After the holidays or a big family meal, is your fridge overflowing? Between leftovers, home-cooked meals and fast-food items, it's hard to stay organized. And yet, tidying up your fridge is essential for Avoid food waste, , keep food fresh and limit unpleasant odors.
In this article, Frigelux step-by-step guide to optimize the organization of your fridge after a hearty meal.
Why is it important to keep your fridge organized ?
A well-stocked refrigerator helps :
- Reduce food waste ;
- Better visualize the foods to eat first ;
- Ensure even temperature throughout the unit ;
- Avoid unpleasant odors ;
- Optimize energy consumption.
Step 1: Make a quick selection
Before placing food back in the refrigerator:
- Check the expiry dates ; ;
- Check the condition of the food: smell, texture, color ;
- Isolate opened dishes for quick consumption.
Board Frigelux use preparation-date labels on your containers to keep track of their freshness.
Step 2: Respect cold zones
To ensure optimum preservation, each type of food should be placed in the zone best suited to its sensitivity.
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Fridge zone
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Approximate temperature
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Foods concerned
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Upper part
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6 to 8 °C
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Ready-made meals, leftovers, cooked foods
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Center section
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4 to 5 °C
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Dairy products, cold cuts
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Bottom section (above crisper)
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0 to 2 °C
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Raw meats, fresh fish
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Vegetable bin
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6 to 8 °C
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Fresh fruit and vegetables
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Counter doors
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8 to 10 °C
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Beverages, condiments, eggs (if pasteurized)
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Step 3: Store leftovers hygienically
- Use airtight containers, preferably glass or BPA-free plastic.
- Don't simply cover dishes with cling film: it doesn't provide sufficient protection against bacteria.
- Place the most fragile and oldest foods at the front.
Tip Frigelux quick cleaning of shelves with a mixture of white vinegar and lukewarm water helps eliminate odors and maintain impeccable hygiene.
Step 4: Set the temperature correctly
After the holidays, your fridge may be fuller than usual. So it's crucial to check its internal temperature.
- Refrigerator set between 3 °C and 5 °C
- Freezer : set to -18 °C
Use a refrigerator thermometer if your appliance doesn't display the temperature.
Step 5: What not to do
- Don't overload the shelves, as this blocks the circulation of cold air.
- Don't store food while it's still hot: wait until it's lukewarm, otherwise the fridge temperature will go out.
- Don't keep leftovers for too long: eat them within 3 to 4 days maximum.
Bonus tip Frigelux apply the FIFO method
FIFO (First In, First Out) the first thing into the fridge should be the first thing out. This ensures that products are consumed in the right order and not forgotten.
FAQ - Organizing the fridge after the holidays
Can you freeze leftovers from a big meal ?
Yes, provided :
- Cool dishes quickly after cooking ;
- Freeze within 48 hours ;
- Use containers suitable for freezing.
How to eliminate unpleasant odours in the fridge ?
Place a bowl of baking soda, activated charcoal or half a lemon in the bottom of the fridge. Clean the walls with white vinegar every two weeks.
How long can you keep a ready-made meal in the fridge ?
On average, a home-cooked dish has a long shelf life between 3 and 4 days, if stored in a closed container at the right temperature.
In a nutshell
Reorganizing your fridge after a hearty meal will :
- Limit food waste,
- Store food in the best possible conditions,
- Maintaining the hygiene and performance of your appliance Frigelux.
With a few simple gestures, you'll be able to enjoy the following days with greater peace of mind, while saving energy at the same time.