Need help organizing fridge and freezer

[forHISglory]

Hi, due to our recent ice storm and power outage here in Missouri, I had to clean out the frige and freezer. I found stuff that I had forgotten about. And I kicked myself to think that I spent good hard earned money buying that food and now I was throwing it away.

So..... I need help in finding ways to organize my fridge and freezer. Here are some things that might help you know our situation.

1. There are just the two of us at home: hubby and me.
2. Our fridge is a side by side. The fridge part has small shelves, and two pull out bins. The freezer also has small shelves, and one pull out bin, and an icemaker. (not sure I'd buy a side by side again, since the shelves are too small to hold large platters, etc.)
3. Our freezer is an upright.
4. I tend to buy stuff in bulk and then repackage them for the freezer.
5. Hubby wants room in freezer for several ice cream boxes.
6. I store nuts and coffee in the freezer.

Can you tell me how you organize so that you find things quickly, and don't lose or waste stuff? Thanks bunches!

[MarshHen]

I've had several side by sides myself and I don't like them for the same reason you just mentioned. Anyhoo, other than putting condiments in the door shelves and milk, tea and juice on the top shelf, I keep all cheese and lunchmeats in the one drawer for that and vegetables in the two vegetable drawers in the bottom. I have a large top freezer here in the new house and it has a place for the butter and eggs in the door. We pretty well use up most of the leftovers (or dogs eat them), so mostly, my fridge stays cleaned out on it's own. Maybe it's because of it's large capacity, but my fridge looks empty most of the time even though it does have food in it. All of the side by sides I have had seemed to fill up too quickly to me, and I think the outside appearance (size) is deceitful, LOL. I just love the fridge I have now.

I also have two large chest freezers and I just group items in there so I can find them easier.

[Domestic Gal]

I have an upright freezer and I group like thing together. Like 1 shelf is for pork and beef. 1 shelf for ground meat like turkey and beef (I put these in a basket) and chicken. 1 shelf for veggies. 1 shelf is for boxed items (I do not buy a lot of boxed items). I have a foodsaver and food saver almost all of what goes into the freezer. This saves a lot of space as I stack them on top of each other. I put things like mashed bananas and shredded zucchini in containers in the door.
I date everything that goes in the freezer and rotate everything.

[Ceashels]

I found plastic baskets at the dollar store and use them to stow my items. I can pull the basket out to see what i have in the back. This also makes it easier to clear the shelves when cleaning.

I use the same in the freezer as well. I load up one basket with my bags of frozen veggies, another with my tubes of ground meat, another with the chicken parts I sealed with the food saver (they liek to slide).

My Mom has done the same with small plastic trays, 1-2 inches high, that will fit on her fridge shelves. They make it nice and easy for her.

[Paperclip]

I don't have any ideas for the fridge or freezer so I'm looking forward to the other posters' responses.

But I noticed that you said you store your coffee in the freezer, I'm a big coffee drinker and just learned this recently, moisture from the freezer (or fridge) causes coffee to deteriorate. The National Coffee Association advises that coffee is kept in airtight containers in a cool dry place. (I apologize for imposing...but I had to share my newly-gained piece of knowledge or trivia)

[LexTysMommy]

I put the smallish bags on the door ( the ones that I dont use often) I use the pull out drawer for meat, and the shelves I lay things out so I can see it. I am a neat freak when it comes to that, so I am always checking dates,and using up stuff. Good luck!

[Momof4cats]

I was going to suggest the little plastic baskets from the dollar store as well. I had an upright freezer and used them.

Another thing I recall (from Martha Stewart!) is using the lazy susans for shelf organization in the fridge to hold small bottles of condiments. Also, use cheap cookie trays or cake pans as a 'drawer' to hold like items on a shelf. Easy to organize and the pan catches drips for easy cleanup.

[justpeachy92]

I keep a running inventory of what is in the freezer. I print of a inventory sheet from organized home website. It has a line to list the item, then boxes next to it. I put one line in each box for how many packages of groundbeef I have, when I use one I put another line so it looks like an X. The inventory sheet is taped on the door to my pantry, so a quick glance tells me when I am getting low on something so I know to add it to the shopping list. I keep a similar list on the front of the fridge to let me know what leftovers I have when to use them by, and if they are in the fridge or frozen. Another inventory sheet keeps track of the basic items I like to have in the pantry at all times.

[forHISglory]

I took your suggestions to heart and organized the fridge yesterday. I put in a turntable, and then wondered why I never thought of it before. What an awesome way to get at all those jars that lurk at the back. I also got a plastic basket to put cheese sticks in (my family eats those like candy, so this really helps to keep them easily available). And I got a wire rack with two shelves so that I can stack small things and yet be able to get them without moving everything else.

I was so proud of how it looked! I even called Hubby over to look at it, ad he was pleased, too, since he can reach his jelly and cheesesticks easily. Now I'm inspired to start organizing the freezer, and who knows what next!

Just want to say thanks to all who took the time to write your suggestions. If you have more, I'd love to read them.

[Laurie in Bradenton]

For the house side by side I was always forgetting leftovers and family members would stand at the door and yell "What's to eat?" I solved this problem with a decorative small caulkboard. I write leftovers on the board and what's okay to eat up if I'm not home. The kids have learned to erase an item as they eat it and I just note the item when I put it in.

As for the locker freezer in the garage it has a bullentin board over it with a map as to whats where. I use old ice cream conatainers to hold odd items like nuts, assorted baking chips, fruits.
The buckets stack easily on top of each other and can be pulled out fairly easy. When a bucket is emtpy which mostly happens with fruits it gets marked off the chart.
For the freezer in the house we've got designated shelves, top shelf ice cream, next shelf meats, next shelf frozen veggies, botttom bin frozen waters.
90% of our beverages are kept in another side by side in the garage. That freezer holds flour and back up items like veggies and bulk meats. These are kept track of on the back of the garage house door which we painted with caulkboard paint.

Laurie in Bradenton

[Libby]

Wow great ideas here ladies!! Something definately to think about!

forHISglory - you've caught the bug! Welcome to the village where the possiblities are endless!

[changed4life]

I like the turntable idea. I have a side by side too, (just bought) and I hate it. I'm going to try that turntable idea!

[forHISglory]

You all inspired me so much with ideas for the fridge, with the turntables and such that today I tackled the pantry. I pulled everything out, sorted, sniffed (hehe) discarded, and reorganized. I am so proud! Also organized the linen closet, with cute canvas baskets from Walmart to hold various things: sheets, pillow cases, towels, TP, etc. That looks really good, too. Let's see..... what's next..... I could become downright dangerous!