Frig Makeover for 2026
- The Clutter Whisperers
- 17 hours ago
- 4 min read
Now that the holidays are finally over, you probably have a refrigerator full of leftovers, cooking ingredients that were never used, and maybe some science experiments from Thanksgiving.
The new year is a great opportunity to makeover your frig, get rid of anything you don’t want in there, and organize it. Start fresh!
Step 1: Declutter and Discard
Take everything out of your frig and put on your table or countertop. Yes, you're going to make a big mess before you have a finished product.
Go hunting for anything moldy, expired, or that has been in there for more than two days, or that you didn’t like and throw into the trash.
Here is a guide for how long things last:
Meats & Poultry
· Raw Beef, Pork, Lamb (Steaks, Roasts): 3-5 days
· Raw Ground Meat/Poultry: 1-2 days
· Fresh Poultry (Whole/Pieces): 1-2 days
· Cooked Poultry/Meat: 3-4 days
· Bacon: 1 week
· Lunch Meats (Deli): 2 weeks (unopened), 3-5 days (opened)
Fresh Fish & Shellfish: 1-2 days
Dairy & Eggs
· Milk: About 1 week (store in back for coldest temp)
· Eggs (in shell): 3-5 weeks
· Hard Cheese (Cheddar, Swiss): 3-4 weeks (opened), months (unopened)
· Soft Cheese (Brie, Ricotta): 1 week
· Yogurt: 1-2 weeks
Fruits & Vegetables
· Lettuce, Spinach: 1-4 days
· Berries: 2-3 days (or up to a week with proper storage)
· Mushrooms, Tomatoes: 2-3 days
· Hardy Veggies (Carrots, Peppers): 1-2 weeks
Prepared Foods & Leftovers
· Most Leftovers (Cooked): 3-4 days (max 7 days)
· Casseroles, Soups, Stews: 3-4 days
· Rice/Pasta (Cooked): 3-4 days
· Canned Fruit (Opened): 5-7 days
Step 2: Clean
Wash each shelf and bin in the sink with hot, soapy water (or a bleach/water solution for sanitizing), rinse, then dry thoroughly and put back.
Wipe down all interior surfaces, including door seals, with a damp cloth and a little dish detergent. Use a hand vac or attachment (wipe it clean with rubbing alcohol before using) to get all the crumbs and dirt from corners and crannies.
Step 3: Sort
Look at what’s left and sort into categories. You’ll probably have a list that looks like:
· Fruits
· Vegetables
· Dairy (yogurt, cheeses, milk, creamers)
· Meats /Poultry/Fish (in containers)
· Condiments (in doors )
· Beverages
· Eggs
· Bread
· Sauces and Spreads
· Snacks
· Ready to eat
· Lunchboxes
Step 4: Put everything in the right place
Look at the volume of what you have in each category and figure out where each one will go. Things you use most often should be eye level, and fruits and veggies go into the crisper drawers.
Then test your plan by putting your organizers into the frig and see what fits where. Start with the biggest jar or containers first and be sure to leave space for leftovers.
Keep in mind that every person/family is different. Some have tons of soda cans, some have none. Families with kids might want to keep healthier food options at eye level. Bachelor/ettes may need more room for take-out or prepared meals. If you keep kosher you want to separate the milk and meat products.
The trick is to look at your frig and think about what you need to store in there.
Labels are a plus if you have access to a label maker – it helps keep everything in the right place.
For organizing bins and Lazy Susans, you can check out Amazon, Target or Walmart, plus
you’d be surprised what you might find at the thrift store!
Inexpensive Dollar Tree products and even Marshall’s or T.J. Max are all good options to find what you need without spending a fortune.
What shouldn’t be stored together:
Ethylene Producers:
· Apples, pears, peaches, plums, and tomatoes
Ethylene Sensitive:
· Lettuce, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and collard greens
· Cruciferous Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage (exposure leads to yellowing and falling leaves).
· Root Vegetables: Carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes (exposure makes carrots bitter and sweet potatoes sprout or darken internally).
· Gourd Family: Cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins, and all types of squash (leads to accelerated softening and decay)
· Berries, melons and citrus fruits
What shouldn’t be stored in the refrigerator:
· Bell peppers (cut up is OK)
· Avocados
· Bananas
Specialty needs
· Lunch prep
· Leftovers
· Raw meat – in sealed container to protect against leaks
· Nail polish
· Cosmetics
· Medicines
· Large batches of cooked rice, quinoa, pasta or stew
Organizers Tips:
· Use clear bins (make sure they’re designed for the frig – they’re longer)
· Lazy Susans (keep things visible and eliminate mysteries in the back)
· Tension drawer organizers for produce drawers
· Acrylic egg carton (good for stacking and not breaking the eggs)
· Under shelf organizers maximize the space available.
Outside of the Door
There are magnetic shelves and other accessories that you can put on the side of the frig – check these out.
These are great for things like: Keurig coffee pods; teas; spices; To Do lists; soda cans; canisters of beans and rice; water bottles.
They also clear counter space so you have more room for actual cooking, and lighten the load of pantry items.
Maintaining the Vision!
There are a few simple things you can do to keep up your hard work.
Weekly, take a look and throw out all foods that have gone bad. Then wipe down each shelf – because your groceries are in modular bins, it should be pretty easy to slide them out and reach the corners. Use a microfiber cloth for a quick cleanup.
Or you can decide to wipe down one shelf each week, and spread out the work.
Keep a magnetic notepad on the side of the frig with a pen so you can jot down anything that needs to be replaced, and bring to your next grocery run.
Be sure to take “Before” and “After” pictures so that you can share
the beautiful result of your hard work!
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