12 Freezer & Fridge Organization Tips to Help Save Space

1. Meal plan

This is my most important organizing tip. When you get into the habit of meal planning, you will develop a consistent list of items that you purchase on a regular basis.

Meal planning helps you to recognize how much you need to purchase and how quickly your family consumes it all. Therefore, you will be more aware of how much space you need for each category of food item.

2. Create zones

Once you are more aware of what you typically purchase, you can create zones in your fridge.

Each of us will have different categories of items based on our diets. In our fridge, there are my daughter’s drink zone, a fresh produce zone, a dairy zone, and a sandwich zone with everything you need to make sandwiches. All these should fit your family’s individual eating habits.

Regardless, every fridge needs a consistent prepped food leftover zone. That way you will likely go to this area first and consume these foods before they go bad.

Creating zones prevents you and your household from jamming items wherever they fit because that is how things get lost and go bad.

When you consistently have categories of items in designated areas, your household will get used to finding items in their designated areas, as well as putting them where they belong.

3. Use what your fridge provides

Your fridge was designed with temperature and humidity controls for a reason. Utilize the drawers and fridge doors for what they were designed for. I have meat thawing in a drawer in the middle and produce that I would like to remain crisp in the Crisper drawers below.

There are often separate sections for eggs and butter, and shallow fridge doors are perfect for condiments, so these smaller bottles won't get lost in the back of the fridge.

4. Don’t give in to perfectionism

I know Pinterest and Instagram might be intimidating with their perfect condiment and drink organization, but keep in mind that our goal is being able to find what we need when we need it so that we do not waste food and money.

The best way to do that is to simply use your fridge the way it was designed and place things where they naturally belong.

5. Do not buy unnecessary organizing products

Wait until you know you need something before buying it. I suggest putting your groceries in your fridge in zones first. Then, as you realize what needs to be more contained, go out and purchase organizing products. 

For me, it made sense to get some baskets for the plethora of produce I usually buy, so that is what I did, and I ended up spending $7 on organizing my fridge.

6. Do not over organize

Notice how I did not fill up each inch of space in this fridge with a basket. Sometimes organizing products can be limiting. If you have an extra large item, it will not fit and you will not have anywhere to place it.

Also, if you made a one-time purchase, you will not need a bin or basket to contain it regularly.

7. Designate “Eat first” zones

Organize categories of items from front to back, and place the items you want to eat first in the front. You can store the contents of the open bag in front, and the spare bags in the back.

This is also a popular problem when you organize a freezer: people tend to open multiple bags of the same things and forget. I lined each of these items up so that we can see how we already had opened them and use them up before we purchase more.

8. Do not over purchase

One key thing to remember is that grocery store sales cycle every six weeks, as they need to clear and restock their shelves. So the next time you see an excellent sale on oat milk, for example, only get as much as you need for six weeks.

That way you can avoid two problems: foods expiring before you get to them and running out of space to keep all of your items.

Of course, sometimes there are super-clearance deals that you definitely want to take advantage of, especially if it is a staple item in your household, but be mindful of space in your fridge and your kitchen before putting it in your cart.

9. Store in files or piles

If you are a Costco shopper, you know those packages are giants, so I recommend filing them for visibility and easy access so that you are not digging so much for the items you need.

I also recommend piling meats covered in plastic wrap so that they do not accidentally begin to leak if they become punctured.

10. Keep in mind the possibility of power going out

In this scenario, you will want to salvage what you can. Therefore, meat and seafood should be stored in the bottom drawer of your freezer to prevent cross-contamination if it begins to thaw.

11. Store the frequently used items in front

What you reach for more often should be in front and things you only need occasionally in the back. We make smoothies daily so we have the fruit stored in front.

12. Be resourceful

Repurpose containers and use reusable bags instead of purchasing disposable zipper bags. Make the best of what you have.

Bonus tips:

1. Store grain-type items like oats that you only eat occasionally in the fridge.
2. Keep rendered fat from cooking meats in a container to use when you roast veggies. You might find your family eating more veggies because of the added flavor.
3. Instead of purchasing premade iced tea, place tea bags in a pitcher of water overnight.
4. Freeze herb stems like cilantro stems to throw in meat or rice dishes.

Fridge & freezer organization

I hope these fridge organization tips have been useful for you. Do you have any home organization tips you want to share? Feel free to leave a comment!