How to Organise Your Fridge Correctly: Here's How
To keep fresh food fresh, one thing helps above all: organising your fridge correctly! What belongs in which compartment and how can you cleverly organise your fresh food supply? Here is your guide for a longer shelf life, lower energy consumption and maximum enjoyment.
How to stock your fridge correctly – and why it matters
Every section of your fridge has a different climate. Depending on the model, there are zones ranging from 2 to 14 °C. This is important because some foods prefer colder temperatures than others. When every product is in its proper place, optimal storage in the fridge ensures that your food:
- stays fresh for longer
- retains its flavour
- doesn't go mouldy or dry out
- absorbs fewer odours
- doesn't cause other items to spoil (e.g. due to ripening gases)
How to organise your fridge
A fridge consists of a certain number of shelves, vegetable drawers at the bottom, and storage compartments in the door. Each of these zones is designed for different types of food:
- Bottom shelf: This is the coldest part, with an average temperature of 5 °C – especially if the shelf is made of glass. It's the ideal place for highly perishable items like fish and meat.
- Middle shelf/shelves: The golden mean in terms of fridge space and temperature is perfect for delicate dairy products and eggs. The temperature here is usually around 7 °C.
- Top shelf/shelves: With temperatures up to 10 °C, this is where you can store originally packaged cheese products, jam, sauces, or leftovers.
- Vegetable drawer: At spring-like temperatures of up to 14 °C, fruit and vegetables stay crisp for longer. However, this only applies if your fresh produce is suitable for storing in the fridge! You can find out more in our guide on storing fruit and vegetables correctly in the fridge.
- Fridge door: In terms of temperature, the fridge door works similarly to the shelves – it gets warmer from bottom to top. Simply follow the layout: put eggs in the egg compartment at the top, place drinks in the beverage compartment, and use the middle for opened products that you will use up quickly.
Tips for organising your fridge
Being smart about how you organise your fridge can save you money. Get started with these tips:
- Sort food by expiry date: Place newer items at the back and older ones at the front – this way you're less likely to forget about something.
- Keep your favourites within easy reach: The longer the fridge door is open, the more electricity it uses. Items you use all the time should always be in a prime spot, even if the temperature there isn't quite optimal.
- Don't put warm food in the fridge: Contrary to old beliefs, this won't break your fridge. However, it will use more energy to maintain its temperature.
- An empty fridge uses more energy: In a full fridge, the items help to keep each other cool. That's why one big weekly shop is a better idea, energy-wise, than daily trips to the store.
- Keep everything in sight: Transfer opened tins, leftovers, etc. into clear glass storage containers. They stack perfectly and you can see at a glance what you have left – and what you don't.
Extra tip: The best-before date is a guideline. Most foods are still perfectly fine to eat long after this date. Use your sense of smell, sight, and taste to check if a product is still good. The use-by date, however, is a strict deadline. If it's expired, throw it away!
