Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

Do you ever feel like your fridge and freezer are so out of control, that whenever you open the doors you can’t seem to find what you need?

Do you also find yourself buying items that you already have, despite your best efforts to meal plan as effectively as you can?

I can certainly answer yes to both of these questions.

Since moving, we now have a larger fridge and freezer, but my need to organise my fridge and freezer and fit as much into them as I can has remained the same as when they were smaller.

In fact, whilst my freezer is larger, the drawers are oddly shaped, which makes storing leftovers and food a bit of a challenge.

So in this post I’m going to suggest 8 ways to organise leftovers and food in your fridge and freezer, in an effort to encourage me, and hopefully you as well, to be able to find food you already have to avoid over purchasing, food wastage, and to minimise the amount of cooking you do each week.

HOW TO ORGANISE LEFTOVERS AND FOOD IN YOUR FRIDGE

Remove original packaging

Bulky packaging takes up a lot of room in your fridge, so when unpacking your groceries remove any food with bulky packaging and place it in smaller containers or food storage bags.

Examples of food that can be removed from their original bulky packaging and placed in smaller containers or food storage bags include grapes, which you can store without stems, and large produce like lettuce and blocks of cheese, which can be grated or cut into thin slices.

When removing food from its original packaging, record any expiry dates on the container or food storage bag with a permanent pen on a sticker, masking tape, or post it note.

Dedicate an area of your fridge to food that must be eaten first

Place any food with either a short use by date, or that has mostly been eaten, in a box and place it in a dedicated section of your fridge, such as the top shelf, to remind yourself and your family what needs to be eaten quickly.

Incorporate leftovers in your weekly meal plans

Including leftovers in your weekly meal plan means that you not only free up space in your fridge, but it’s less time during the week that you have to make a meal from scratch.

Use stackable containers

If storing leftovers or food in containers, purchase containers that stack on top of each other, preferably square or rectangle, as these shapes fit into fridges the best. As well as stacking these shaped containers on top of each other, they can also be stored side by side.

HOW TO ORGANISE LEFTOVERS AND FOOD IN YOUR FREEZER

Remove original packaging

Just like taking food out of their original packaging for better fridge organisation, you can also take frozen food out of their original packaging to create more space in your freezer.

Many frozen foods come in big boxes or bulky packaging, which once removed allows you to store much more in your freezer.

Also just like the fridge advice, if you remove original packaging from frozen items make sure you record any expiry dates as well as cooking instructions using a permanent marker on a sticker, masking tape, or post it note.

Repackage frozen food in a single layer and usable portions

If moving frozen food from their original packaging into a food storage bag, wherever possible freeze food in a single layer, in portions that you’ll use.

For example, instead of freezing a whole packet of chicken thighs in a food storage bag, freeze them in two bags with enough in one bag for one meal, and freeze them laying flat.

Remove anything from your freezer you don’t use

Anything that you store in your freezer that you don’t use can be removed to create space for things you actually do use.

For example, ice trays and ice packs are some items that may be taking up room in your freezer that you never use, and can be space better used for storing leftovers or food.

Label and date everything

Remember to include the expiry date, date you made something if storing leftovers, and cooking instructions for every leftover or food item you remove from its original packaging.

Removing original packaging, dedicating areas of your fridge for soon to expire food, incorporating leftovers into your meal plans, using stackable containers and food storage bags, freezing food in single layers and single portions, and removing items from your freezer you don’t use will help you to better organise your fridge and freezer.

In effect you will maximise space for newly purchased food, and minimise food waste and time spent cooking.

What tips do you have for storing leftovers and food in your fridge and freezer?