by releasing ethylene gas.
- Dairy: Put milk and dairy products like cheese, yogurt, and sour cream on the first shelf without ice maker or second shelf with the ice maker. This is the coldest part of the refrigerator and the best place for dairy.
- Leftovers: Always use glass or plastic (BPA free) containers with lids to store leftovers. You can use plastic bags, but glass is better and less toxic, although it is heavy and brittle.
Some foods do not require cold storage.
- Root vegetables: Root vegetables like onions, squash, and potatoes can be stored in a cool, dark drawer or cabinet. Alternatively, they can be hung in a basket away from the sun.
- Tomatoes: Tomatoes should be kept out of the refrigerator as they ripen and are sweeter at room temperature.
- Stone fruits: Peaches, avocados, and plums should be stored at room temperature. If you like your fruit to cool like me, the trick is to let it ripen slowly at room temperature, then place it in the fridge when it reaches the desired ripeness for consumption.
It is best to separate fruits from vegetables by placing them in their own vegetable drawer. The use of plastic bags contains the gases and odors that food releases, slows down the ripening process and avoids contamination by odors and juices.
If you are short on space in your refrigerator, then foods like honey, garlic, and bread don’t need refrigeration. They are fine in a dry and ventilated space.
Freezer tips for longer storage needs:
Use freezer bags with the name and date of the food written on them to freeze meat, vegetables, and leftovers (foods keep much longer through freezing, but not indefinitely). Use the oldest foods first.
Put cooked food in the refrigerator right away to chill; do not allow them to cool on the counter as this can cause food safety hazards. Once cooled, you can place it in the freezer.
Freeze leftovers in small batches to avoid reheating too many foods at once. Never freeze again.
Avoid freeze burns by using plastic bags, heavy sheeting, or containers specifically designed for freezing food. Let the air out of the plastic bag before sealing and wrap the food in aluminum foil before freezing.
Organizing your refrigerator is simple once you know how to classify and why.
Helps you find the foods you are looking for, while keeping them fresh and edible. The effort that goes into organizing the contents of your refrigerator results in less food waste and less frustration when finding your favorites.
No more moldy breads, uneaten cucumbers, or rotten lettuce just two days after purchase. Plus, you can get high praise for preparing plant-based meals that are ultra fresh, nutritious, and delicious.
Organizing your refrigerator can be so simple, it’s almost magical!
