15 Tips To Organize Your Kitchen and Refrigerator

The Hearth of the Home. The Grub Hub. Central Command. The Kitchen.

It’s the place where food is prepared, family gathers round and memories are made. It’s also the one area of the home that is filled with the greatest assortment of diverse products. It’s funny to think about how we store so many different things in such a relatively small space. That is, until it looks like those products have exploded everywhere and there simply cant be “a place for everything and everything in it’s place.” Alas, your grandmother’s old adage remains fail proof with these 15 tips to organize your kitchen and refrigerator.  

Tips For Organizing Your Kitchen

1. Group Similar Objects
   Group objects by purpose and assign them to specific cabinets. I keep all of my blender items in one cupboard with my blender. Another cupboard stores all of my bakeware. Plastic bags and wrappings are stored together near the stove to make putting away leftovers easier. 
2. Store Items by Use
   When you’re storing your items, consider how often you use them. As someone who doesn’t bake often I know I can store those items further from reach. Meanwhile, I store glassware near the fridge, spatulas and everyday cooking utensils near the stove and cutting boards near my favorite prepping area. Hooks work well for storing aprons, pot holders and dish towels. 
3. Hang a Whiteboard Near the Refrigerator
   Keep a master list of anything that needs replaced in the fridge, freezer or pantry on the whiteboard. Then snap a picture before you head out to do your shopping. If you’re like me and have trouble keeping track of what made it’s way into the freezer and when, you can keep another whiteboard to list dates and items that went in. Erase them from the menu when the item comes out. Another idea? Use them to create weekly menus! 
4. Use a Lazy Susan
   Lazy Susans are made for more than corner cupboards! Keep your spices on one for easy access, no digging or reaching. Keep larger a Lazy Susan in the pantry with your canned goods. Use them to contain your stickier items like honey, jams and sauces for easy cleanup. 
5. Contain Pot and Pan Lids
   Lid racks neatly collect the tops to various pots and pans.
6. Use Only 1 Brand of Tupperware
   Purchase only one brand of tupperware. You don’t have to purchase the same sizes but purchasing one brand exclusively you minimize the clutter and time spent searching for the wrong lids. 
7. Use Appliances to Help Keep You Organized
   Samsung is known for their innovative products. Now they’re helping you get organized in the kitchen with products like their Samsung Black Stainless 4-Door Flex™ fridge and the Samsung Flex Duo Range. The 4-Door Flex offers a spacious area to store and organize your groceries, including crisper drawers and an adjustable shelf. It also comes packed with helpful features like Power Cool and Power Freeze that lower the temperature of compartments in minutes. The bottom-right door converts from fridge to freezer with the touch of a button so you can make your fridge or freezer space larger or smaller. How handy is that?! 
   

   

   

   If the 4-Door Flex helps you get organized, then the Flex Duo Range will help you minimize time spent in the kitchen. The range can work as one large baking space or split into two ovens so you can cook two dishes at two different temperatures. It also features a whopping 5 cooktop elements (perfect for those upcoming Thanksgiving dinners) and a warming drawer. 

Tips For Organizing Your Refrigerator

1. Store Dairy and Meat at the Bottom
   Most people store milk at the top shelf, even I am guilty of this one, but it really does best in the bottom back where it’s coldest.  Likewise, yogurt, sour cream, and cottage cheese should be stored there too. Raw meat also needs to stay as cold as possible so it also belongs on the bottom shelf. Plus, if it leaks it won’t contaminate the rest of your food items. 
2. Butter and Soft Cheeses Go In The Door
   These items don’t need to be as cold, so keep them in the dairy compartment on the door. This is also the warmest part of your refrigerator. 
3. Use Labels
   Keep everything where it belongs with labels on drawers and door racks. This way your items go in the same spot every time and it makes it easier to see what needs replaced.
4. Store Leftovers in Clear Containers
   By seeing what you have left to eat you’re more likely to eat it. Keep them at the front of the fridge and don’t let them get pushed back. 
5. Use a Lazy Susan
   Just like they’re helpful in the kitchen, they’re helpful in the refrigerator too! Store condiments, tupperware and more on a Lazy Susan so you can easily access everything available. 

Right now you can score savings on kitchen appliances at Best Buy. Save an additional 10% off 4+ Samsung Major Kitchen Appliances (expires 11/3), or save an additional 10% with the purchase of 3 or more Samsung Chef Collection appliances (expires 12/31), or buy $3000 in Samsung Kitchen Appliances and receive a $300 prepaid card (expires 10/31).

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.