How to Organise the Kitchen and Refrigerator - Top Tips

If like other homeowners you find that from time to time you need to focus on how you organise the kitchen and your home to make the space work more efficiently read on. In this article we offer our ultimate guide on how to optimise your kitchen and fridge organisation to create a more practical workspace.

The Ultimate Guide – How to Organise the Kitchen and Refrigerator

an organised and tidy kitchen — Organise the kitchen to make a practical workspace with all your frequently used tools within arms reach

Photo by Polina Kovaleva

Preparing meals for our families can be a time-consuming task, which is why having a clean and organised kitchen is essential to maximise our time spent there.

The Ultimate Guide to Organise the Kitchen

In this ultimate guide, we’ll explore tips and tricks to help you set up your kitchen for maximum efficiency, including how to organise your most frequently used tools, assign stations for different tasks, and even arrange your items by colour or size to create a visually appealing space.

But let’s not forget about the forgotten storage space – the refrigerator. We’ll also share some ideas on how to organise your fridge and quick tips for keeping it clean and safe. Some people opt for commercial refrigerators to ensure they create a lot of space in a temperature controlled environment.

Organise the Kitchen

Photo by Charlotte May

Declutter your kitchen

Before we start organising the kitchen, it’s essential to get rid of anything you won’t be using. This includes tools that you’ve never used or haven’t used in months or years.

Think of being practical

Put them in a place that won’t get in your way, or consider donating them to someone who might need them. Once you’ve removed the non-essential items, it’s time to start the real job to organize your kitchen.

Make a list of your most frequently used objects – Then put them in a place that’s easy to reach. When making a list of frequently used objects, consider organising them by task or type of food. For example, you might have a designated area for baking supplies, such as measuring cups, mixing bowls, and baking sheets. Another area might be for cooking supplies like pots, pans, and cooking utensils. This makes it easier to find what you need and saves time when cooking or baking.
Consider hanging pot holders, hand towels, and ladles on pins – this will reduce movements around the kitchen and help reach needed objects easier. Hanging items on pins not only saves counter space, but it also reduces the amount of time spent searching for items. Consider placing pins near the stove, sink, and prep area for easy access.
Assign stations for every task you do in your kitchen – Consider categories such as storage, cleaning, and cooking stations. Only put the things you need for the current station in that area. When assigning stations, consider the flow of your kitchen. Place cooking supplies near the stove, cleaning supplies near the sink, and storage supplies in cabinets or drawers near the refrigerator. This not only saves time but also reduces the amount of movement required in the kitchen.
Keep multiple items you use frequently to hand, such as pots near your stove or cutting boards near your prep area – Having duplicates of frequently used items saves time and effort in cleaning and transporting them from one area to another. This is especially helpful when preparing meals that require multiple ingredients and tools.
Put things in neat, orderly piles by colour or size – Plan as though displaying them in a store. If you organise your kitchen, you’ll have a more visually beautiful space that’s also functional. Organise your belongings by category or frequency of usage, too – with the help of transparent containers.

In case all this seems like too much work – you can always leave the chore up to professional domestic cleaners and pat yourself on the back.

Organising Your Refrigerator

n open fridge stocked with fruits and vegetables — Keeping your fridge clean and organised is the way to stay on top of fresh produce

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch

When you organise the kitchen start with the fridge

A neat and tidy refrigerator is just as important as a clean and organised kitchen. Here are some tips on how to organise your fridge when you organise the kitchen:

Use upper shelves to store foods that don’t have a safety risk – such as drinks and yoghurt. When placing items on upper shelves, consider arranging them by expiration date, with the soon-to-expire items in front. This makes it easier to use items before they spoil.
Use lower shelves to store foods with a higher safety risk – such as milk, eggs, and deli meat. To reduce the risk of cross-contamination, store these items on lower shelves away from raw meats and other perishables.
Store meats and fish on the bottom shelves – which are the coldest areas of your fridge. Placing meats and fish on the bottom shelf reduces the risk of cross-contamination with other foods. If juices from the meat and fish drip, they won’t flow to other areas of the refrigerator.
Use drawers for storing fruits and vegetables – and keep them in their original package or a plastic bag. Drawers help keep fruits and vegetables fresh for longer periods of time. Keeping them in their original package or a plastic bag helps prevent moisture loss and spoilage.
Store condiments and bottles on the door of the fridge – but do not put any perishable items, as this is the warmest place in the refrigerator. The door of the refrigerator is the warmest area, which makes it unsuitable for storing perishable items. Instead, store condiments and bottles that have a longer shelf life on the door.

Quick Refrigerator Cleaning Tips

an organised kitchen and a tidy fridge — Keeping your fridge tidy is one way to organise the kitchen

Photo by Efecan Efe

Here are some quick tips to help you keep your fridge clean and safe:

Make sure there is enough space between foods, as cold air needs to circulate freely to keep everything at the right temperature.
Packing your fridge too tightly can lead to uneven cooling, causing some areas to be warmer than others. Make sure to leave enough space between foods to allow air to circulate freely.
Ensure there is enough space between your fridge and the walls, as heat can get trapped and cause your refrigerator to work harder, leading to a higher energy bill.
Keeping your fridge too close to the walls can trap heat and cause it to work harder, leading to a higher energy bill. Ensure there is enough space between the walls and your fridge for proper ventilation.
Set the refrigerator’s temperature to 38-40 degrees Fahrenheit to keep bacteria away.
Bacteria grows rapidly between 40-140 degrees Fahrenheit, so it’s essential to keep your fridge temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Check the temperature with a thermometer every once in a while.

Final Words on How to Organise the Kitchen and Refrigerator

woman and child cooking in a kitchen — If you organise the kitchen to suit your cooking needs using the tools and workspace is easier

Photo by August de Richelieu

When you want to organise your kitchen and refrigerator it may seem overwhelming at first, but by taking small steps to organise your space you can improve the look and efficiency of your space and make substantial time savings in the long run.

You can create an proficient and visually appealing space by decluttering your kitchen, assigning practical areas and stations for different tasks, and arranging items by type or colour. Follow our tips for organising your refrigerator and keeping it clean to reduce food waste and ensure that your food stays fresh for longer periods. Start to organise the kitchen today and enjoy the benefits of a neat and tidy kitchen!