The Best Bins, Trays and More for Organizing Your Fridge
Upgrade your kitchen with these refrigerator organizers that will keep your produce in order and your fridge tidy — and most are under $25. Plus, we're sharing some storage tips from pro organizers.
Let's be honest: The refrigerator is one of the most frequently visited spots in the entire house. Whether you want to grab a snack or get ingredients for a new recipe, it all usually starts in the fridge. That said, it can be hard to find exactly what you need when everything is scattered without any rhyme or reason. If that sounds like a familiar problem, then you'll want to consider looking into refrigerator organizers.
What to Look for in Refrigerator Organizers
Easy to Clean
Since food and drinks are prone to messes whether that's crumbs or debris, you'll want to make sure your refrigerator organizer is easy to clean. Whether it is dishwasher-safe or can be hand-washed with soap and water, you want to make sure the food remnants can be easily removed.
Made from Durable Materials
Since food is kept in refrigerator organizers, you want to make sure the materials it is made from are not only food-grade but also food-safe. Keep an eye out for BPA-free organizers and those made from stainless steel.
To help you get organized in the kitchen, we've compiled a list of the best refrigerator organizers you'll want to add to your cart.
This bin is a berry good option to add to your refrigerator. The BPA-free colander fridge bin comes with a divider to separate food in an organized way. It's the perfect place to hold berries of any sort — strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries — without getting them mixed up. When it's time to dig in, utilize the tiny built-in handles to easily take it out of the fridge.
Are you a lover of eggs? Whether you prefer hard-boiled eggs, over-easy or sunny side up, this egg holder allows you to ditch the carton and save some space in your refrigerator. With a seven-degree slope, once you take one egg out, the next one will roll down so you can easily grab it the next time around. This single plastic holder can hold 18 eggs.
Keep the mess at bay with this set of eight refrigerator bins that provide individualized spaces to separate items based on category. For example, you can keep the tiny milk cartons in one bin and the cheese sticks in another. The clear design helps you identify exactly what is in the bin too.
Are you a leftovers person? If that sounds right, then you'll want to invest in these reusable silicone bags. Instead of opting for a single-use plastic bag or some aluminum wrap, grab one of these storage bags that can be used again and again. The 30-ounce bags are suitable to hold a sandwich, pretzels, leftover fruit and nearly any other snack you could want to keep fresh.
Emily Preciado-Fonseca, professional organizer and founder of MommyAssist, loves a good turntable for a refrigerator. "[It] is very popular for its rectangular design that fits well in a refrigerator," she tells Food Network. "If you choose to use any kind of lazy Susan, make sure it fits well in your space, whether it is rectangular or circular."
This multi-row organizer fits bottles and cans of various sizes. It’s available in 2-6 rows, with each row holding 5 items. "Each row is spring-loaded, so it pushes drinks forward as you use them, and by keeping them here, you can ensure that nothing else gets put in front of them," says Preciado-Fonseca.
You might already own a shower caddy, but what about a fridge caddy? Designed with two rear wheels and handles at each end, this caddy can easily be maneuvered in and out of a tiny fridge. "It has dividers that allow you to sort things, and helps keep things easily accessible with wheels on the bottom," says Preciado-Fonseca. "This allows you to pull things out of this shelf without having to move neighboring items." For even more organization, it comes with two adjustable dividers so you can keep items separated when necessary.
For those larger items — think tubs of yogurt or bags of spinach — consider this deep fridge bin. Made from BPA-free material, the bin is eight inches deep, making sure items can not only fit but also are visible without moving things around. For extra organization, there's a built-in partition so you don't have to worry about items mixing either.
This metal rack allows you to use vertical space inside the refrigerator that you probably wouldn’t normally use. It is suitable for storing wine, water bottles, or other beverages. The coated metal material makes it durable and easy to clean.
This handy, inexpensive bin is perfect for soda or beer cans, mini water bottles, and even cat food cans. The BPA-free organizer holds up to 9 standard-size beverage cans.
The drain plate at the bottom of these bins allows food to sit above any moisture that might collect, and the slim shape makes them perfect for stacking and storing berries, mushrooms and fresh fish in a single layer.
Quarter sheet pans are the perfect size for sliding onto your fridge's lowest shelf, where you should store meat. The pans catch any drips so they don't contaminate other food and make clean-up easy. Plus, you can easily pull them out to find what you're looking for or shift things around.
Now that your fridge is organized, you might be looking for a way to label everything. These dry-erase food labels can be changed in an instant and easily stick to plastic containers and storage bins without hassle. Whether you're a family of four with different sections of the fridge or live in a shared apartment, the labels can help you remember what belongs to whom.
Tips for Fridge Storage
When it comes to keeping food and drinks stored in a refrigerator, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind, according to Karyn Tomczak, professional organizer and founder of Precision Organizing Plus.
Raw meat and fish: These should be kept in leak-proof, sealed containers to avoid cross-contamination.
Deli meats: For cold cuts, use airtight deli containers. Cheese needs to "breathe," so use a cheese storage container.
Leftovers and meal prep: Use airtight containers, preferably glass or BPA-free plastic and clear.
Produce: Make sure to have containers with good ventilation to maintain the right humidity. Mesh or perforated containers for leafy greens.
Benefits of Refrigerator Organizers
Reduce Food Waste
It's easy for a refrigerator to get filled with fruits, vegetables, leftovers, and everything else. That said, you may eventually find yourself throwing out expired items that didn't make it out. "When you can see what’s in the fridge, you’ll be more likely to use it," says Tomczak.
Enhance Accessibility
Aside from reducing food waste, Tomczak says using a refrigerator organizer can help make your fridge more accessible by allowing you to group similar items together so you can easily find what you need.
Maintain Cleanliness
While you can do your best to keep your refrigerator clean, there's not much you can do when food decides to have a life of its own. "Containers can catch drips and spills, which can be cleaned more easily than clearing out the whole rack of the fridge," says Tomczak.
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