My refrigerator has gone through a lot this year, ranging between desert island-empty and world-ending-full. I’ve taken advantage of the low-cost period to clean the fridge out, wash down shelves, remove expired items, and air it out (an open packet of baking soda works wonders for odors!). But, in the blink of an eye, it’d be full again.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from having a very full fridge, it’s that mayhem can rapidly ensue. Also, there’s food waste.
Some of the most useful advice I’ve received from close friends and family has been on extending the life of food in my refrigerator. But there’s another issue that’s been plaguing my fridge for a long time: a complete lack of organization. From takeaway food and sauces to sufurias with veggies on the lower deck of the fridge, and that one ugali container at the back of the fridge that lingered and was utterly forgotten about until it began to grow molds. My fridge has been in chaos!
On the verge of giving up, I resorted to the order-seeking corners of the internet (of course, Instagram and Pinterest), and there, gazing back at me, was the answer to my sorting woes: BINS. Bins, to be precise. The kind you keep in your pantry, under your sink, and on the bathroom shelf. However, they also belong in your refrigerator.
Why bins? Some of you may ask. Well, bins are recommended mostly for their stackability- Their ability to maximize the space by going vertical while yet allowing simple access to the items stored underneath.
That made me think: if it’s good for the pantry or what most of us here refer to as the ‘store’ or storage area, it’s probably good for the fridge, too. After all, the rules are the same: zone, label, stack, and elevate. So, what’s the point of stopping at the bins? Why not use all of your pantry organizers, such as trays, baskets, and shelf organizers? Why hadn’t I considered it before?
Buying bins turned out to be a lot more fun than I expected: there were bins for condiments (ketchup sauce, mayonnaise, mustard…), yogurts, fruits, and eggs, and even divided bins for freezer contents. The good thing with today’s world is that you can get everything in the safety and comfort of your home, thanks to smartphones and online shops like Jamboshop where you can get some of these plastic containers for your fridge at a very affordable price.
Before you go, consider this: once you’ve organized your fridge into containers, you’ll have fewer drips and dribbles on your shelves. All you have to do is empty the bins (or wash/replace their liners) once a month, and your fridge will require far less deep cleaning than it did previously. Please tell me that this isn’t a life hack.
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