How To Organize Your Fridge So Nothing Gets Lost Or Wasted

[ad_1] <img width="800" height="534" src="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fridge-organization-tips-1024x683.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="How to organize your fridge for optimal freshness | MyFitnessPal" srcset="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fridge-organization-tips-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fridge-organization-tips-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fridge-organization-tips-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fridge-organization-tips.jpg 1504w" /> Let’s face it—fridge group isn’t nearly an Insta-worthy look. It might make or break your potential to keep up a nutritious diet. A well-organized fridge may provide help to get monetary savings and lower down on meals waste (3, 4).

As a dietitian, I’ve labored with so many purchasers who go grocery purchasing with the perfect intentions. The one bother is that they overlook concerning the contemporary produce tucked behind the fridge at residence. And we will all relate to the unrecognizable science experiment we uncover from the again of the fridge.

Right here’s what I’ve realized: A disorganized fridge can result in last-minute takeout as a result of you'll be able to’t discover what you want. It’s a double whammy on your pockets: you spend cash on takeout and waste cash on groceries that spoil earlier than you utilize them.

With a bit of technique, you'll be able to create a system that retains your meals seen, contemporary, and able to go.

Listed below are a few of my favourite suggestions that will help you preserve your fridge organized, cut back waste, and set your self up for more healthy, stress-free meals all week lengthy.

Meal planner is right here! Construct a customized meal plan round your calorie and macro objectives at the moment. attempt meal planner

The Science of Fridge Group

The best way you retailer meals in your fridge could make or break its freshness. This will have a ripple impact in your well being and pockets (4). Meals like fruits, greens, and dairy all have totally different superb storage circumstances, and inserting them within the incorrect spot may cause them to go dangerous sooner (1).

For instance, extremely perishable objects like milk are greatest saved on the center shelf, the place the temperature is most constant (5). In the meantime, veggies do greatest within the crisper drawers the place there’s extra humidity (5). Organizing your fridge with this in thoughts helps protect freshness so meals doesn’t go dangerous before it ought to (5). However extra on all that in a bit.

An organized fridge may nudge you towards making more healthy decisions (2). When contemporary, ready-to-eat snacks like cut-up veggies, hummus, or Greek yogurt are seen and simply accessible, you’re much more prone to seize them as a substitute of reaching for much less nutritious choices (2).

Concerning the Consultants

Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, is a nationally acknowledged meals and vitamin professional, media persona, vitamin advisor, and creator. Cassetty is a former vitamin director for Good Housekeeping and the co-author of the e-book Sugar Shock.

Denise Hernandez, RD, is a Meals Knowledge Curator at MyFitnessPal. Denise accomplished her Grasp’s Diploma in Vitamin from Texas Girl’s College. Her areas of focus embody grownup and childhood weight administration, girls’s vitamin, and power illness administration.

The Meal Prep-Fridge Group Connection

Meal planning and fridge group go hand-in-hand.

When your fridge is neat and arranged, it’s simpler to see what you may have, plan meals round these components, and keep away from overbuying (2).

Plus, it makes wholesome consuming extra handy—in case your go-to snacks and meal staples are straightforward to seize, you’re much less prone to attain for processed choices.

One device that pairs nicely with fridge group is MyFitnessPal, which helps you observe meals and make aware decisions. By planning forward (that’s what Meal Planner does!) and protecting your fridge stocked and arranged with prepped components, you set your self up for fulfillment.

<img width="1024" height="683" src="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/how-to-chop-vegetables-1024x683.jpg" alt="A home cook chops vegetables" class="wp-image-63613 size-full" srcset="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/how-to-chop-vegetables-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/how-to-chop-vegetables-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/how-to-chop-vegetables-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/how-to-chop-vegetables.jpg 1350w" /> You may also like

How one can Chop Greens Like a Professional (With out Losing Half of It)

Meal Prep & Storage Suggestions

Use clear, stackable bins. Retailer staple components like cooked grains, proteins, and roasted veggies in easy-to-see containers for fast meal meeting. “This makes it simpler to see what you may have and discover what you want,” says Denise Hernandez, MS, RD, LD, MyFitnessPal nutritionist.

Attempt containers with compartments. These are nice for meal prepping whole dishes, serving to with portion management and protecting meals from mixing.

Maintain wholesome snacks at eye stage. Place contemporary fruit, hard-boiled eggs, or small containers of guacamole the place you’ll see them first, making it simpler to seize one thing nutritious whereas avoiding meals waste (2).

Label and date leftovers. A easy sticker or dry-erase marker helps you retain observe of what must be eaten first, lowering meals waste.

With a bit of planning and group, your fridge can develop into a device that helps your well being objectives as a substitute of a chaotic black gap of forgotten components.

Fridge Zones Defined: The place to Retailer Totally different Meals

Correct fridge group helps preserve meals security and freshness whereas making it simpler to seek out what you want (1).

“Divide your fridge into sections for several types of meals, comparable to fruits, greens, dairy, proteins, and leftovers. It will make it simpler to seek out what you want and stop meals from getting misplaced behind different meals,” says Hernandez (2).

Right here’s a breakdown of one of the best ways to prepare your fridge.

Prime shelf

That is the warmest shelf of the fridge, so it’s greatest for ready-to-eat meals, together with (5):

Non-perishable drinks

Nuts

Nut butters

Seeds

<img width="1024" height="643" src="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/myfitnesspal-membership-options-pricing-1024x643.jpg" alt="MyFitnessPal membership pricing options" class="wp-image-63209 size-full" srcset="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/myfitnesspal-membership-options-pricing-1024x643.jpg 1024w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/myfitnesspal-membership-options-pricing-300x188.jpg 300w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/myfitnesspal-membership-options-pricing-768x482.jpg 768w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/myfitnesspal-membership-options-pricing.jpg 1504w" /> You may also like

Premium+ Is Right here! Discover Out Which MyFitnessPal Membership Is Proper For You

Center cabinets

This space maintains a constant, cool temperature, making it superb for sure perishable meals, comparable to (5):

Milk

Cheese

Yogurt

Cottage cheese

Eggs

Ready meals

Leftovers

Backside shelf

That is the coldest a part of the fridge, so it’s the place your uncooked meals belong. All the time retailer your uncooked meals on a tray or in a leak-proof container to forestall juices from dripping onto different meals and inflicting cross-contamination (5).

Uncooked meat

Uncooked poultry

Uncooked seafood

Crisper drawers

These drawers management humidity ranges to assist vegetables and fruit keep contemporary longer (5). Right here’s tips on how to type your produce (5).

Use the high-humidity drawer for greens that wilt simply, like leafy greens, broccoli, and carrots.

Retailer fruits, comparable to apples and berries within the low-humidity drawer.

Door cabinets

The fridge door is the warmest space (6). It’s not applicable for temperature-sensitive objects like milk or egg, even when your fridge incorporates an egg compartment on this zone (6). As a substitute, use the cabinets for (6):

Condiments

Nonperishable drinks

Good Storage Options to Stop Meals Waste

Labeling and relationship your meals containers would possibly really feel like an additional step, nevertheless it’s tremendous useful for lowering waste and reminding you the order during which sure objects must be eaten (7).

By clearly marking what’s inside and when it was ready or bought, you already know what must be used first (7).

That brings me to the primary in, first out technique. It entails organizing your meals in order that older objects are positioned on the entrance and newer objects are saved behind them (7). This prompts you to make use of the older meals earlier than you open one thing new, stopping objects from being forgotten and expiring (7).

One other system I exploit is grouping comparable objects collectively. The walnuts are saved subsequent to the cashews. All particular person yogurt containers go in the identical spot. Grouping objects like this allows you to shortly see what you may have readily available.

Steadily Requested Questions (FAQs)

What’s the best fridge temperature for meals security? The perfect fridge temperature is at or under 40°F (1). This vary retains perishable meals contemporary whereas slowing the expansion of dangerous micro organism that may trigger foodborne sickness (1). I exploit a fridge thermometer on a center shelf to ensure it’s protecting the proper temperature.

How typically ought to I clear my fridge and what cleansing merchandise ought to I exploit? Wipe down any spills as quickly as they occur utilizing both a dishcloth with delicate soapy water or a water and vinegar resolution (1). Exterior of that, there aren't any set guidelines, nevertheless, it is best to clear it recurrently to push back smells and stop the expansion of micro organism (1).

How lengthy can I retailer leftovers? Many leftovers can usually be saved within the fridge for 3 to 4 days (7). Mark them while you get residence noting the date they should be eaten by (7).

What meals ought to by no means go within the fridge? Meals like tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic, and entire melons ought to by no means go within the fridge. The chilly can have an effect on their taste, texture, or ripening course of (8). As a substitute, retailer them in a cool, dry place for the highest quality. Bread is one other merchandise that's greatest to go away out of the fridge as a result of it stales sooner in there (8). You possibly can retailer it on the counter or within the freezer (8). Additionally, don’t put honey within the fridge as a result of it may well type crystals (8).

How do I forestall leafy greens from wilting too shortly? Retailer them in a container lined with a paper towel to soak up extra moisture (9). Additionally, preserve them within the crisper drawer of your fridge(5). For pre-washed greens, merely line the container with a dry paper towel to keep up freshness.

The Backside Line

Consider your fridge like a well-organized closet. When every part has a delegated place, it’s simpler to seek out what you want, put collectively meals effortlessly, and keep away from forgetting what you have already got.

Identical to a cluttered closet can result in forgotten outfits and last-minute purchases, a disorganized fridge may cause you to miss contemporary components, resulting in meals waste and pointless takeout (7).

However with a couple of easy techniques—like storing meals of their superb zones, utilizing clear bins, and following the primary in, first out technique—you'll be able to create a fridge that works for you and your objectives (7).

With these storage methods, you’ll spend much less time looking and extra time having fun with straightforward, scrumptious meals, making it simpler to realize your weight reduction and wellness objectives.