7 genius ways to organize your fridge
Plus a few tips from the AKL team and the products we love the most
The inventory situation in anyone’s fridge or freezer ebbs and flows. If you have kids, then you know what we mean. Just like every fridge is different, every family’s needs are different, too. Similar to our strategies for organizing a pantry, the goal is to create a visually beautiful system that maximizes interior space and gives you the ultimate versatility. Here are some quick tips to help you with your fridge reorg:
Do a full clean out. Take e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g out of the fridge. Toss all expired items, wipe down the shelves, and clean out the drawers. We love eco-friendly cleaning products, like Blueland, Biome, and Branch Basics.
Measure shelves and drawers from front to back. Most are between 12-18" deep. You want to choose products that will maximize the depth. Quick tip: Skip the acrylic or plastic turntables. They’re typically a waste of space.
Think vertically. Stackable bins maximize vertical space, especially if your fridge shelves are fixed. We love to use acrylic drawers for this. If your shelves can be adjusted, then you have a little more freedom with customization.
Decant whenever possible. Bulky packaging takes up way too much dead space. We love to use juice jars, cute food storage, and stasher bags. Quick tip: Wash and spin fruits and veggies before you put them in the drawer so kids can grab them and go.
Forget the labels. Since items in the fridge are ever-changing, we recommend not labeling your bins or containers. Clear acrylic containers give maximum visibility and flexibility. Plus without the labels you’ll never be in a position of having to put oranges in a bin marked dairy.
Set a quarterly clean out. By scheduling a seasonal fridge clean out and refresh, you’ll be able to better keep your new organization systems in place.
Bonus tip: Use dissolvable labels for keeping track of expiration dates on decanted items. They wash off with a quick rinse.
And now, onto the products we use all the time
Small Fridge Organizer, Brightroom - $7
It might be small, but this bin is so versatile for organizing dairy, dips, spreads, and juice boxes. And for all you nursing moms, it fits breastmilk bags perfectly.
Soda Fridge and Pantry Organizer, Brightroom - $14
Keep cans of your favorite soda and sparkling water from falling over and rolling around in the back of your fridge. FYI: It holds up to 12 cans at a time.
Divided Berry Bin, Brightroom - $14
Since berries are part of the “dirty dozen”, you want to wash them before eating. This ventilated bin makes it a snap to rinse them and then keeps berries fresh in the fridge.
Wire Storage Lid Organizer, Brightroom - $10
A lid organizer? In the fridge? Definitely. It’s a must-have for stasher bags of cut fruit and veggies, cheese packages, and lunch meat containers.
Lazy Susan Turntable - 10 inch, Brightroom - $8
Okay, so we don’t typically recommend a turntable. But, if you aren’t having to maximize every square inch, then this is the one we’d suggest that you use for organizing condiments, dressings, and that hot sauce obsession.
Dissolvable Labels, Amazon - $10
Label leftovers with an expiration date and then when the container’s empty, simply wash it off with warm water. These are great for decanted items too, like spices, and flour.
Wide Fridge Organizer, Brightroom - $8
This is great for keeping all those snack items like yogurts and fruit cups in one place. It also makes self-serve snack time easier for everyone.