Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Let’s face it – The organization of Fridge is not only an appearance worthy of Insta. It can make or unload your ability to maintain a healthy diet. A well -organized refrigerator can also help you save money and reduce food waste (3,, 4).
As a dietitian, I worked with so many customers who do shopping with the best intentions. The only problem is that they forget the fresh products nestled on the back of the refrigerator at home. And we can all relate to the unrecognizable scientific experience that we discover at the back of the refrigerator.
Here is what I learned: a disorganized refrigerator can lead to last minute take -out dishes because you don’t find what you need. It is a double blow for your wallet: you spend money for take -out dishes and waste money for the grocery store that was spoiling before using them.
With a little strategy, you can create a system that keeps your foods visible, fresh and ready to leave.
Here are some of my favorite tips to help you keep your refrigerator organized, reduce waste and prepare for healthier and stress-free meals all week.
The Science of Fridge organization
The way you store food in your refrigerator can make your freshness. This can have a training effect on your health and your wallet (4). Foods such as fruits, vegetables and dairy products all have different ideal storage conditions, and placing them in the wrong place can hurt them more quickly (1).
For example, highly perishable items like milk are better stored on the middle shelf, where the temperature is the most consistent (5). Meanwhile, the vegetables do better in the CRISper drawers where there is more humidity (5). Organize your refrigerator in this spirit helps preserve the freshness so that food is not bad earlier than it should (5). But more on all this in a little.
An organized refrigerator can also push you to make healthier choices (2). When fresh and ready -to -eat snacks such as cut vegetables, houmous or Greek yogurt are visible and easily accessible, you are much more likely to grasp them instead of reaching less nutritious options (2).
On experts
Samantha Cassetty, MS, RDis an expert in food and nutrition recognized at the national level, media personality, the nutrition consultant and the author. Cassetty is a former nutrition director of Good Housekeeping and Co-author of the Book Sugar shock.
Denise Hernandez, RD, is a food preservative at MyfitnessPal. Denise finished her mastery in nutrition from Texas Woman’s University. His areas of interest include managing the weight of adults and childhood, women’s nutrition and chronic disease management.
Connection of the preparation organization for the preparation of meals
Meal planning and refrigerator organization go hand in hand.
When your refrigerator is neat and organized, it is easier to see what you have, to plan meals around these ingredients and to avoid overcoming surprises (2).
In addition, it makes a healthy diet more practical – if your snacks and basic meal foods are easy to grasp, you are less likely to reach the processed options.
A tool that goes well with the organization of the refrigerator is MyFitnessPal, which helps you follow meals and make careful choices. By planning in advance (that’s what the meal planner does!) And keeping your fridge stored and organized with prepared ingredients, you are preparing for success.
You might also love
Meal preparation and storage advice
- Use clear and stackable trash cans. Keep the ingredients of the clip such as cooked grains, proteins and roasted vegetables in easy -to -see containers for a quick meal assembly. “This allows you to see more easily what you have and find what you need,” explains Denise Hernandez, MS, RD, LD, Myfitness Nutritionist.
- Try containers with compartments. These are perfect for preparing whole dishes, helping control portions and preventing food from mixing.
- Keep healthy snacks at the eye level. Place the fresh fruit, hard eggs or small guacamole containers where you will see them first, which facilitates the seizure of something nutritious while avoiding food waste (2).
- Label and date the leftovers. A simple sticker or a dry and dry marker helps you keep a trace of what should be consumed first, by reducing food waste.
With a little planning and organization, your refrigerator can become a tool that supports your health objectives instead of a chaotic black hole in forgotten ingredients.
Refrigerator zones have explained: where to store different foods
A good refrigerator organization helps maintain food safety and freshness while facilitating the search for what you need (1).
“Divide your refrigerator into sections for different types of food, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, proteins and remains.2).
Here is a best way to organize your refrigerator.
Upper shelf
It is the hottest shelf in the refrigerator, so it is better for foods ready to eat, including (5):
- Non -perishable drinks
- Nut
- Nuts
- Seeds
You might also love
Premium + is there! Find out which membership in MyfitnessPal is right for you
Intermediate shelves
This area maintains a coherent and fresh temperature, which makes it ideal for certain perishable foods, such as (5):
- Milk
- Cheese
- Yogurt
- Cottage cheese
- Eggs
- Prepared foods
- Remains
Lower shelf
This is the coldest part of the refrigerator, so that’s where your raw foods belong. Always keep your raw foods on a tray or in a leaks test to prevent juices from dripping other foods and causing cross -contamination (5).
- Raw meat
- Raw poultry
- Raw seafood
More crisp drawers
These drawers control humidity levels to help fruits and vegetables stay fresh longer (5). Here’s how to sort your products (5).
- Use the high humidity drawer for vegetables that easily wilt, such as green vegetables, broccoli and carrots.
- Store fruit, such as apples and berries in the low -moisture drawer.
Door shelves
The refrigerator door is the hottest area (6). It is not appropriate for articles sensitive to temperature such as milk or egg, even if your refrigerator contains a compartment of eggs in this area (6). Instead, use the shelves for (6):
- Condiments
- Non -perishable drinks
Smart storage solutions to prevent food waste
Labeling and dating your food containers may look like an additional step, but it is very useful for reducing waste and reminding you of the order in which certain items must be consumed (7).
By clearly marking what is inside and when it has been prepared or bought, you know what should be used first (7).
It brings me to First in, first method. This implies organizing your food so that the older items are placed at the front and the new items are stored behind them (7). This invites you to use older food before opening something new, preventing articles from being forgotten and expiring (7).
Another system that I use is group similar elements. The nuts are stored alongside cashews. All individual yogurt containers go to the same place. The grouping of elements like this allows you to quickly see what you have on hand.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is the ideal temperature of the refrigerator for food safety?
The ideal refrigerator temperature is or less than 40 ° F (1). This range maintains fresh perishable food while slowing down the growth of harmful bacteria which can cause foods of food origin (1). I use a refrigerator thermometer on an average shelf to make sure it maintains the right temperature.
How often should I clean my refrigerator and what cleaning products should I use?
Wipe up all the spills as soon as they occur by using either aCloth with soft soapy water or a solution of water and vinegar (1). Apart from that, there are no defined rules, however, you should clean it regularly to ward off odors and prevent the growth of bacteria (1).
How long can I store leftovers?
Many remains can usually be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days (7). Mark them when you return home by noting the date on which they must be eaten (7).
What foods should never go to the refrigerator?
Foods such as tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic and whole melons should never go to the refrigerator. Cold can affect their flavor, texture or maturation process (8). Instead, store them in a cool and dry place for the best quality. Bread is another element that is better to leave the refrigerator aside because it is faster in there (8). You can store it on the counter or in the freezer (8). In addition, do not put honey in the refrigerator because it can form crystals (8).
How can I prevent green vegetables with wilted leaves too quickly?
Store them in a container lined with a paper towel to absorb excess humidity (9). Also keep them in the clearer drawer of your refrigerator (5). For pre-lavished green vegetables, simply line the container with a dry paper towel to maintain the freshness.
The bottom line
Think of your refrigerator as a well -organized closet. When everything has a designated place, it is easier to find what you need, to prepare meals effortlessly and to avoid forgetting what you already have.
Just like a cluttered closet can lead to forgotten outfits and last -minute purchases, a disorganized refrigerator can cause you to neglect the fresh ingredients, leading to food waste and unnecessary take -out plans (7).
But with a few simple systems, such as storage of food in their ideal areas, using clear bins and following the first first output method – you can create a refrigerator that works for you and your goals (7).
With these storage strategies, you will spend less time looking for and more time enjoying easy and delicious meals, which facilitates the achievement of your weight loss and well-being goals.
The post How to organize your refrigerator so that nothing is lost or wasted appeared first on Myfitnesspal blog.
