HOW TO ORGANIZE A FRENCH DOOR REFRIGERATOR

HOW TO ORGANIZE A FRENCH DOOR FRIDGE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

One of the greatest ways to maintain a clean, streamlined kitchen space for easy food prep and cooking is to keep your storage spaces neat. To effectively organize your French door refrigerator, it’s important to know optimal locations for storing various items and ingredients, as well as how to clean the appliance properly. Read the following steps for a helpful overview of how to organize your French door refrigerator. 

STEP 1: CLEAN THE FRIDGE

To get your appliance ready for organizing, begin by cleaning the inside and outside of the fridge. This includes the exterior of the fridge as well as the interior surfaces, the shelves and the storage bins. Taking the time to clean your refrigerator is also a great opportunity to take inventory and throw away any items you don’t need.

When cleaning your French door fridge, avoid using abrasive cleaning tools or harsh cleansers to protect the appliance from damage. Clean the inside of your fridge by following these steps: 

• Remove all contents from the fridge and freezer compartments

• Unplug the appliance

• Remove all storage shelves and bins

• Hand wash the fridge walls, the door and permanent shelves using a clean sponge or soft cloth and a mild detergent or other non-abrasive cleaner with warm water

• Dry all parts and surfaces with a clean cloth

• Place the removable parts back inside the fridge

• Plug in the appliance

Clean the outside of your French door with a gentle cleaner. If you have a traditional stainless steel fridge without a fingerprint-resistant coating, consider using a solution like affresh^® Stainless Steel Cleaning Spray¹ for dedicated care of your stainless steel appliances. 

STEP 2: ORGANIZE THE DOOR

The contents of the door are often the first things you see when you open your French door refrigerator, making them the ideal spot for placing frequently-used items, such as butter, condiments or dressings. Storing these smaller, less perishable items in the fridge door is also a great way to free up valuable space on the shelves. 

Because temperature fluctuations can affect different areas of the fridge, the doors may be a few degrees warmer than other parts of the interior. As a result, avoid storing temperature-sensitive items like milk or eggs in the door.

STEP 3: SORT THE UPPER AND LOWER SHELVES

Organize the shelves of your French door refrigerator while keeping in mind differences in temperature throughout the fridge. As a rule of thumb, items best suited for cooler storage environments should be stored on the lower shelves, while less sensitive items can go on the warmer upper shelves. For example, the upper shelves are generally best for storing prepared foods, leftovers and beverages — they’re also a convenient area for placing regularly used items, such as milk or eggs.

Keep meat, dairy and other perishable items on the lower shelves. Prevent cross-contamination by designating specific areas for storing foods to be cooked at high temperatures, such as raw meat, poultry and fish.

STEP 4: SORT THE FRIDGE DRAWERS

If your refrigerator has them, use the dedicated drawers to sort items according to type, which allows you to exercise greater control over storage environments and conditions while keeping your fridge clutter-free. 

For example, most French door fridge models come with dedicated crisper drawers for storing ingredients according to humidity, which work well for keeping fruits and vegetables — simply adjust the airflow in each drawer with the slider as needed, allowing at least ⅓ of space in the drawer to provide ample breathing room for fresh food and ingredients. Another useful component is the deli drawer, which you can use to store items like sandwich meat or cheese. 

STEP 5: SORT THE FREEZER

Keep your freezer compartment looking clean and organized by sorting items according to their type. For example, try stacking TV dinners on top of one another while designating a special place for frozen desserts like ice cream or popsicles.

WHAT FOODS SHOULD I PUT IN CONTAINERS?

The storage bins and containers of your French door fridge are great for storing a variety of food and ingredients, such as fresh produce like fruits or leafy greens, as well as deli ingredients like lunch meat or sliced cheese.

In addition to the built-in storage compartments of your French door fridge, you can also use separate, airtight storage containers for keeping the last few bites of yesterday’s dinner or breakfast leftovers like eggs and sliced fruit. Remember to use clear storage and organization containers to easily and quickly identify items. Learn more refrigerator organization tips and ideas.

WHAT IS THE COLDEST PART OF A FRENCH DOOR FRIDGE?

The lower shelves of a French door fridge are typically the coldest parts. Because this area is cooler than the upper shelves or bins, use the lower shelves to store perishable items like meat or dairy.

Because certain parts of a fridge will have cooler temperatures than others, becoming familiar with the areas of your refrigerator that remain cooler can help you determine where to place certain items as you organize.