Before reorganizing Rachel’s refrigerator and freezer, the first task was to go through the current contents to remove old items. Decluttering spoiled food and unused or duplicate items is important before restructuring the space in your refrigerator.
32 ketchup packets30 soy and duck sauce packets12 bottles of salad dressing4 tubs of spreadable margarine1 empty bottle of ketchup1 head of (brown) lettuce1 container of (very brown) chopped lettuce1 container filled with either some type of chocolate sauce or gravy½ glass of soda (in a 2-liter bottle)24 fish sticks bearded-over with freezer burn22 three-month-old Popsicles9 heels of bread, knotted in their bags (“to feed the ducks,” says Rachel)3 six-packs of English muffins (from a years-old gift basket)1 near-empty box of soy “chicken” nuggets (one left)1 near-full box of soy “chicken” nuggets (one gone)
For freshness, Parker wrapped meat butcher-style, using Reynolds Kitchens Freezer Paper, then sealed packages with Scotch Freezer Tape. Stain-resistant glass is the right choice for storing microwavable leftovers; plastic works for foods you don’t reheat.
Buy Smart and Good-Looking Storage
Here are a few high-functioning items that helped inspire Rachel to maintain that just-organized feel, week after week.
Acrylic jars with airtight lids have a smaller footprint (and a sleeker design) than gallon jugs. To buy: $20 (50 ounces), bedbathandbeyond.com. Clear glass stackers keep washed fruits and vegetables easy to spot. To buy: Frigoverre, $12; amazon.com. Stick a magnetic organizer on the refrigerator door to hold pens and food labels so they’re easy to find when marking and dating leftovers.
Use Crafty Containers
These clever designs work both in the refrigerator and freezer and out of it (clockwise from top left).
Rachel’s son likes cheese cubes packed in this tossable sphere. To buy: Boon Snack Ball, $6; juvenileplanet.com. Pour water into the base and the humidity-controlled pod will keep parsley, sage, and other herbs fresh for up to three weeks. To buy: Herb Savor Pod, $16 each or $32 for three; prepara.com. If you tend to forget to pack a fork for lunch, this box hangs on to its own. To buy: Silicone lunch container, $15; containerstore.com. Need something for a meal on the go? Divided sections and stay-fresh click-shut technology make portable lunch containers perfect for the car. To buy: Russbe 3-Compartment Bento Box, $13, containerstore.com. Leakproof, airtight, microwave- and freezer-safe containers are perfect for soup. To buy: Smart Seal Glass Mini Square Set (4-piece), $9, oxo.com.
