Create Extra Storage In Your Cramped Fridge With An Inexpensive IKEA Essential

A cramped fridge is no fun to deal with. Not only does it look bad, but poor organization of food can also cause "out of sight, out of mind" problems, leading ingredients to go bad without you realizing it. While purchasing a new appliance might be a bit of an extreme approach to managing your cramped fridge, what if there was an inexpensive refrigerator organization hack that could majorly increase the amount of cold storage you have available?

IKEA's VARIERA shelf insert is a simple organizational product that you can add to your fridge storage arsenal for just $11.99. This insert is crafted from steel, making it durable. Its powder coating makes it resilient in the face of moisture, condensation, and everyday wear and tear. Designed to help you make the most of storage in your cabinets, the VARIERA is still versatile enough to use in other spaces in the kitchen. By placing a VARIERA or two in your refrigerator, you can easily store items underneath and on top of the insert. It might not seem all that revolutionary, but that extra shelf space can go a long way in helping you organize small items and take advantage of the room you have available.

Before purchasing the VARIERA, you likely want to know if it's worth the trip to IKEA. At a glance, this item is very highly reviewed by customers who have bought it, earning a 4.6-star average out of over 1,700 reviews on IKEA's website. Customers love the appearance, which features a delicate cut-out pattern on the top of the shelf. The shelf also receives high marks for its high quality and value for money. One IKEA customer writes, "These have been super helpful in maximizing my space as my kitchen cabinets are tall and I had a ton of wasted unusable space until I added these."

While the VARIERA is well-loved, there are some criticisms to be aware of. Some customers call out the screws that hold the shelf and legs up, saying that they are not the right size for the holes, leading to an unstable assembly. Others say that the assembly process is difficult, leading to frustration with the product. Even some customers who love the VARIERA insert admit that it was difficult to put together, so it's worth preparing yourself for that challenge if you choose to purchase the inserts.

If you decide to purchase some of the VARIERA shelf inserts to install in your fridge, there are a number of ways to make them work efficiently for your needs. Because the shelf inserts legs are metal, there is a chance that they may slip around on a glass refrigerator shelf. One way to prevent any unwanted sliding is to use non-slip pads under the legs of the shelves (especially important when the inserts are loaded up with food). These GorillaGrit Round Clear Adhesive Bumpers come highly reviewed on Amazon, are easy to attach, and will cost you under $10.

You also might want to purchase and cut to size some non-slip liners to place on top of the inserts, helping to put an end to containers sliding off of the back or sides of the shelves. For the best performance, you may find it necessary to glue the non-slip liner onto the shelf using a few dots of hot glue. Be careful when pressing the liner onto the shelf, as you could burn your skin through the liner or metal shelf insert. 

While you might not be able to make your refrigerator any bigger, knowing how to utilize unique organizational products like the IKEA VARIERA can make a sizable difference in your refrigerator's storage potential.