DESIDERATA

The kitchen is the heart of the home (even if you’re not a cook!) and so that is where we’re starting with the great clean up. Fridges and freezers get gross. They smell, they collect things in corners and gaps and I swear there’s a tear in the space-time continuum back there. Because there’s no way we’re out of chicken nuggets (again) or that I’ve overlooked that box of popsicles for two years… Yes, they defy the natural order and laws of physics. It is the only explanation.

So let’s re-set the natural order.

The non-negotiables:

• Take everything out. Yup, all of it. If you have coolers or freezer bags, put your items in there so they stay as cool as possible while you clean.
• Clean under/behind. I have no idea how under and behind a fridge can get SO filthy SO quickly. But mine is always horrifying and looks like it’s never been touched, even if it’s only been 2 weeks.
• Clean the inside. I like a good regular dish soap and water on the shelves – I just fill up the bathtub with soapy water, plop them in there, wipe, rinse, and then lay out to dry. On the inside surfaces, a good spray of all-purpose cleaner and a wipe should do it.
• Toss what you can. If you don’t remember exactly how long it’s been there (no guessing!), toss it. If you know it’s not going to be eaten, toss it. Compost what you can or if you have pets/animals, use any vet-approved, appropriate items for their food.
• Sort the rest. Group like items together so you’ll be able to see quickly how to set up your zones
• Restock the shelves. Every fridge is different and everyone’s needs are different so trying to tell you to put the milk on a certain shelf is silly. But I can tell you that when you load up the shelves, keep it in zones and leave extra space. We always end up with a whole shelf of leftovers and just shoving it in by the end of the week leads to chaos. So I try to leave at least a solid chunk of the bottom shelf empty so there’s room for them to sit there for 5 days before I throw them out.
• Keep everything visible. It’s much harder for the rip in the space-time continuum to absorb items that you can see immediate when you open the drawers. If you can arrange it so nothing gets pushed to the back, you stand a chance at maintaining the laws of physics.

The maybe negotiables:

• Use clear bins. I cannot tell you how many hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars of spoiled vegetables I had when I just tossed them all in the veggie drawer. A few years ago, I switched to clear stackable bins on a shelf and it is amazing for getting us to eat it all. The kids can just grab a bin of fruit or veggies for a snack (they do that now that the system is fun and easy for them!), and it’s like having a salad bar in your home. So so so much better. Yes, it takes like 4 extra minutes of work after the shopping and yes, those bins are expensive and yes, it is ridiculous to move food from one container to another container. But truly, it has made a huge difference in cutting down on food waste around here.
• Change your water filter. If you have a fridge with one (and you don’t remember when you changed it last), go ahead and do that now. Then set a reminder in your calendar app for the time it will need to be changed. (Mine is 6 months)
• Add an odor reducer. I’m pretty sure fridges and freezers will always just smell like food (if you’re using them) but a good deodorizer will keep it at bay and help it recover more quickly from that leftover curry. The one I use is in my favorite things list.

My fridge zones:

• Meats (in a drawer)
• Cheese and dairy (drawer)
• Produce (clear bins on shelf)
• Snacks and lunch box items (clear bins on shelf)
• Condiments and cooking ingredients (in a door shelf)
• Drinks (my fridge has a handy door insert thing for that)
• Leftovers & dog food (meal prep containers on shelf)

My freezer zones:

• Veggies
• Fruits
• Grab and go breakfast
• Quick meals
• Meat
• Desserts

Smarter, not harder (smart home integration)

As you restock, add items to your Alexa grocery list. So much faster to just say it out loud as you go and then your list is right on your phone when you’re doing your shopping. The kids and I also use this constantly throughout the week. Like if someone drank the milk so it’s less than half full, it goes on the list.

Maintenance:

1. Clean up any spills or noticeable messes as you go.

2. When you restock with your weekly shopping, take the extra 5 minutes to toss any old items

3. Set a reminder for every 60 days/2 months to wash the shelves and give it a good deep clean and sweep/mop under and behind. If you keep up with this, you’ll be shocked at how quickly you can knock out the task. I use the Structured app to manage my schedules but use whatever works for you – just make sure you mark it down somewhere and then you don’t have to think about it.

Your turn:

I truly want to know what works for you! Please send me any tips and tricks for cutting down on food waste and keeping a happy fridge!

Now go fight the laws of physics and have a clean fridge.