Food Safety Storage

Organizing Your Fridge for Optimal Freshness 

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Keeping your fridge well-organized not only helps you manage inventory but also extends the freshness of your foods and beverages. Improper placement—like tossing a block of cheese on any shelf or stashing juice in the door—can actually speed up spoilage.

To keep your food fresh, start by ensuring your fridge is set to the correct temperature. Brittany Saunier, Executive Director at the Partnership for Food Safety Education, advises, “Use an appliance thermometer to set your fridge to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. This temperature range slows bacterial growth and helps maintain food safety.”

Once your fridge is at the right temperature, organize your food according to these guidelines:

Upper Shelves
The upper shelves are ideal for grab-and-go foods. "Use these shelves for leftovers and ready-to-eat items that require no further cooking," says Carla L. Schwan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Food Safety Specialist Director at the National Center for Home Food Preservation. Examples include dips, leftover pizza, and deli salads.

Middle Shelves
The middle shelves are the coldest and most consistent in temperature. Schwan recommends storing dairy products like milk, eggs, and cheese here to slow spoilage and pathogenic growth.

Lower Shelves
The bottom shelves also maintain a consistently cold temperature, making them perfect for raw meats, poultry, and fish. Schwan explains, "Storing raw meats on the bottom shelves helps prevent cross-contamination by catching meat juices that could otherwise drip onto other foods."

Crisper Drawers
Crisper drawers are designed to manage humidity levels, which helps keep fruits and vegetables fresh.

  • Low Humidity Drawer: Ideal for fruits and vegetables that produce excess ethylene, such as cantaloupes, peaches, avocados, and apples. The airflow in this drawer helps reduce ethylene levels, extending freshness.
  • High Humidity Drawer: Best for ethylene-sensitive produce like strawberries, broccoli, lettuce, and peppers. This drawer retains moisture, preventing faster spoilage.

If your fridge lacks separate drawers, keep high-ethylene produce away from ethylene-sensitive items.

Side Doors
The door shelves are the warmest part of your fridge, so store items that can tolerate temperature fluctuations. Schwan suggests placing condiments (like ketchup, mustard, mayo, and dressings) and non-perishable drinks (like bottled water and soda) here.

By following these guidelines, you’ll help ensure your food stays fresh longer and make your fridge more efficient.