Improper storage methods are often seen in refrigerators, primarily due to the following poor storage habits, including:
– Not utilizing proper storage tools
– Inability to establish fixed storage locations
– Failure to plan for proper space allocation
– Neglecting regular food inspections
– Purchasing in bulk without considering the remaining space in the refrigerator
To avoid food spoilage and waste, it is necessary to avoid these situations. Secondly, people should also have the concept that the refrigerator is not “sterile.” In other words, it can only temporarily keep things fresh, including dishes, ingredients, and open containers. Neglecting this can lead to mold issues over time.
Therefore, you will find that experienced homemakers, when tidying up their kitchens, also focus on organizing the refrigerator. They follow these steps, including:
– Taking everything out of the refrigerator
– Checking the condition of the food
– Discarding spoiled, moldy, and expired food
– Thoroughly cleaning the inside of your refrigerator
After completing the basic organizing tasks above, you should then proceed with the following:
Method 1: Create a visual storage space
One of the main reasons food in refrigerators expires is because we tend to forget about it, resulting in neglect. Therefore, you should create a visual storage space.
This means that when you open the refrigerator door, you can see most of the items inside. This not only facilitates item retrieval but also reduces the chance of items expiring.
Method 2: Use transparent storage boxes
Refrigerators, like all other storage cabinets, often have problems with items being randomly placed and space not being used effectively, making it difficult to retrieve food hidden in the corners of the refrigerator. Therefore, for homemakers who focus on efficiency, using transparent storage boxes, baskets, and other organizing tools is an excellent way to improve disorderly situations.
It is recommended that perishable items with short shelf lives be stored in sealed containers that can be stacked on top of each other. This optimizes vertical space in the refrigerator while still allowing for easy visibility. For dry goods and large spice packs, baskets can be used for storage.
A small note: When placing food (ingredients) in the refrigerator, it is best to group similar items together for convenient retrieval and inspection.
Method 3: Establish fixed storage locations
Even if the food and ingredients are placed in storage boxes, without fixed locations, only the homemaker will know where everything is, while others in the household would not.
To avoid forgetting and the aforementioned situations, you should allocate fixed locations for the following categories:
– Excess food for consumption within a day or the next day
– Processed food (ingredients)
– Opened spices
– Eggs
– Milk (or yogurt)
– Beverages (alcoholic drinks)
When the above-mentioned food (ingredients) are placed in a fixed location, it naturally establishes a “storage memory,” making retrieval quicker and easier.
Method 4: Plan temporary storage areas
When the refrigerator is full, its cooling efficiency decreases, and it consumes more electricity. Therefore, when allocating fixed locations for food and ingredients, these areas should occupy 60% to 70% of the total refrigerator space, leaving 15% to 25% for a “temporary storage zone.”
Why? Based on the experience of experienced homemakers, some irregularly shaped items cannot fit neatly into pre-prepared storage boxes (baskets). However, if there is a plan for temporary storage areas, these items can be placed here temporarily to avoid changes that confuse the homemaker’s initial refrigerator arrangement.
Secondly, the refrigerator’s temporary storage area can also serve as a temporary storage place for ingredients to be used on the same day; this not only preserves the freshness of the ingredients but also facilitates retrieval of relevant ingredients when cooking.
Method 5: Store items vertically
This method is mainly for the “drawer” space in the refrigerator. Once objects are placed in a deep drawer, those at the bottom are easily forgotten because they get buried under layers, erasing them from our memory.
Therefore, Japanese homemakers suggest that in addition to using storage containers to support the drawer space in the refrigerator, you should adopt a “vertical arrangement” to achieve clear visibility, easy storage, and minimize the natural tendency to forget.
Additionally, if the bottom level of the refrigerator is a drawer-style space for storing fresh fruits and vegetables, you can try using storage baskets or Kraft paper bags to divide the storage space into categorized compartments, which can be better utilized and have an “imaginative” effect.
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