
Most foods can be frozen raw, as a part-finished dish or as a complete dish. Our recipes have a blue snowflake symbol on them if they can be frozen. It's easy to take an item out of the freezer and let it defrost in the fridge overnight, rather than getting to the end of the week and realising that pack of chicken thighs you bought is now destined for the bin. If you do your shopping weekly, check the labels to see when use-by dates are and also if the item is freezable. It's aways worth having a stash of plastic lidded containers and some sticky labels in reserve so that freezing your food is a hassle-free option. It can be tempting to leave items in the fridge for a few days thinking you'll eat them but often this doesn't happen, especially if you have a lot of leftovers. Even better, put spare portions in the freezer. Leftovers should always be cooled as quickly as possible and put in the fridge within two hours. Bin any products that are passed their use-by date. If your fridge is still a bit pongy, try using a little diluted vanilla essence on a cloth to freshen it up. Steer clear of toxic or strong-smelling cleaning products as these can transfer to food. What to do with a stinky fridgeĪvoid getting one in the first place by regularly giving the whole lot - shelves, drawers, handles and walls a clean with warm soapy water. Keep eggs in their box or in a separate covered fridge compartment.īread doesn't really benefit from being kept in the fridge - it tends to dry out so keep it in a bread bin or bag. Avoid putting them right next to dairy products including eggs or even worse a creamy pudding as the smell can easily transfer. So buy these foods as close to when you'll need them as possible and put them in a sealed container if the smell is strong. In the winter, it can be possible to store them in a picnic box outside but in many cases it's just not practical. On the other hand in the case of cheese and fish they do need to be stored at 5C or below to remain safe to eat. The worst offenders are raw (peeled) onion, strong cheeses and smoked fish. 1.Where possible avoid putting smelly items in the fridge for too long. With just a little time invested, you can dramatically improve your kitchen. Use our ideas to reclaim your pantry space and simplify your life in the kitchen. Lighting your pantry will make it even easier to find what you need and brighten up a dark corner of your kitchen. Something often overlooked in pantry design is making sure the area is well-lit. Over-the-door fabric shoe organizers are perfect for small- to medium-size jars and bottles. Magazine baskets make excellent holders for root vegetables. Repurposing an item from another part of the house is another great idea. Chalkboard labels can easily be bought at the craft store, or you can make your own with matte black paint. One trend worth looking out for is the chalkboard label.

Unpainted boxes can be freshened up with a coat of paint and some stencils. Some concepts take a little more work, like putting pretty vinyl lettering on glass jars. Most of these ideas only require buying inexpensive boxes, baskets, and labels. 29 Effective Pantry Organization Ideas to Get Yours in Order

Whether or not you have a built-in pantry in your kitchen, you’ll be able to take advantage of these simple ideas. You will have a much easier time cooking and staying organized when you take inspiration from our pantry organization slideshow. It’s difficult to find things in a cramped, messy pantry.
