You may be focused on your closet, but when’s the last time you went through your freezer?
If this project feels overwhelming, dont fret!
Reading Expiration Dates
First step: Get rid ofexpired foods.
Credit:Peter Ardito
Set aside an afternoon and go shelf by shelf to empty your fridge from top to bottom.
As you pull each item out, check for expiration dates or any obvious signs of food spoilage.
Plus, you’re free to then easily see what needs to be tossed when going forward.
Credit: Cameron Sadeghpour
How to Maintain Your Refrigerator
when you land afully-organized fridge(a reason to celebrate!
To minimize the feelings of dread and intimidation, don’t treat your fridge clean outs as biannual extravaganzas.
“Wipe up spills immediatelyclean surfaces thoroughly with hot, soapy water, then rinse.”
TheUSDA FoodKeeper Appgives you recommended storage times for various condiments and lets you add reminders to your calendar.
When in doubt, use the USDA’s cold food storage chart to determine when you should toss something.
It even includes tips and a timeline for freezing fresh foods.
You also need to be storing things properly in the first place.
“Frequent cleaning will help prevent further cross-contamination.”
What About Your Freezer?
You probably won’t be able to tell if a food has gone bad until you thaw it.
If your meat smells bad when it’s been defrosted, it’s likely time to discard it.
Some foods may change colors slightly when frozen, but that’s not a safety issue.
To double-check your frozen foods are worth defrosting, the USDA has a fact sheet withplenty of tips.
