Start with a blank slate. Before you can begin the organization process, it’s easiest to take everything out – just don’t leave items out for too long! Check the expiration dates and throw away anything that is past its prime or your comfort level. Some items – pasta sauces for example – should be discarded three to four days after being opened, while other items like salad dressings are safe to use for several months.

Toss Expired Items

Perhaps there are items in your fridge that have not yet expired but haven’t caught your attention in quite some time. Consider whether such ingredients spark joy when you eat or cook with them – or, alternatively, determine whether you have any plans to use them in the near future. If the answer is no, these items can be donated or discarded. If you think you will truly use them, move them to an area of your fridge where they can be seen and remembered. Additionally, you may wish to use this opportunity to determine which of your items do and do not conform with your current eating habits

Perform Joy Check

Keep meats and cheeses separate from fruits and veggies – either using the drawers or shelves built into your fridge or by using refrigerator-safe containers are useful for corralling items. This will help streamline the food preparation process, no matter how simple or complex a meal.Such a tactic will also come in handy prior to your next trip to the grocery store. When you can see all your items at a glance, you will be quickly reminded of what you do and don’t need to replenish within a specific subcategory.

Store Like With Like

When putting items back on your refrigerator shelves, place shorter items toward the front and taller items further back. This will allow you to see everything that you have at your disposal each time you open the refrigerator. Once again, whether you are preparing a bowl of cereal or about to begin cooking a large, multi-course meal, you will be grateful that all of the ingredients you need are within view.

Arrange By Height

Abstain from purchasing extras when possible. Always set aside some open space on the shelves in your fridge – in fact, plan to keep about 30 percent of the space empty. This will simplify the process of storing leftovers.

How to KonMari a Refrigerator – KonMari | The Official Website of Marie Kondo