How to best organize your fridge-freezer combination

Do you recognize this? You’ve just opened a new jar of pickles because you thought the old one was finished, only to find that there’s still half a jar at the back of the fridge. A waste of space and food, right? This kind of situation can happen if your fridge isn’t well organized. It’s time to change that! Read on to discover our practical tips for organizing your fridge-freezer combination.

Why you should organize your fridge and freezer

An organized fridge-freezer ensures that you find products more quickly and that they stay fresh longer. This helps you avoid buying unnecessary new products and prevents waste. It’s not only sustainable, but also good for your wallet. A practical setup also offers great convenience in daily use.

Did you know that a good organization also improves the performance of your appliance? When air can circulate properly, your fridge-freezer works more efficiently, which leads to lower energy costs in the long run.

Organizing the refrigerator

When it comes to organizing your fridge, it’s all about using the right shelves and compartments for specific products. Let us explain where you should store your items for optimal organization.

Vegetable drawer

The bottom drawer in the fridge is meant for vegetables and fruit. This drawer often has higher humidity, which is ideal for storing fruits and vegetables. However, some items are better kept outside the fridge. Bananas, avocados, tomatoes, citrus fruits and stone fruits like peaches or plums are best stored at room temperature. Vegetables like potatoes, onions, garlic and zucchini should also be stored outside the fridge.

Shelves in the fridge

The temperature in your fridge is not uniform. By placing your products in the right spot, you can ensure they stay fresh longer. Here’s how you should organize the shelves based on temperature differences:

• Top shelf: The top of the fridge is slightly warmer than the bottom. This shelf is ideal for items that are less sensitive to temperature changes, like soft drinks, sauces and opened jars with a longer shelf life.
• Middle shelf: The temperature here is more moderate, making it perfect for eggs, dairy products and leftovers. You can also store deli meats here.
• Bottom shelf: This is the coldest area of the fridge. Store raw meat, fish or poultry here. Use a drip tray to prevent juices from dripping onto other items.

Fridge door

The door is the warmest part of the fridge. Store less perishable items here, such as soft drinks, sauces or opened jars.

Organizing the freezer

In the freezer, you have fewer temperature variations, so it doesn’t matter much where you store your products. However, it’s helpful to organize your freezer by category for better overview. This makes it easier to find what you need and prevents frozen items from being forgotten. A logical organization could be: one drawer for vegetables, fruits and bread, another for meat and snacks and another for meals.

Tips for an even better organized fridge-freezer

Want to make your fridge and freezer more organized? Use containers, baskets, and other organizers. If you have a large vegetable drawer in your fridge, place two bins inside: one for vegetables and one for fruit, so you can easily separate them and quickly find the right items. Deli meats are best kept in a special storage box, ensuring they stay hygienic and don’t come into contact with other products. You can also use turntables for open jars, so you can find the right jar more quickly and easily.

For organizing your freezer, use freezer bags, containers, or vacuum-sealed bags to save space and prevent products from sticking together. Label everything clearly with the packing date so you know what you have and when you need to use it.

Don’t forget to regularly clean your fridge-freezer combination and check for old items you no longer use. By organizing your fridge and freezer this way, you save time, use space more efficiently, and prevent food from getting lost or spoiling.