Did you know that the average Canadian family throws out close to $100 worth of food each month? One of
the main reasons for all this waste? Forgotten or poorly stored food in the fridge.
Reverse this trend and prevent waste with an organized fridge. Just a minimal effort can lead to a ton of
benefits: optimized food storage, limited overconsumption (think of the multiple half-empty condiment
jars), and most importantly, reduced waste. “A place for everything and everything in its place,” as
they say.
Here are some basic tricks for keeping your fridge organized.
Rotation
When putting your groceries away, take the opportunity to rotate the food in your fridge. The oldest
items should be placed in the front and consumed first. In other words, first one in, first one
out!
Fruit and vegetable drawers
The fruit and vegetable drawers have humidity control features so you can store food longer. Use a
different drawer for each category, however! Because fruits and vegetables do not ripen at the same
pace, mixing them can make them rot faster. Keep your broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots on one
side, and apples, pears, and peaches on the other!
Door
The door is where temperatures fluctuate most. Avoid keeping milk there. The door is the ideal place
for condiments, jams, juice, and other drinks. You can also keep your butter there, as long as it
has a closed compartment. Otherwise, it will lose its freshness and absorb odours from other
food.
Centre shelves
Cooked meals, soups, leftovers, hummus, and pastries—any food that needs to be consumed quickly—should
be kept within sight so they aren’t forgotten. That’s also the best place to keep your
eggs and milk.
Bottom drawer or shelf
The bottom shelf or drawer (also known as the meat drawer) is the coldest part of the fridge. This is
where you should keep your raw meat and fish.
Top shelf
The temperature there being cool and stable, this is the best place to keep dairy products, such as
cheese, puddings, and yogurt.
Freezer
Your freezer is most energy efficient when it is full. Whenever possible, keep your freezer filled to
maximum capacity to prevent any warm air from seeping in.
Overall temperature
The fridge should be kept at a temperature ranging from 0°C to 4°C, and the freezer should be
set at around -18°C. Use a thermometer to check this regularly!