Welcome to Storage Wars<\/a>, a series about the best ways to store, well, everything. From how to keep produce orderly in the fridge (or not), to ways to get your oddball nooks and crannies shipshape; and yes, how to organize all those unwieldy containers once and for all\u2014we’ve got you covered.<\/em><\/p>\n My fridge has been through tumultuous times, swinging between desert island-empty and world-is-ending-full. I\u2019ve used the lean times to clean it out<\/a>: wiping down shelves, removing expired foods, and airing it out (an open packet of baking soda really does wonders for odors!). But then, in the blink of a blizzard, it\u2019d be full again.<\/p>\n And if there\u2019s one thing I\u2019ve learned from having a very full fridge, it\u2019s that it quickly descends into chaos. And food waste<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some of the best tips I\u2019ve learned from Food52 are around how to extend the life of food<\/a> in my fridge (lower shelves for dairy and eggs! Separate ethylene-producing fruits and veggies from ethylene-sensitive ones!). But there’s a separate problem that has long plagued my fridge\u2014a complete lack of order. The biggest culprits (and victims)? My condiments, chutneys, and spreads, teeny containers of takeaway sauces, mason jars of pickled veggies, and that bottle of mold from who-knows-when stuck in the back.<\/p>\n My freezer reported similar scenes of chaos: packs of samosa, waffles, and black bean burgers collapsing on each other.<\/p>\n On the verge of giving up, I turned to the corners of the internet (Instagram and Pinterest, of course) that order-seekers go to for a shot of hope, and there staring at me was the solution to my sorting woes: BINS. Yes, bins. The kind that go in your pantry<\/a>, below the sink, and on your bathroom<\/a> ledge. But also belong in your fridge<\/a>.<\/p>\n I emailed organizing pro Rachel Rosenthal<\/a>: “Was I missing a trick,” I asked? Short answer, yes\u2014and she\u2019s been on it all along<\/a>: “It\u2019s actually one of my number one go-to organizing hacks.” Zoning, she says, is the outcome I was looking for. “As with all organizing,” she continued, “it’s important to create categories in your fridge: snacks for the kids, dinner ingredients, leftovers, produce\u2014and bins help you do that.”<\/p>\n Rosenthal especially recommends bins for their stackability to utilize the height in your fridge. “This allows you to maximize the space by going vertical but still allows for easy access for the items stored underneath.” As she said that, I had a feeling of d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu. Wait a minute\u2014I was already doing that\u2026 but in my pantry<\/a>.<\/p>\n That got me thinking: If it\u2019s good for your pantry<\/a>, it\u2019s probably good for the fridge. After all, the same principles apply: zone, label, stack, elevate. So, why stop at bins? Why not employ all pantry organizers\u2014trays, baskets, lazy Susans, even tiered shelf organizers?<\/p>\n Before you go, I\u2019m going to leave you with one last thought: Once you\u2019ve sorted your fridge into bins and baskets, you\u2019ll be left with less drips and dribbles on your shelves. All you need to do is clean out your containers each month and your fridge will need to be deep-cleaned that much less. The wins never stop coming!<\/p>\n Below are all the ways to incorporate pantry-level organization to your fridge.<\/p>\n Wire mesh bowls and baskets are incredibly useful to have around\u2014just ask your fruit and eggs. You can also use these instead of plastic bins to corral bottles together\u2014they have a removable wooden plank so things don’t drip onto your shelves (the very thing you want to avoid!). They’re also quite versatile so you can repurpose them around your pantry, kitchen<\/a> shelves, and more.<\/p>\n Instead of buying bins for berries and citrus, let your mixing bowls do double-duty in the fridge. (They come with clear lids so you can seal them, too.) And when they’re not needed, stack ’em away neatly\u2014they nest together!<\/p>\n You can slide this lazy Suzan into your spice cabinet\u2014why not use it to access your refrigerated condiments, too? The surface makes it easy to mop up any spills from jellies or sauces, and you can easily take it from the fridge to the table for taco night or burgers.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n These clear, plastic stashers say upright, so it’s easy to see the leftovers you’re storing. Made from BPA- and PVC-free platinum silicone, they come in different shapes like cups that can go from your fridge to the microwave to the car to the dishwasher.<\/p>\n
\npantry<\/del> fridge organizing tools<\/center><\/h2>\n1. Neat Method Grid Storage Basket<\/a>, $32+<\/h3>\n
2. Food52 x Rosti Margrethe Nested Mixing Bowls<\/a>, $75+<\/h3>\n
3. Lazy Suzan<\/a>, $117<\/h3>\n
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<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n4. Zip Top Reusable Silicone Store & Serve Storage Bag Sets<\/a>, $22+<\/h3>\n
5. Mepal EasyClip Glass Food Storage Boxes<\/a>, $38+<\/h3>\n
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