I had a good chat the other day with a friend about about kitchen organization. She made the comment that we were very similar in how we organize and the tools we use in the kitchen are similar. Then she made an observation about how the biggest difference between the two of us is that I don’t keep very many items in my fridge and she tends to store quite a bit in hers. It was funny she said this because I keep my fridge pretty bare intentionally. Now it allows me to not only blog about it (sorry Kalee) but also offer some education to all those that might be taking advantage of every square inch of the fridge.

Here is the method to my madness =)

1. I once heard Bob Harper from the Bigger Loser say that you should only store what you can eat for the next two weeks.  I was a student when I first heard this and it’s always stuck with me. I thought this was great advice. In fact, I probably take it step further and only stock what I would eat for the next 7-12 days. This encourages me to buy fresh fruits & veggies and limit processed foods that are high in fat & sodium.

2. Secondly, stuffing your fridge can actually lower the overall temperature in your fridge. For example, I know a lot of people that use dorm size refrigerators and rely on that to store food. As a Dietitian that has spent HOURS taking temps of fridges and foods- trust me, a low cost refrigerator does not hold it’s temp well when it’s filled to the brim. Two words: Food Safety. If your fridge is overcrowded and the temp rises, it could lead to foodborne illness.

3. It’s just the hubs & I. It’s not like I’m cooking for an army. I am blessed to live in area with an abundance of grocery stores, so it’s easy for me to stop and pick up items. I typically go to the grocery store once if not twice a week. I also think it helps prevent large amounts of waste. I hate throwing out spoiled food.

How full is your fridge????