How to organise a fridge
Find out how to organise your fridge and which shelves should be used to store different types of food, including raw meat, cooked food and salad

It may be hidden behind a closed door, but a well-organised fridge can make cooking a whole lot easier. It’s not only aesthetically pleasing, but practical too, as clearly-arranged shelves make it much easier to spot items about to go past their prime, minimising the spread of unhealthy bacteria and cutting down on food waste to boot.
Making the most of your fridge space is a skill that comes in especially handy during the festive season, when many of us will be hosting family and friends for drinks, parties and that all-important Christmas dinner.
Here are our top tips to help you keep your fridge in order going forward…
- Start by taking everything out and sorting through the items. Fridges can easily become overcrowded, so dispose of anything you’re not going to eat and all of those jars that have been lurking on the shelves for far too long. A decluttered fridge will also help to improve energy efficiency.
- This is a good time to give your fridge a proper clean if it's been a while since it had a thorough going-over. Wash the shelves and drawers in warm soapy water. For the inside, you can use warm soapy water or your own homemade natural cleaning solution - get the recipes here. Chemical cleaning sprays are best avoided, as the smell can linger.
- Reserve the bottom drawers for your veggies, salads and any fruit you want to keep in the fridge. As the coolest part, it’ll keep your food fresher for longer and protect it from unwanted smells.
- Raw meat and fish should always be stored on the lowest shelf, where they can’t leak onto any other foods. Place cooked and ready-to-eat items on the top shelf so that there’s no chance of contamination. In the middle shelves, where the air is able to circulate well and keep the temperature regulated, store dairy items like milk, cheese and yogurt.
- As the door shelves are most susceptible to temperature changes, it’s best to store foods that contain natural preservatives here, like jams, condiments, juices and preserves.
- For the ultimate organised fridge, invest in reusable containers and jars that you can decant your everyday staples into or use for leftovers. As they’re airtight, Kilner jars are perfect for berries, preventing them from going mushy too soon!
For more handy household advice, check out our guides to deep cleaning your home, having an eco-friendly declutter and maximising your kitchen storage.
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