Welcome to Homemaking Tips Tuesdays where contributing writers share helpful homemaking tips so you can feel more successful caring for your home and family.

{This week, post by: Jessica}

How often do you open your refrigerator only to close it again in frustration?

Maybe you can’t seem to find what you’re looking for. 

Maybe you have multiple of the same items open at once.

How many of you have no idea what’s growing in the mystery container in the back?

At least once a year you should completely clean out your refrigerator. If possible thaw and clean out your freezer as well. Before the holidays is a great time to do this so you have space to fill your fridge with yummy leftovers and ingredients more commonly used for holiday cooking.

Steps to an Organized Refrigerator

1. Throw away anything that is expired, moldy or funny-smelling.
2. Once your refrigerator is emptied, wipe down the inside with a non-toxic cleaner.  Remove any produce bins, and wash those as well.
3. Then, rearrange your shelves to meet your food storage needs.
4. Restock your fridge by keeping items grouped together.

• Condiments and sauces do well stored in doors.
• Fresh produce belongs in the crisper drawers.
• Designate one drawer for fruits, and the other for vegetables to stay organized.
• In another drawer group cheeses, hummus, and deli meat (separated by a divider, if possible).
• Leave items like eggs in their original container so you can track expiration dates.
• Raw meat should always be stored on the bottom shelf of your fridge.  If this is not possible, place raw meat on a cookie sheet or casserole dish to catch any juices that may leak from the packaging.

Store leftovers in clear glass containers.  This allows you to see what is in each container and group leftovers from the same meal together.  Glass containers are also safe for reheating in the microwave.

Move any leftover canned foods into a new container.  Doing this protects your food from possible oxidation inside the can, possible contamination, and helps preserve the freshness of the food.

Practice FIFO:  First In, First Out:

Always put the new item behind the already opened one, so that the one opened is used completely before opening the new one.  When replacing condiments or sauces, leave the new item in the pantry until ready to open and use.

You can use these same techniques in your food pantry and spice cabinet.  Keeping your kitchen organized will help you to be more efficient and less stressed when cooking. For more homemaking and meal planning tips, check out meal planning made easy, saving money on groceries, and my meal delivery service review that were all featured previously on Homemaking Tips Tuesday.

Jessica is a stay at home mom of two lovely little girls.  She is also a military spouse and an entrepreneur.  Jessica enjoys staying active and spending time outdoors with her family, cooking, and reading.  In addition, Jessica is hard at work growing her company Five O’Clock Jelly.