A Smart Way To Organize Your Fridge So That Food Never Goes To Waste

How many times have you grabbed old leftovers only to find they look more like a science experiment than food you once found appetizing? If this happens frequently at your house, you're not alone. An estimated 66.2 million tons of food was wasted in 2019, with 40% of that waste happening in households, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But it's not always the longevity of the food that's the problem. It could be a matter of making mistakes when organizing your fridge. One small change could help: Arrange food so the items that are close to going bad sit front and center.

This simple organizational hack plays on the first in, first out (FIFO) method used by grocery stores, restaurants, and other retailers. New stock goes to the back of the shelf, with older items moving to the front. The same idea works for your fridge. Instead of shoving food in wherever there's an open spot, put the about-to-expire foods and items with the shortest shelf life at the front of the fridge, where they're easy to spot and grab. Even better, choose a specific shelf or area for food you need to eat soon. A top shelf or a spot at eye level is ideal so you see those items first when you open the fridge.

When you put something in the fridge, pay attention to the best-by date. If it's a cooked item or restaurant leftovers, label it with the date you made or bought it. The foods that expire soon should go toward the front. Highlight the expiration date on the package, or write it with a marker in large numbers right on the front. When you open the fridge, you can see at a glance how much time you have left to eat the item.

Adding organization products to keep your refrigerator under control can also help avoid food waste. Organizing tools make it easier to see what's in the fridge and keep small items from getting lost. Plus, you save energy by spending less time searching so the door stays closed more. A simple option is to buy clear plastic trays for different types of food, such as cheese, dressings, or yogurt. Place a label on the front to keep things straight. Within that bin, place the older food items toward the front so you'll grab them first. Add dividers to your refrigerator drawers to keep items separated.

Cleaning your refrigerator regularly helps you maintain your organizational system. Do a weekly check of all items to look for things that are close to the expiration date. Rearrange the items so those older foods are in the front or in your designated area for food that's about to spoil. Three or four times per year, set aside time for deep cleaning your fridge.