The Fridge Organization Method That Keeps Food Fresh And Out Of The Trash

The road to food waste is paved with good intentions; no one buys a fresh head of cabbage or bushel of carrots with the plan of leaving them in the crisper drawer to rot, but that's often what ends up happening. That's why if you're someone who frequently forgets about their fresh fruit and veggies only to find their rotten remains months later, you should consider storing your produce in the shelves of your refrigerator door.

As TikToker @thecenteredlifeco says in their video displaying this organization method, "If I don't see the food, I'll forget it exists." This can be especially problematic with fresh produce since it has such a limited shelf life. The result of this lapse in grocery permanence is usually lots of wasted food, and even more wasted money. Keeping fresh fruit and veggies in your fridge door can combat this waste, since you'll see the produce every time you open up the refrigerator. As long as you're taking time to rearrange things, this is also probably a good time to deep clean your fridge.

The refrigerator door is typically reserved for condiments, but @thecenteredlifeco recommends moving all your sauces and dressings near the back of the fridge, and stowing them on a rotating lazy Susan so they're easily accessible. You can pair the lazy Suzan with other unique organization products to keep your refrigerator tidy. While you should always double check the expiration dates on your food, most condiments tend to last for months in the fridge, and will have a much better experience tucked into the back of the shelves than a fresh bunch of berries.

This philosophy of storing food you want to eat where you can easily see it extends past produce. You can also keep leftovers and other perishables like dairy products towards the front of the refrigerator shelves to ensure they're not overlooked. As for the crisper drawers, @thecenteredlifeco keeps them empty since, "that's where things go to die." However, with the help of a clever Dollar Tree hack to keep fridge drawers organized, one could also use them to hide away more indulgent snacks, or store things you would reach for every day, like drinks. Even though keeping certain fruits and veggies in the crisper drawers can make them last longer, that doesn't help if you forget they're there in the first place.