How to Organise Your Fridge: 7 Mistakes to Avoid

A well-organised fridge isn't just nicer to open. It also means less forgotten food, more accurate shopping and meals on the table faster. Yet most of us put the shopping away wherever there's space left. Here are the most common mistakes and how to fix them for good.

Mistake 1: ignoring temperature zones

A fridge isn't the same temperature everywhere. In most recent models, the coldest zone is at the bottom, just above the salad drawer; in some older appliances, it's at the top. Check your fridge's manual, then follow this principle:

• coldest zone: meat, fish and opened fresh products;
• middle zone: dairy, ready meals and leftovers;
• salad drawer: fruit and vegetables;
• door: drinks, butter, condiments and eggs.

Mistake 2: overloading the shelves

A fridge packed to bursting stops cold air from circulating, and you lose track of what's inside. Always leave a little space between items and against the back wall. If you're short of room, the problem is usually organisation rather than size.

Mistake 3: putting everything straight on the shelves

Without dividers, small jars roll to the back and packets pile up. Clear fridge organiser bins solve this: one bin for dairy, one for cheese, one for sauces, one for snacks. Thanks to the handles, you pull them out like drawers and see everything at a glance. Choose stackable bins to make the most of each shelf's height.

Mistake 4: leaving leftovers in the pan

A saucepan in the fridge takes up a huge amount of room, and a bowl covered in cling film is easily forgotten. Move leftovers into airtight glass food storage containers: they stack, keep smells contained and let you see what's inside. You can then reheat them straight in the microwave with the lid unclipped, with no extra plate to wash.

Mistake 5: forgetting "first in, first out"

When you put the shopping away, place new items behind the ones that are already open or nearing their date. It's the rule used in professional kitchens, and on its own it goes a long way towards cutting waste. A label with the opening date on containers and jars makes it even easier to keep track.

Mistake 6: mixing fruit and veg without thinking

Some fruits, such as apples, pears and ripe avocados, give off a natural gas called ethylene that speeds up the ripening of whatever is next to them. Keep them away from leafy greens. And not everything belongs in the fridge: tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic and bananas keep better at room temperature, away from light.

Mistake 7: never having a clear-out

Even the best system won't last without a little upkeep. Once a week, ideally the day before you shop, take five minutes to:

1. pull out anything that needs eating soon and work it into the menu;
2. throw away anything past its best;
3. wipe down the shelves and the bins;
4. note what's missing on your shopping list.

To clean clear bins, a hand wash in warm soapy water is all they need.

Our go-to fridge layout

To sum up, here's a simple layout that works in most households:

• top shelf: an "eat me first" bin and leftovers in glass containers;
• middle shelf: a dairy bin and a cheese bin;
• bottom shelf: meat and fish in their packaging, sitting in a bin to catch any drips;
• salad drawer: vegetables on one side, fruit on the other;
• door: sauces, drinks and butter.

Then adapt this plan to your own habits. What matters is that every type of food has its place, always the same one: within a few days, everyone at home will know where to put things and where to find them.