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How to Organise Your Fridge for a Low-Waste Kitchen

Organising your fridge might be low on your list of household priorities, but with a few simple tips, it can actually help you save money, reduce food waste and keep your weekly shop fresher for longer.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering how to organise a fridge, or asked yourself questions like, ‘where should raw meat go in the fridge?’ and ‘should potatoes be kept in the fridge?’, this is the guide for you.
Milk & More
Posted 23-09-25

Why Fridge Organisation Matters

Food waste is a huge problem all around the world. In the UK, 6.6 million tonnes of food are thrown away every year, and a lot of this could be avoided if the food had been stored properly.

Reduce Food Waste and Save Money

Learning how to organise a fridge and where each food should go can help keep everything fresher, reduce food waste and cut down on those expensive mid-week top-up shops.

Keep Ingredients Fresher for Longer

Knowing where to store food in the fridge also prevents things from spoiling and keeps flavours as fresh as possible. We’ve got the full rundown on where to store everything from vegetables to dairy, raw meat and fish.

Make Meal Planning and Cooking Easier

Fridgescaping is a recent social media trend, where people show off their carefully curated refrigerators. We’re not suggesting you need to keep a bouquet of flowers in your refrigerator, but keeping your fridge tidy and organised will make meal planning and cooking easier, helping you use up leftovers and avoid making unnecessary purchases.

 

Fridge Zones – Where to Store Everything

The secret to knowing how to organise a refrigerator is understanding the different temperatures within the fridge.

Top Shelf: Ready-to-Eat Items

On the top shelf, keep items such as cooked leftovers, deli meats and ready-to-eat foods. Ensure they are properly covered or sealed for optimal freshness.

Middle Shelves: Dairy and Eggs

Where should dairy products be stored in the refrigerator? The middle shelves have a cool temperature that is perfect for eggs, milk, butter and cheese.

Bottom Shelves: Raw Meat and Fish (Where Should Raw Meat Be Stored?)

Where should raw meat be kept in the refrigerator? Raw meats and fish should always be kept on the bottom shelf to prevent any drips or spillage from spoiling other foods. Always ensure your raw meat is stored in a sealed container or in its original packaging.

Drawers: Fruits and Vegetables (Storing Vegetables in Fridge)

Ensure you store vegetables in the bottom drawers, where humidity helps to preserve freshness. Keeping fruits and vegetables separated can help to avoid overripening – look out for bananas, as this fruit will speed up the ripening process of anything around it.

Fridge Door: Condiments and Drinks

The fridge door is the warmest part of the fridge, so it is best for jams, sauces, juices and anything containing natural preservatives. Milk is often put in the fridge door, but we’d recommend the middle shelf!

Where’s the Coldest Part of the Fridge?

For most fridges, the coldest part is the back bottom shelf – just above the drawers. This is why it’s best to store perishable produce here, such as dairy and meat.

 

Foods That Shouldn’t Go in the Fridge

Onions, Potatoes, and Tomatoes

Should onions be kept in the fridge? No, onions, like potatoes, should be stored in a cool, dark cupboard.

Surprisingly, tomatoes are also not great to store in the fridge as they lose their flavour!

Bananas, Garlic, and Other Room-Temperature Staples

Keep bananas out of the fridge, too – not only will they ripen everything else, but they also tend to go browner in the fridge. Garlic is another one to keep at room temperature, as it can become rubbery if stored in the fridge. Avoid mixing garlic with other vegetables, though, as its flavour is easily absorbed.
 

 

Tips for Maintaining a Low-Waste Fridge

Label and Date Your Food

Even the most organised fridge can become confusing if produce is not dated. Use a sticky label and a permanent marker to ensure you know when a product was opened or cooked.

Plan Meals Around Deliveries

If you receive weekly grocery deliveries, plan your meals around which items are most perishable. For example, if you’ve ordered seafood or fish with a short best-before date, whip up a delicious fish curry or prawn stir fry on Monday or Tuesday, and let the tin of chickpeas save the day on Friday.

Use Leftovers Creatively

Leftover food doesn’t have to end up in the bin. Turn last night’s vegetables into a soup or brown bananas into a nutritious smoothie or breakfast porridge bars.

More foods can be frozen than you might think, too. Try freezing yoghurt for a healthier alternative to ice cream, or freeze butter and milk if you are going on holiday or have too much to get through. Check out our full range of recipes for more meal inspiration.

 

Stock Up on Fresh Produce and Fridge-Friendly Ingredients with Milk & More

From organic milk and grass-fed butter to seasonal fruit and vegetable boxes, Milk & More delivers fresh produce straight to your door. Now that you know how and where to store food in the fridge, you can enjoy your food delivery for longer!

Don’t forget to check out the Besides the Pint blog for more life hacks and kitchen tips.

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