Spring Cleaning: Fridge Edition
So you’ve Spring Cleaned your closet, your Body, and maybe even your Life. Now it’s time to clean out that refrigerator. We’re keepin’ things fresh. Like Fresh Prince fresh.
You know that shelf of condiments you’ve been cultivating for years and all those random containers of leftovers that have collected? You’re probably thinking that someday you’ll finish off the rest of that container of tomato sauce you opened last week.
Chances are, you’re never going to use those, and you probably shouldn’t eat most of them even if you can. Our refrigerators are full of random collections of food. So how do we know what’s good, what’s not, and what to do with it?
DEEP CLEAN
Refrigerators are breeding grounds for gross things. Be sure to do a thorough clean every few months. Get rid of anything old, and clean up any spills.
How to know what to throw away? Check out this incredibly helpful site, Still Tasty, that gives shelf life information for any food. The first things to throw away? Anything high in protein. An opened container of beans, hummus, or cooked rice should really only last 3 days after opening.
LEFTOVERS FOOD BATTLE
Found a few delicious foods and condiments that are usable, but you just can’t face putting them back in your newly clean fridge? That’s where the games begin.
We’ve all watched Chopped and Iron Chef. Well, here’s your market basket/secret ingredients. Challenge yourself or others to a leftovers battle. You’d be surprised the amazing things you can throw together with stuff that’s been laying around.
Our favorite go-to’s? Make a Hash, stir fry, or Curry. Use that ketchup and Worchestershire sauce to make a delicious bbq glaze (add some bourbon or maple syrup for sweetness). That rice will make a yummy pudding for dessert when mixed with your leftover coconut milk. Have some leftover wine, scraps of herbs, and mustard? The makings of a delicious white wine reduction sauce.
Now you’ve enjoyed a delicious meal and have a super clean fridge. How do you keep it that way? Check out our labeling tip in our Spring Cleaning 101, then get to work organizing. We’re big fans of these sliding drawer fridge shelves (the colors help, too!). We also recommend investing in some heavy-duty storage containers to keep everything neatly stored in BPA-free containers. We like Joseph Joseph’s stylish nest storage and Anchor’s TrueSeal glass containers.