\n\n\n\nWipe It Down\n\n\n\n
Once you get all the contents of your refrigerator that don\u2019t obviously belong in either the compost or recycling bins onto the counter, it\u2019s time for the cleanup. \u201cGive it a thorough clean and wipe down inside,\u201d Gill says. \u201cMaybe add baking soda to freshen it up if needed.\u201d\n\n\n\n
Granted, if it\u2019s been a long while since your appliance was scrubbed out, this part might take a few minutes more than 15, but the general idea is the same. To keep the task as quick as possible, she suggests putting it on your\u00a0cleaning calendar\u00a0at least seasonally. \u201cIdeally, you would go through once a month, but if I am being honest, I don\u2019t do it more than once a season,\u201d Gill says. \u201cDo a quick edit when you are putting away groceries weekly and reset the 15-minute win to wipe surfaces, toss old food, and set [your]self up for the week ahead. Making it a part of your routine is less difficult.\u201d\n\n\n\n
Edit: Is It Fresh? Is It Edible?\n\n\n\n
Once it has been wiped down, Gill suggests a quick, rapid-fire edit of the items that remain. \n\n\n\n
\u201cAsk yourself, \u2018Is it fresh? Will anyone still eat it? Empty jars and cans of leftovers to get rid of food waste,\u201d Gill says. \u201cThen, recycle containers so you are only putting back things that are fresh that you are going to eat and use.\u201d\n\n\n\n
Organize\n\n\n\n
When you are ready to put your food items back into the fridge, Gill says you should group things in broad categories: Put dairy with dairy, meats with meats, and the same organizational method with veggies, leftovers and beverages. And don\u2019t just stuff things back inside the icebox in these categories.\n\n\n\n
\u201cI suggest decanting as much as you can out of the packaging,\u201d Gill says. \u201cWhat I see a lot is people shove in leftovers, etc., [but] it doesn\u2019t look appealing so it doesn\u2019t get eaten and it expires.”\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSort by Expiration\n\n\n\n
\u201cPut anything that would expire or go bad right in the front of the fridge,\u201d she says. \u201cMust-eat foods. Put produce in crisper drawers and dairy, eggs, and leftovers on upper shelves. Put beverages and condiments on shelves in the door.\u201d She says dairy and eggs do better when they are kept toward the top of the fridge.\n\n\n\n
Keep It Clear\n\n\n\n
Gill is a fan of\u00a0sorting things\u00a0into clear, stackable containers that also nest for storage. \u201cI like making your fridge pretty and appealing. I take eggs out of the carton and put them in a ceramic holder. If I have prepared foods, I cut them up and put them in a glass container.\u201d\n\n\n\n
She uses clear, airtight glass containers when she can. Plastics can leach chemicals into food and drink and make it a little more difficult to see exactly what is inside. \u201cAvoiding plastic whenever possible is good for the environment and sustainable. I try to avoid plastics much as possible. Glass lasts longer. And plastic can be porous and harder to clean.\u201d\n\n\n\n
This method even works well for those days when you are prepping food for future meals to save time on a busy day. Keeping your ingredients in airtight containers helps you see everything at a glance when it\u2019s time to get a quick meal on the table. \u201cYou can create a meal prep zone on a shallow shelf with sauce, prepped veggies or whatever for really easy, five-minute meals.\u201d\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSupport Your Vision\n\n\n\n
Having a clear vision of what you have in the fridge can also help with health goals. \u201cIf you are trying to change how you eat, create a wellness zone at eye level with supplements and veggies that you want to eat. Most fridges have adjustable shelves so you can move them around for what you need to store at the time.\u201d\n\n\n\n
You can even store your\u00a0fresh herbs\u00a0in glasses with water to keep them fresh or repackage your drinks to keep your fridge looking organized and clean. \u201cThings like decanting milk and juice into pitchers kind of elevates the every day, like you are at your own bed and breakfast,\u201d Gill says.\u00a0\n\n\n\n
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