As the cost of living crisis continues, with a potential US recession likely to impact the UK economy too, households are trying to make the most of every penny. One major drawback in household budgets, however, is the grocery items that expire before ever being used, essentially equating to throwing away money.
However, one kitchen expert is keen to help Brits extend the shelf life of everything in their fridge with a simple reorganisation to claw back some of those lost pounds. These simple tips could also help cut energy bills by allowing your fridge to work more efficiently too.
Plumbworld’s expert Jennifer Shaw explained why properly packing your fridge is so vital: “Fridges have sections that are colder and warmer than others, which helps because different foods keep better at different temperatures.”
Because of this, she advised keeping meat and fish towards the back of the fridge, explaining that these items “need to be kept colder” than the rest of your fridge’s contents and placing it at the back can help lessen the effect of opening and closing the door. She noted that households can use a thermometer to find the coldest place in their fridge too.
A majority of households keep their fruit and vegetables in their assigned separate drawer at the bottom of the fridge, and Jennifer revealed just why these food groups are so segregated: “They should be stored in their dedicated compartments because this part of the fridge isn’t as dry as the rest, meaning it should keep everything fresher for longer.”
Similarly, a majority of homes keep their milk on the bottom shelf of the door of their fridge, but the expert urged for a completely different spot saying this easy-access slot “could be the reason your milk isn’t lasting very long”.
She recommended: “Try storing it in the main part of the fridge instead. You should be able to move the shelves around to accommodate it.” Eggs are also better in the main part of the fridge while Jennifer noted that sauces and drink bottles can be left in the door.
Some of her other tips around saving pennies in your grocery shop included “having a system” for unpacking your bags after a shopping trip. Being this organised means people are “less likely to have food that you’ve forgotten about”. This means they’ll have less food waste or chances of doubling up which is good for both your budget and the environment.
Lastly, Jennifer added: “Another good rule to follow is to avoid overfilling your fridge. Stacking stuff on top of each other will prevent air from circulating between your goods and cold air from getting everywhere it needs to. This means your fridge has to work harder and your food will go off quicker.”