I just got back from grocery shopping and while I was putting everything away, separating meat and organizing, I had the idea of sharing my crazy fridge. I hope it gives you some ideas you may not have thought of. It took me a long time to come up with optimal food storage, well, for us that is. I’m sure everyone has there own.
Major Points
- Plain Site Produce: I keep all produce in plain site. I don’t use any special storage containers, just the bags they came in. If it’s fruit like melons I’ll clean, cut them and store in regular tupperware. I try to buy things I know we will eat in a week and then just replace everything next weekend. You’ll notice broccoli, bags of baby spinach, baby carrots, peppers, berries, containers of melon from last weekend and cauliflower. I don’t normally buy cauliflower, but I saw a recipe I want to try this week.
- Drawer Storage: In the drawers, I store deli stuff, all my bread products (tortillas, whole wheat English muffins, polenta, etc.) and I reserve the bottom drawer for defrosting meats. This way I don’t have to worry about the leaking over anything else.
- Lot’s of Condiments: You can’t see the door, but that’s all condiments, ketchup, lots of mustards, peanut butter, almond butter, low sugar jellies, parmesan cheese, salsa, a jar of jalapeños, BBQ sauce, hot sauce, sugar free sweet pickles, etc. I can’t live without my condiments!
- Easy Meat Storage: In the freezer you should be able to see my 90% ground lean beef stored flat on the top shelf. I also buy the bags of chicken breast tenderloins, chicken legs, and fish fillets so I can pull them out in individual pieces. Other meats in there are pork, ground turkey, turkey sausage, stew beef and turkey breast tenderloins. I buy everything when it’s on sale and stock up.
- Frozen Fruits & Veggies: Even though I buy fresh I always have at least a bag of frozen strawberries, broccoli and peas in the freezer. They are lifesavers in a pinch!
I hope that helps! Maybe next week, I'll do my pantry! ;~P
Any tip YOU want to share?
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Another great place to store beer instead of the fridge...the garage! Well, at least here in Nebraska during the winter months. lol...
Thanks for the picture of the fridge. This makes it REALLY easy for me since I have the exact same fridge, I had hail stones in it over the summer but never a snowball:). I love the idea of using the bottom drawer as a defrost zone. It is the perfect size (and easier to clean up spills). Thanks for the good ideas!
Wish my fridge looked like that. Mine is the exact opposite. It is empty, which is why I believe we eat out so much. I need to go to the grocery store and get back on track.
Roni, I envy, envy, ENVY you and your organizational skills. Being organized is truly a gift. I used to be organized and then life happened! Hip replacement at the age of 27, four years ago. Diabetes slowed my healing process down and to top it off I got married! I have gained 50 pounds in 4 years and I will lose it. You encourage me every day to do better and I am. Thank you for your inspiration!
I am new here ~ just found you and by golly I am so happy I have. I have been checking out your blog and really enjoy reading and looking at all of your pictures. I wish my fridge looked like this ~ but I'm working on it. Ü
I don't know how long I've had the leftover beer in my fridge. I keep on thinking that I'm going to just make loaf after loaf of beer bread (one of my husband's favorite treats) one day.
Roni - You never fail to amaze me with your creativity:). You're fridge looks great...healthy! healthy! And I love that your hubby saved a snowball!!
I process all of my produce as soon as I get home, provided I know what I'm going to do with it. I rinse all the fruits and veggies that need it, like grapes, apples, and tomatoes. My fiance takes a salad for lunch every day, so he or I slice up his cucumbers, take the tomatoes off of the vine, rinse the sliced mushrooms, and store them all in Gladware. If I know I'm going to cook up the zucchini I bought, I wash it, slice it, and store it in a container for easier use for a weeknight dinner.
It is an unspoken rule that all condiments belong on the door, isn't it? Hubby must have missed that lesson in school because many times I find the ketchup smack in front at eye level when I open the door. Geez, even after repeat "lessons" he still can't remember that rule!
The beer can be stored room temp btw, to give you more room!
Nice Diagram!!!
Your fridge looks great! I wish I could stop buying so many groceries-I think I have a problem-I am trying to stop. Its like a game of tetris everytime I get back from the store. My husband is seriously annoyed. My pantry is the same way. Oh and I have a chest freezer in the garage, I'm not even sure what's in it. So, what I wanted to say was I aspire to get to the point you are at!
HaHa the Devil lives in my freezer too apparently. This was a great idea. My fridge doesn't look too far off from yours, I always keep a strainer bowl full of fresh grapes or other bite-sized fruit for snacking.