Refrigerator storage can be particularly challenging. For one, just one meal for three people can already take up a significant amount of space with all its ingredients. What more if there are at least three meals in a day and at least three mouths to feed?
It’s easy to think that purchasing a bigger refrigerator will do the trick. But often, it’s how you organize the space that’s the bigger problem. With a few smart improvements, you can make even a small fridge work for a big family.
Here are some workarounds you can do to double the space in your small fridge:
Create “Zones”
Zones are clusters of food items serving similar purposes. But the organization doesn’t stop there: the zones themselves form the structure, and their placement is where the strategy comes in.
Zone placement involves aligning specific food items based on how often they need to be accessed and by whom. For example, leftovers are best placed at eye level because this makes them more likely to be seen and thus remembered. Zones are smart for any size of fridge, but are particularly crucial for smaller ones where space can be too cramped to easily move things around when searching.
Use Clear Plastic Bins
Clear plastic bins are your extra handy drawers. They offer the same amount of storage, except you can pull them out when you’re looking for a food item without digging through the back-most part of the fridge or mixing up your zones. Plus, it’s extra organization within your zones.
You can sort the dairy into milk, cheese, and yogurt, among others. You can even add labels to them to make it easy for everyone to know exactly where to find food items and where to put them back. More importantly, clear plastic bins are durable and reusable. It’s more practical in the long run compared to using disposable or single-use containers.
Maximize Vertical Space
Vertical space is often overlooked in organizing the fridge, focusing on horizontal spaces because they are easier to access. However, looking past vertical spaces is a waste of great space. One practical method is to use egg storage containers. Designed to be long, narrow, and stackable, they are perfect for storing eggs and maximizing a fridge’s vertical space.
Opt For Rectangular Containers
When storing meals, rectangular containers are the most efficient at saving space. Round containers, on the other hand, can waste valuable fridge space. Additionally, if you use the same type of containers, squares and rectangles can be tucked and stacked together more reliably. It’s a great use of vertical space, too!
Take Food Items Out Of Their Packaging
Removing the wrappers or plastic packaging from your groceries and snacks frees up a lot of space. For example, placing your oranges in produce containers keeps everything stackable and avoids the gaps in space that different types of packaging can cost your fridge space.
Don’t Over-Buy
These organization tips and your efficiency can only go so far if you buy too much stuff—it will still get cluttered. So, before you do your grocery, make sure to get rid of anything that’s past its expiry date. Do a quick inventory and list what you actually need. This way, while shopping, you can be mindful of how much space you have and maybe hold off on picking up extra supplies.
A big fridge isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for the storage needs of big families. Most of the time, efficiency in organization can make a big difference in maximizing what you already have. With these tips, hopefully, your small fridge can effectively meet the stress of managing a big and busy kitchen.
