Fridge Organization Ideas, According to Serious Eats Staffers

As a staff of people who grocery shop and cook more than most—and make the same recipe over and over again until it’s seriously perfect—we use our fridges a lot.

So, we went ahead and compiled a list of our staffer’s favorite fridge organization ideas—ranging from the very practical (labels to keep track of stuff!) to the slightly-silly-but-still-useful (a baking soda penguin!). 

Tape for Keeping Track

I can’t say it enough: label everything. Taking a minute to write the food item and date on a piece of tape and slap the label on a container has massively helped me cut down on is-this-still-good guesswork. Plus, the act of writing a label helps me mentally organize what’s in my fridge. Blue painter’s tape is great, but I also like this freezer tape for its stickiness. — Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm, associate commerce editorial director

FIFO: First In, First Out. I lived by this motto when I worked in professional kitchens and had to organize huge walk-in fridges and freezers, and I rely on this (on a much smaller scale) at home by rotating food so I am always using the « oldest » items first, and labeling dates on everything. I rely on freezer tape and markers to keep track of what I should use up first from my fridge or freezer. — Leah Colins, senior culinary editor

I keep a weighted tape dispenser and sharpie on my kitchen counter for easy labeling. Like Riddley, I just need to label the things in my fridge—otherwise I lose track of what’s in my fridge and what needs to be eaten pronto! — Genevieve Yam, culinary editor

Versatile Vessels You’ll Find in Professional Kitchens

Deli containers are the darling of restaurants everywhere, but they make the jump to the home kitchen splendidly. My fridge isn’t what I’d call organized, but these simple containers make it easier for me to at least attempt to keep things in order. They stack easily, they’re cheap, and they come in a variety of sizes (and the lids are universal, so no more scrabbling for one that’ll fit). — Grace Kelly, commerce editor

I sat here contemplating a fun and original answer to this question and then saw that Miss Grace Kelly had already nailed it. We are packed to the brim with delis over here and would be a disorganized, squished mess without them. Plus, they’re a perfect « oops, I forget my emotional support water bottle in the car/at the office/in the baby’s room while she’s napping » fix. A filled-to-the-brim deli is a perfect way to stay hydrated. — Tess Koman, executive editorial director

Reusable Wraps That Rock

I sometimes still use plastic wrap when it’s truly needed, but in more recent years I’ve switched to reusable beeswax food wrappers. They work just fine for covering up leftovers or sealing any container that lacks its own lid, and remove an otherwise heavy dependence on single-use plastics. — Daniel Gritzer, editorial director

Stuff for Sorting Stuff

Would I call my fridge organized? No, but these organizers keep it from descending into complete and total chaos. They help me remember to place cans, condiments, cheese, herbs, and small produce in their place. The egg tray allows me to see how many eggs I have left and ensure I always have enough eggs to make brunch on Sunday. — Kelli Solomon, senior social media editor

An Arguably Cute Deoderizer 

I’ve long kept a container of open baking soda in my fridge to help mitigate odors. A couple of years ago, I bought this penguin that holds baking soda in its belly instead. It’s entirely unnecessary, but I think it’s adorable (its name is Chill Bill). Plus, it takes up less space than a cardboard box. — Riddley

Bags for…Bagging Things

I store bags of flour in my freezer to keep it fresh for months. Sealing them in thick plastic bags keeps out mysterious smells (gross!). — Rochelle Bilow, commerce editor

Reusable Bags for…Bagging Things

There’s a theme to my recommendations and they all center around reducing plastic use in the kitchen, and in particular single-use plastics. I’ve come to rely on reusable zipper-lock bags thanks to my small collection of thinner plastic and silicone models. They’ve allowed my family to pack school lunches for months on end without resorting to disposable plastic, and are just as handy for shoving things in the fridge. Our use is so heavy that I’m confident we’ve more than made up (in both cost and overall plastic consumption) for what we would have used with disposable plastic sandwich and zipper-lock bags. — Daniel

Useful, Absorbent Kitchen Towels

A few years ago, I started lining my crisper drawer with a cotton towel and I’ve been doing it since. It absorbs extra moisture and keeps my produce from wilting too quickly. After a couple of weeks, if there’s any built-up debris (stray broccoli florets, torn kale leaves, etc.), I just swap out the old towel for a new one. I get to clean my produce drawer less and my vegetables stay crisp for longer. It’s a win-win! — An Uong, commerce writer

Containers for Meal Prep

My fridge is a bit of a disaster area, but one thing I have found very helpful is having plenty of glass food storage containers on hand. I particularly like these rectangular Pyrex ones, which are easy to stack. I make big batches of quinoa, rice, and roasted veggies and spread them out in these so they cool quickly, and stack them in the fridge to use throughout the week in lunch salads and various dinners. — Megan O. Steintrager, associate editorial director

And Something for Fun

Do I *need* a set of spice-themed magnets for my refrigerator door? Obviously yes. The sumac is my favorite. — Rochelle

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