6 Easy Fridge Organization Tips for 2024 + My Favorite Storage Bins
Need to do a little fridge organization? I’m sharing my best tips and my favorite storage bins that maximize your space!
How’s your refrigerator looking? Need any fridge organization ideas?!
To be honest, fridge organization is something I struggle with daily simply because there is so much food coming and going as I work on recipes for Hip2Save.com and Hip2Keto.com, as well as my family’s personal fresh food.
Having kids that snack a lot and don’t tend to keep foods organized is also a factor! LOL 😂
Opening the door to a clean and organized fridge is the best feeling though!
I have to admit there is something so satisfying about cleaning out and organizing the fridge and it does make me feel like I have my life together. It also can be money-saving to have everything stored in the correct spots to extend the life of perishables as much as possible.
If you’re wondering how to organize your fridge, I’m here to help. And I’m sharing my best fridge organization ideas!
A disorganized fridge will definitely lead to food waste!
That’s probably the most important reason to organize your fridge. Above, is my fridge before organizing. It honestly wasn’t too bad, but definitely needed some purging and organizing. I know we are more likely to not use fruits and veggies if I cannot see them and they get lost in the fridge.
Having everything visible and grouped together helps cut down on waste and double-buying foods.
Wondering how to organize your fridge? Here are 6 real-life fridge organization ideas to try!
Keep in mind, my refrigerator is a very real-life work in progress – instead of the perfect images we see on Pinterest of fridges with barely any food!
I’ll also be sharing some advice from our team, as well as some of my favorite fridge organization bins for storage!
1. Clean out expired or spoiled food and old leftovers often.
The most obvious way how to organize your fridge is to start by getting rid of spoiled items. Anytime you start with less, it’s easier to get organized! Do a deep fridge clean-out before grocery shopping on the weekend, and then also a couple of times throughout the week to keep on top of what’s going bad in the fridge.
2. Take items out of the original packaging to organize.
Removing bulky packaging will help you fit more in your fridge to maximize space.
Investing in some clear fridge organizing bins is helpful to keep grab-and-go and like items together and tidy. You’ll be able to see what you have quicker as well.
Refrigerator Organizer Bins 6-Piece Set $35.86 shipped on Amazon
These are the best fridge organization bins!
If you are looking for functional high-quality clear fridge organization bins, this 6-piece set from Amazon is a great starter pack to get your fridge in shape! It comes with an egg and drinks organizer, as well as 4 bins, which is a steal compared to buying individually.
I have been wanting clear containers for a long time, and these do a great job of organizing. I love that they are deeper and stackable!
I also have and love this set of clear plastic containers. They are BPA-free and also useful in the pantry and bathroom for organizing around the home, not just the fridge!
My set is currently unavailable but you can scoop up a similar set for just $15.99 on Amazon (reg. $28.78) after you clip the digital coupon.
3. Put perishables front and center.
One of my favorite fridge organization ideas is to keep foods like grapes, strawberries, and tangerines up front so they get eaten more often as a snack for my kids. Same thing with their yogurts.
This way, when they go to the fridge after school it’s what they see first!
4. Store soft herbs in water like a bouquet.
I have tried various ways to store fresh herbs, and this method works great for me. I mostly keep fresh parsley and fresh cilantro on hand, and this is a great way to store them. Just change out the water every once in a while, and the bunches will stay fresh for a long time!
5. Don’t put milk in the door of the fridge!
While researching fridge organization, each article I read had different guidelines for which shelves in the fridge are meant to store certain items. However, conflicting theories made the advice confusing. Honestly, each fridge may be different, so maybe follow your manufacturer’s advice on that.
I did notice that every source agrees that only condiments should be stored on the doors. That’s because they are the warmest part of the fridge. For safety, store milk and meat near the back and the bottom back of the fridge and not on the doors! I added a fridge organization bin on the bottom shelf for meat to catch any drippings that may happen so it wouldn’t leak on my veggie crisper.
6. Be aware of certain things you don’t have to refrigerate to free up space.
This includes tomatoes, bananas, potatoes, onions, squash, whole garlic, and coffee to name a few!
According to EatThis.com, most hot sauces and soy sauces don’t need to be refrigerated, but check the back of the bottle, just in case.
My Hip coworkers shared their thoughts on fridge organization, too!
My teammate Sara is great at staying organized and has this advice to share:
“Utilize your fridge shelving! For small items like yogurt cups, cans, etc. I always make sure they’re on shelves that have just enough room to store them so I maximize other areas of my fridge. Plus, you don’t need to be able to get to the back of said shelves since they’ll be holding all like items in a row and you really only need to grab what’s at the front”
Only put condiments in your fridge if they’re opened and you don’t have another one already in the fridge. This will limit double condiments being open at once and multiplying in your fridge. Only buy what you need for the week, it will be so much easier to stay organized!”
My teammate Angela had this favorite fridge organization tip to share:
“I have and love the same Lifewit clear fridge organization bins that Lina has! I am also a huge fan of the Rubbermaid Brilliance containers that often pop up on sale! They have airtight seal lids and do not leak at all. I love them for lunches, storing leftovers, and meal prep.”
Have any other fridge organization tips for us? Please share in the comments!
Let’s organize your pantry next! I’m also sharing my best pantry organization ideas!
Love!! ❤️❤️I’ve been doing this in my fridge and Aldi has clear fridge liners right now btw!
Nice! Thanks for sharing Kalee!
To make sure I remember expiration dates on the items removed from original packaging, I rolled chalkboard paint on the inside of a cabinet door and write item and exp. date . If you do not want to use chalkboard paint you can purchase chalkboard contact paper. One of my children always checks the exp. dates of EVERYTHIng and won’t use/consume if close to date so removing from original packaging was a game changer 😁
Thanks for the helpful tip Dana!
I love it. I put all those old vintage 30’s metal fridge tins of my mothers to use. I have them in my fridge organizing things. They were made for fridges back then so decided to use them. I put the lids on the bottom so I didn’t lose them. LOL
Oh that is so cool!
I do too!
I wish my fridge was that big 🙁
I saw a tiktok a year or so ago and it inspired me to switch the produce to the doors and the condiments to the drawers. Now all the produce has the front and center stage. Kids grab fruit more often for a snack and I don’t forget about zucchini going rotten in the back of the drawer. And, all the condiments are quick and easy to find in the drawers.
What?! You are blowing my mind right now! I’m off to switch my condiments and fruit now!
Ohhhh that is very interesting!
Lina, thank you for showing the before and after pics. Gives me hope that I can do something with my overstuffed fridge. Seems like we always have dozens of condiments in there. I’m gonna check on which ones I can store in cabinets.
Thanks, Lori for the feedback! We are a condiment family too! LOL Happy Organizing <3
Looks great! I love looking at organized fridges!!! My tips are I throw out old stuff while I’m waiting on something to cook, or while loading up leftovers. I keep a drawer for snack items like yogurt, carrots, etc. so kids know where to look. I also have a safety rule which is glass items go toward the back on shelves – that way if you are reaching over things to get something you won’t accidentally tip over glass. I like to utilize my middle shelf for defrosting meat since it seems to be not as cold as other parts of the fridge = quicker! with a bowl or platter under it in case of leaks.
Great tips, Ihearthip! 🙌 So smart to go through the fridge while you’re already in the kitchen doing other things. ❤️
Be sure to check out your local Dollar Tree for fridge organizers. I found large clear acrylic bins a few weeks ago for the first time ever there. They also have smaller plastic ones with handles, egg holders with lids that stack, and can holders. You can also pick up labels(chalk, dry erase, regular, etc.), chalk/chalk pens, dry erase markers, and permanent markers for labelling.
Thanks for the heads up on where you’ve spotted similar fridge organizers near you, Brittany! 💕 Good to know to keep an eye out if you have one of those nearby!
Lina you’re so beautiful inside and out. Thanks for all you do!!! ❤️💕
Awwww thanks so much for this sweet comment Patricia! That made my day 🥰
Looks like you have a big stash of butter in the fridge. Butter freezes well.
That is a great tip! Thanks TS!