12 Refrigerator Organization Ideas You Have to Try

Store Items in Clear Packaging

Save yourself time and eliminate the guesswork by investing in clear containers that allow you to quickly identify their contents.

Kate Lubenesky, the president of the modern kitchen product brand W&P, explains how being able to see what's in your storage containers will help you search through your fridge faster.

Put Food Nearing Expiration at the Front

“It’s easy for foods to get pushed to the back, where they ultimately become forgotten,” Lubenesky says.

Be conscious of storing foods that need to be eaten up front and center, and rearrange fridge shelves semi-regularly to keep foods nearing expiration upfront. This will help cut down on waste, save money, and prevent unpleasant odors from forming.

However, if you do end up having to give your fridge a freshening up, try using some baking soda to combat any smells.

Try Storage Bags

You may have plenty of glass food containers, but don’t forget about another storage must-have: silicone bags.

“They are great for storing smaller portions of food, fitting in smaller areas of your fridge, and keeping oddly-shaped food that would be counterintuitive to store in plastic containers,” Lubenesky says.

Keep Commonly Used Items Close

“If you’re constantly grabbing for an item in your fridge, keep it in the door for easy access,” Lubenesky says.

Milk, butter, and salad dressings are natural picks for this easy-to-reach spot, but personalize your fridge to what makes the most sense for your eating and cooking habits.

Adjust Shelving to Suit Your Personal Inventory

Adjust refrigerator shelving to maximize space and tailor the appliance to your needs.

“Take a step back and evaluate the spacing of your fridge’s shelves every so often,” Chantell Dennis, a professional organizer and the founder of Simply Organized Co, says.

You don’t need to adjust the shelves after every grocery store run, but occasionally take inventory of how they’re working for what you routinely buy.

Use Drawer Dividers in the Deli Meat Drawer

Deli meat drawers are typically large and shallow, and items easily get pushed to the back and piled on top of each other. Dennis recommends using dividers and bins to categorize meats and cheeses to keep the drawer neat and prevent food waste.

Label Your Leftovers With Masking Tape

“For anything homemade, sticking a piece of masking tape with an expiration date on your container can help you keep track and avoid food waste,” Lubenesky says.

Masking tape is inexpensive, easily removable, and doesn't leave behind a sticky residue on containers. Consider buying a label maker if you want to streamline the process even further.

Implement an “Eat First Bin”

Create an "eat first bin" to prevent a perfectly good container of produce from going bad simply because you couldn't see it. Dennis suggests placing the about-to-go-bad items in a container at eye level so it's the first thing you reach for when a snack attack hits.

Ditch an Item’s Original Box

Save space and replace bulky boxes with storage containers and bags. Lubensky points out that a half-full box takes up the same amount of space as a full box and recommends transitioning the remainder of partially used boxes into bags.

“You can label the bags with dry-erase markers to remind you what it is, and how to cook it, or clip the cooking instructions off the back of the box and tuck them in with the food,” Lubensky says.

Use Turntables for Less Frequently Used Condiments

Instead of banning rarely used condiments to the back of the refrigerator, keep them within easy reach on a turntable. Dennis recommends using a turntable for extra condiments that don’t fit in your fridge’s side door. It's also a clever way to corral and neatly contain items in one spot.

Use Storage Solutions That Are Functional For You

Organizing isn’t a one-size-fits-all deal, so if you find a storage hack that works, use it, Lubenesky says. Conversely, if something isn’t working for you, she insists it’s not worth forcing it. There's always another system to try out.

Know How to Store Various Produce

“Storing berries can and should look different than how you would store celery,” Dennis says. “Research the best way to store each produce item, and invest in bins that have freshness in mind", she adds.