Professional Organizers Swear by These Fridge Organization Hacks
Stock up on clear containers!
We've all been there: You're searching for an item you think is in the fridge, but you can't find it because there are too many bottles of condiments, half-full jugs of juice, and containers of leftovers blocking your view. We tapped kitchen pros and organizers for their best fridge hacks that keep things in easy reach.
Even if you're generally an organized person, the fridge has a way of becoming cluttered. With multiple family members rummaging around for items daily, it's easy for certain things to get shoved to the back of the fridge or for spills and other messes to happen.
Organizers emphasized that the best way to have a tidy fridge is to maintain good habits. Regularly doing a sweep to throw out expired items and only storing food you'll actually eat can help cut down on fridge clutter. "Refrigerator organization is just like any other organization—I believe that function comes first," says professional organizer Alli Bodnar, the owner of Alli B Organizing.
With these tips from professional organizers and from Nicole Papantoniou, director of the Kitchen & Cooking Lab, getting your fridge organized is easy. Here's what to try.
Use Clear, Stackable Food Storage Containers
"Use all clear, stackable glassware or food storage containers," says professional organizer Kim Shiu, the owner of Tidy for Good and a Certified KonMari® Consultant. Not only are glass containers more durable, Shiu points out that they allow you to see exactly what each contains at a quick glance. Flat lids allow for stacking, helping save space in a packed refrigerator.
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Group Items by Category
One of Shiu's top fridge organizing hacks is to group items by category. "Cheeses in one drawer, fruit in the other for easy access," the organizer says. It means you know where to look when you're searching the fridge for a specific item, and there is a designated area for items when you're unloading groceries.
Incorporate an Egg Organizer
This clever egg organizer comes highly recommended by Papantoniou and has won a Good Housekeeping Kitchen Award in the past. "The drawer has stoppers so it wont pull out and fall out, and you can keep things on top of it," Papantoniou says. The transparent construction also allows you to see how many eggs you have left and when it's time to add them to your grocery list.
Utilize a Lazy Susan Turntable
To gain easy access to items that often get lost in the back of refrigerator shelves, Bodnar recommends implementing a Lazy Susan. "Lazy Susans and turntables rotate and are great for sauces and condiments," Bodnar shares. Having access to items that would otherwise be forgotten in the back of the appliance helps cut down on food waste, duplicate purchases, and foul odors produced by expired items.
Do a Fridge Sweep on Trash Pickup Days
In addition to always checking the fridge before grocery shopping, Shiu says, "I also always do a quick sweep on the evening before trash pickup to get rid of anything that might be going bad." Staying on top of what's inside the fridge is key—it prevents clutter, rotting odors, and duplicate purchases. It also provides more room for new groceries and makes it easier to find and pull out the items you're looking for.
RELATED: 10 Grocery Shopping Habits You Need to Change If You Want to Save Money
Don't Over-Organize
It may surprise you to hear a professional organizer share this hack: Don't over-organize your fridge! "You need to leave space for things like leftovers and impulse purchases," Bodnar shares. More organizing containers, labels, and systems doesn't necessarily equal a more organized fridge. In fact, over-organizing the appliance only makes it more cluttered and leaves less room for the things that actually need to be stored.
Line Refrigerator Shelves
Whether it's spilled milk or a cracked food storage container that leaks all over the place, messes happen. Shiu likes to line each shelf to keep the fridge as clean as possible. "You can even use baking pans, cafeteria trays, or plastic placemats—the goal is to make it easy for yourself if anything spills," the organizer says.
Only Store What Will Be Eaten
"When organizing a fridge, I make sure that all the items that are going in will be eaten," Shiu says. The pro explains that the aim is to keep a fridge manageable, so there's no point in storing items if you don't enjoy eating or drinking them. "You should be able to see everything at a quick glance, and it shouldn't be filled to the brim," Shiu says.
Use Clear Storage Bins
Bins are one of Bodnar's best fridge organization hacks. "Bins allow you to remove everything from the shelf at once to look for items," she says. They neatly contain food, prevent items from falling over and making a mess, and they make it easier to organize things by category. Bodnar's pro tip for storage bins for the fridge? "Remember to measure your space and purchase items that will maximize your storage."
Papantoniou loves OXO's eight-piece fridge organization set. "I've been using them for years with no wear and tear in both my fridge and freezer," she says.
Be Realistic
At the end of the day, Bodnar says you need to be realistic when you're organizing the fridge. Implementing too many storage containers, adding labels that need to be changed constantly, or decanting food and beverages into pretty storage vessels can become too much. "Know what type of person you are and how much 'spare' time you have in a day for upkeep," Bodnar advises.
Maria Sabella is a lifestyle writer with a passion for home and interiors — from paint colors and holiday decor to the latest design trends. Her work has appeared in outlets including Better Homes & Gardens, The Spruce, BuzzFeed and Bustle.
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