12 Best Fridge Organization Ideas, According to Experts

Inside of an organized fridge — Photo:
Bryan Gardener

An organized refrigerator isn't just pleasing to look at—it also makes it easier for you to put groceries away and allows you to quickly grab the ingredients you need to create a meal. When you can see everything in your refrigerator clearly, you avoid buying items you don't need, and you use up foods before they pass their expiration dates. There are many ways to maximize refrigerator space and keep leftovers in plain sight. To help, we spoke to organizing experts who shared their best fridge organization ideas to help you streamline this space once and for all.

Darla DeMorrow, certified professional organizer and owner of HeartWork Organizing, a commercial and residential organizing service
Amy Tokos, certified professional organizer and former president of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals

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Use a Lazy Susan

Lazy susan inside fridge — Martha Stewart

A lazy Susan is great for the corners of your refrigerator, where things tend to get hidden. "This is ideal for things like condiments, which might get lost behind taller things on a shelf," says Darla DeMorrow, certified professional organizer and owner of HeartWork Organizing. She recommends choosing a product that has higher sides, which makes it less likely things will fall off.

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Use Clear Bins

Keep the items in your refrigerator organized and visible with clear storage bins. "It’s easy to forget what you can’t see," says DeMorrow. "Colored or opaque bins make things disappear for some people. When you can see the bins as well as the items inside, you are more likely to remember what’s there and use it in your meal plans."

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Decant Your Foods

Have just a teaspoon of creamer or a handful of spinach left? Decanting these items into smaller containers will save room in your refrigerator. Plus, it will make it easier to see when you're running low on something.

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Follow First in, First Out

"First in, first out" helps you use the items in your refrigerator before they expire. "An example would be yogurt," says Amy Tokos, certified professional organizer. "You would put the new behind what is already in the fridge, otherwise, you’ll risk having bad yogurt in the back of your fridge."

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Sort Food Into Categories

Organized shelves in fridge — Olena Ivanova

Categorizing the items in your refrigerator will make putting away your groceries a breeze, and you won't spend as much time searching your shelves for a specific item. "I group my breads together, but maybe you put your bread on the 'breakfast shelf' along with eggs and sausage," says DeMorrow. "There’s more than one way to group things. Try different groupings until you find ones that make sense to you."

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Have an Area for Foods Nearing Their Expiration Date

If you have foods that are about to expire, place them together on a shelf and see what meals you can make around those ingredients. "Sour cream near its date? Put it on the 'dinner shelf,' and it might inspire taco night," says DeMorrow. "Had fresh fish on hand for three days? Better serve up a fish bake tonight."

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Keep Frequently Used Items Close By

Place your most-used ingredients in an area of your refrigerator that's convenient to reach. "Keep your favorite condiments in the easy-to-see door compartments, and they’ll be easy to find and use," says DeMorrow. "Keep your fresh fruit and vegetable in sight, and you’ll eat more of them."

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Use Drawer Dividers

Drawer dividers are perfect for corralling smaller items, like fruit, jam, yogurt, and cream cheese. Just make sure everyone in your household knows what belongs in each section so it stays organized, says DeMorrow.

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Adjust Your Shelves

Interior of an organized fridge — Sara Tramp; Design: Emily Henderson

Adjust the height of your shelves in a way that works for you. "If you can wave your hand around in open spaces, you can probably adjust your shelves to get more useable space," says DeMorrow. For example, if you notice you always have extra space on the shelf where you story dairy products, move it up higher to give yourself more room on shelves that are often jam-packed.

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Use Stackable Drawers

Stackable drawers are a great way to maximize unused vertical space in your refrigerator. Store everything from fruits and vegetables to drinks and snacks inside the drawers, then conveniently nestle them on top of one another to conserve shelf space.

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Use Beeswax Wrap

Food containers are a convenient way to store leftovers, but they can sometimes be bulky and take up unnecessary space in your refrigerator. When possible, wrap leftovers in beeswax wrap, a plastic-free moldable wrap that's made primarily from cotton and beeswax. It's great for storing fruits, bread, and other handheld items.

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Use a Drink Dispenser

Beverage dispenser — Courtesy of The Container Store

If you always have seltzers or sodas on hand, consider using a drink dispenser to keep the cans from taking up too much space in your refrigerator. If you do use a dispenser, avoid mixing the types of drinks you put inside it, as this can lead to people pulling out beverages until they get the one they're looking for, says Tokos.

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