If you open the fridge and this is what it looks like, we've got expert organizing tips and tricks that can help. (Getty)(Getty)
If you've been known to go out and buy a new sauce or marinade only to find the same one buried in the far corner of your refrigerator — behind the pickle jar that holds one lone pickle — we see you. And let's not get started on the food that goes bad before you've had a chance to use it. Keeping those shelves tidy can feel like a never-ending task, so we consulted with the pros on how to organize your fridge the easy way.
The organizers and meal-prep chef we spoke to agree that an organized and functional refrigerator is key, no matter how much you cook. Color-coded produce may look cute, but it's not going to help you prep a meal any faster. Instead, you want to make items easy to find and quickly accessible.
Of course, it helps to do a mini fridge clean-out each week before you do a big grocery shop. But if it's been a while and merely looking at the mess stresses you out, you may need a fridge overhaul. Start with these tips and tricks from the pros, then get ready to feel a whole lot better the next time someone asks, "What's for dinner?" (And for more kitchen organization, check out these expert-approved hacks.)
Zeenat Siman, a professional organizer in Miami, Fla. says, "creating zones will help you see what you have to cook with." She advises clients to designate each refrigerator shelf as a zone, with crisper bins at the bottom for fruit, vegetables or produce, a middle shelf for prepared food and leftovers, and then at the top, a shelf for dairy and eggs.
These bins are easy to pull out when you're looking for a particular item, without disturbing or knocking over an entire shelf of containers and foods while hunting for an ingredient. It comes with three different sizes for everything from tall soda bottles to mini jars of jam.
A plastic turntable like this works well to contain lots of small condiment jars or bottles that could get lost at the back of the shelf and give them more visibility. The non-skid base and slightly raised lip keeps items secure and the 15-inch size is ideal for larger refrigerator shelves.
This turntable has a 3.5-inch lip, making it ideal for taller bottles of dressings and condiments that can tip over on the refrigerator shelf. It's made of BPA- and chlorine-free shatter-resistant plastic and should be hand-washed.
A physical divider can help section off refrigerator shelves. You can use it to corral cans or bottles, or even to create a space for a specific meal or group of ingredients you have earmarked for, say, tomorrow's lunch. This one stays in place thanks to suction cups at the bottom.
To save drawer space, Wolberger suggests prepping produce you'll use within a few days and storing it upright in drawers in reusable silicone bags. These can be labeled with a wax pencil.
Stasher bags are microwave-, dishwasher- and oven-safe up to 450 degrees.
If you don't want to change the height of the shelves in your fridge, add an adjustable riser or two to create more space for shorter items. This 5.9-inch-tall shelf can extend up to 8.6 inches tall and has non-slip feet so it'll stay securely in place.
"Take produce and other foods out of bulky packages. If you transfer spinach or arugula out of a big plastic clamshell container or take frozen mochi out of its cardboard box and put it into a reusable silicone bag, you'll save space and keep food fresh," says Elia Wolberger, a chef and meal prep expert in New York City. Once items are in relatively flat bags, you can "file" them in the appropriate drawers or bins.
"I love a turntable," says Marlena Masitto, professional organizer and owner of Philly Neat Freaks. "It helps with visibility for sauces, especially. Plastic ones are easier to clean, and I like a bit of a lip so things don’t fly off. Open formats are often better than ones with compartments, which can be too limiting in terms of the size of items."
Compartmentalize deep drawers and shelves with clear bins. "You can group all your ingredients for dinner in one so that when it's time to cook, you just lift out the bin and get going," says Wolberger. Let the bins help you group like with like: For instance, place all snack foods in one bin or all sandwich supplies in another. Another advantage of housing items in bins? Everything is always easily within reach.
"Don't be afraid to adjust the door shelves and use them for your tallest items, like wine and beverage bottles," encourages Wolberger. She recommends measuring them, then moving the shelves accordingly.
The same goes for the height of refrigerator shelves — move them to suit your current needs. If you have lots of meal prep containers on one shelf, make room for more irregular-shaped items on a different shelf. When you're cooking a turkey or holiday roast, you'll need to adjust them again, and so on.
