Since COVID hit, I’m officially a self-proclaimed chef. I’ve been cooking more these past few months than I ever have in my adult life, and I am absolutely loving it. Do you know what I’m not loving? The constant war between my fridge and me—you know, that feeling when you have to crack open the door and peek in to make sure nothing will come crashing down all over the floor? That was the constant state of my fridge at the start of quarantine, and my daily refrigerator scavenger hunt put a damper on my cooking fun. ‘Cause, no one wants to dig through layers of foil-wrapped containers to find the cilantro that somehow got buried under Sunday night’s leftovers.
So, a few weekends ago, I decided to take back control of my fridge by organizing everything: produce, herbs, meats, and leftovers. Now, I open my fridge and see pure organized bliss every day, and it was so worth the time investment.
Nothing says “organized adult status” better than having a perfectly organized fridge with decanters, labels, and mason jar storage.
If you’re looking to take back your fridge organization once and for all, we’re found out how to organize your refrigerator along with everything you need to easily make your fridge your official new happy place. Scroll on for my top 10 tried-and-tested picks for a perfectly organized fridge.
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Mason jars are spill-proof, dishwasher safe, and can be easily organized to make everything look uniform in your fridge. They are perfect for salads, overnight oats, smoothies, yogurt parfaits, soup, sauce, broth, fruits, vegetables, sauces, and dressings. They’re super affordable (usually about $1 to $2 a jar) and come in all different sizes. I love layering salads in the bigger jars and using the smaller jars for dressings, smoothies, etc. Tip: if you are freezing anything in mason jars, be sure to use a wide mouth jar and leave at least one to two inches of room at the top when you fill them, to leave room for the contents to expand as they freeze. Otherwise, you may end up with a shattered jar and a big mess all over your floor.
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Produce doesn’t lie: when it’s past its prime, you know. Extend the longevity of your fridge’s most precious cargo with these brilliant produce keeper containers. The built-in basket protects produce from moisture puddles, and the adjustable lid vent is fitted with a slim carbon filter to help reduce spoilage. There is even a date indicator and a companion app to remind you when to change the filter.
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If you want to know how to organize your refrigerator then look no further. Keeping your fancy (and let’s face it, expensive) herbs worthy fresher for longer, then invest in one of these glass herb keepers. Not only do they work, but they also give your fridge a fresh farmers market display. Made of sturdy glass, this keeper’s slim design allows it to easily slip into the door of your fridge and look like a vase for your herbs.
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Ready to get rid of disposable ziplock bags? These self-sealing, airtight non-plastic bags can be used for cooking and storing. They’re made from silicone and can go from the freezer to stovetop to dishwasher. With no harmful by-products or chemicals, they are a healthy, sustainable option that is lightweight, portable, and reusable. Now, this is how to organize your refrigerator in style and sustainability.
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Of all the tools considered here, these are the most versatile. The sub in for saucepan lids, store leftovers, keep dinner warm from oven to table, and when you’re ready to reheat, they’re safe to use in the oven up to 550°F. They make great splash guards, they’re dishwasher-safe, and the color palette is just so good.
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If you haven’t yet ditched plastic wrap, do it for your fridge makeover. The best alternative is beeswax wrap, and Bee’s Wrap is my favorite—it’s all-natural, sustainable, let’s food breathe, protects it from moisture, and creates zero waste. It acts like your food’s natural protector and “keeps it alive”. Great for storing odds and ends in the fridge and covering up leftovers. It basically does everything plastic wrap can do and looks way cuter doing it.
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At last: an excuse to ditch all those junky takeout containers. Made from crystal-clear borosilicate glass, these come in all sizes, are tough as nails, and neatly stack together when they’re not holding leftovers in the fridge.
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Why more people don’t use a Lazy Susan in the fridge is beyond me: it’s perfect for that back corner relegated to pickles, hot sauces, pasta sauce, and salad dressings. Stick those orphans on a merry-go-round of condiments, and they’re way more likely to get noticed and way easier to access.
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Rack-style bottle storage is great if your fridge has the real estate. But in smaller spaces, even a six-pack of La Croix’s can crowd a corner. Go vertical with this simple rubber stacker designed to stack 10 12-ounce cans or bottles, or nine-ish wine or spirit bottles.
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For all the mason jar lovers out there, you’re going to love these Cuppow BNTO & Jar Combo accessories. All of the benefits of your mason jar, with the added bonus of compartments, making these great for veggies with dip, parfaits with granola, and salads with dressing.
So, how to organize a refrigerator really isn’t that hard after all. But did we miss a key ingredient? Share your tips and products with us below to achieve that perfectly organized fridge.
This post was originally published on June 23, 2020, and has since been updated.
