Refrigerator Organization Ideas for Better Function and Storage

Implementing refrigerator organization ideas can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Start small and tackle one section at a time. Clear all items and store them temporarily in a cooler. Check the expiration date on each item and dispose of anything that has expired. To save space when you restock, remove products from their packaging when possible, then mark the expiration date on containers storing individual items using a permanent marker. Once the fridge section is empty, wipe down all surfaces with a damp cloth. Add a DIY refrigerator deodorizer, such as a jar of baking soda or coffee, to eliminate foul fridge smells.

15 Fridge Organization Ideas You Haven’t Thought of—Yet

Have you seen these fridge organization ideas? Here are some starting points for creating—and maintaining—an organized fridge.

Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.

Secret Fridge Drawer

Wishing for more drawer space? This fridge drawer insert is one of the smartest TikTok fridge organization ideas. I tried it and love that the drawer organizer creates space out of thin air. It neatly stores dairy products or loose ingredients without taking up precious shelf space. Just make sure to check the size and construction of your fridge shelves before ordering.

Drink Dispenser

It doesn’t get more fun than this drink dispenser. As one of the best drink organizers, it contains three rows that hold four drinks each. I tried it in my fridge and love that it pushes drinks straight to the front every time one is removed. Plus, it feels like a custom fridge addition—minus the price tag. No more fumbling around to find that one soda in the back! You’ll also love this automatic drink dispenser for milk and juice.

Herb Saver Pods

Free up space in the crisper drawer with these herb saver pods. Not only do they fit neatly inside the fridge door, they keep herbs fresher for way longer. Like, weeks longer according to one editor’s herb saver review.

Shelf Liners

Here’s one of the easiest fridge organization ideas that helps create zones for everything from produce to leftovers. Shelf liners protect fridge shelves from spills and help combat bacteria and odors. This set of refrigerator mats boasts over 6,000 five-star reviews. We love that they’re wipeable, you can cut them to size and they’re cushioned so they’re gentle on fruits and veggies. Plus, they add colorful pizazz to the inside of the fridge. Looking for another cute fridge accessory? The chilly mama is our go-to for beating weird fridge odors.

Two-Tier Organizer

Here’s an Amazon organization product that works just about anywhere in the home: Under the sink, in the pantry and of course, inside the fridge. The two-tier organizer is ideal for bulkier items like extra condiments or refrigerated flour and seed bags. It easily slides in and out for extra handy organizing.

Mason Jars

We love mason jars just as much as anyone else, but these wide mouth, 16-ounce Ball jars are superior for fridge organization. In fact, they’re one of our editor’s favorite Amazon kitchen gadgets thanks to their easy-to-fill wide mouth. Storing pickled onions? Done. What about fresh herbs? You betcha. Their uniform design keeps them clutter-free whether they sit in the fridge door or top shelf.

Narrow Fridge Bins

When it comes to the best fridge organization ideas, not just any fridge bins will do. Take stock of what items need extra care and attention in your fridge and go from there. More often than not, narrow fridge bins are essential. They corral everything from snack packs to random ingredients like a leftover avocado half.

Glass Storage Containers

Though it sounds generic, this is one of the best fridge organization ideas that pays off in the long run. Invest in uniform food storage containers for organizing leftovers, pre-made salads or lunches and everything under the sun. These Rubbermaid glass containers neatly stack in the fridge, which is ideal for maximizing vertical space. Glass is ideal for reheating food and lasts for years. These glass storage containers go straight from the fridge and into the microwave or oven when dinner time calls.

Beeswax Wrap

Instead of throwing small items like half of an apple or block of cheese into a corner of the fridge, first wrap it in beeswax wrap. Then, find a home for it inside a fridge drawer or narrow bin. Beeswax wrap is an eco-friendly solution for keeping food fresh without keeping it in a large food container that’s best left for leftovers.

Lazy Susans

You may have a lazy Susan in your pantry or cabinet, but putting one in the fridge is a game changer! We love these non-skid turntables for wrangling condiments. It comes in a pack of two just in case your fridge is overflowing with condiments (like mine). If not, throw the extra one in the pantry or cleaning cabinet! No more constantly shuffling items around, searching for something in the back.

Stackable Fridge Drawers

Fridge drawer space is priceless when organizing, but not all refrigerators are blessed with it. Luckily, these stackable drawers solve those organizing woes. We love that they contain an exterior shell that mimic a crisper drawer. Plus, the six-piece set comes with three interior cubes for holding berries, loose Brussels sprouts—you name it.

Produce Keepers

Yes, produce and lettuce keepers are an essential fridge organizer. These stackable savers are one of our favorite produce keepers on Amazon. It comes with six keepers ideal for berries, greens, citrus and veggies. The interior drain tray keeps ingredients from becoming soggy while the lid’s vent hole maintains proper air flow. They give fruits and veggies a longer life by keeping them separate. Produce lovers, consider investing in a Guac Lock and Bluapple produce preservers, too.

Deep Fridge Bins

Deep, stackable bins like these fridge organizers are ideal for two reasons: They round up loose baggies or ingredients and they stack. Trust me, these bins were my go-to when organizing my fridge for $100.

Reusable Storage Bags

Let’s be honest. It’s real easy to throw just about anything into a freezer container. But, when that’s the case, the fridge tends to overflow with storage containers when ingredients can easily be consolidated. We love reusable storage bags for consolidating leftover rice, pre-made salads or sandwiches and even soup. Pro tip: Place ’em in a deep fridge bin to keep the reusable bags together in one place.

Fridge Labels

Once everything has a home, it’s time to label! Cute and functional, these sticker labels are ideal for labeling fridge organization bins, produce keepers or the fridge’s crisper drawers and door shelves. Labels not only help identify what’s in each container, but they also can be used for expiration dates and to help everyone in the family know where items belong. Labels double as a genius freezer organizer idea, too.

Want more fun product picks and money-saving deals from our shopping experts and Test Kitchen? Sign up for the Stuff We Love newsletter .

As Associate Shopping Editor, Madi covers the best cleaning gadgets, organizing gear and home buys. She’s constantly testing internet-made-me-buy-it splurges and home goods—if there’s a viral product taking the internet by storm, you can count on Madi to give her honest review. Her work has appeared in various home outlets including Better Homes and Gardens, Reader’s Digest, The Family Handyman and Birds and Blooms. When she’s not decorating her apartment, you can find her sharing her favorite finds on Taste of Home’s social media platforms and scouring Denver for the best espresso martini.

• About Us
• Contests
• RSS
• Customer Care
• Contact Us
• Log In
• Help
• Press Room
• Advertise with Us
• Privacy Policy
• Your CA Privacy Rights
• Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information
• Terms of Use
• Accessibility Statement
• About Ads
• Affiliate Program
• Cookie Settings
• License our Content

Refrigerator Organization Ideas for Better Function and Storage

Take one day to organize your fridge using these genius hacks and save yourself time (and stress).

Jessica Bennett is an editor, writer, and former digital assistant home editor at BHG.

The refrigerator is the most popular home appliance, and between whipping up a quick breakfast on your way out the door and hitting the kitchen for a late-night snack, you’re in and out of it several times a day. Refrigerator organization ideas can keep the inside of your fridge from quickly becoming a mess. Luckily, learning how to organize your fridge can be a simple process.

Just an hour or two of sorting a refrigerator’s contents can help guard against food waste and unpleasant smells while making meal prep much more efficient. Take your kitchen organization to a new level with these refrigerator organization ideas.

Start by Choosing a Section

Implementing refrigerator organization ideas can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Start small and tackle one section at a time. Clear all items and store them temporarily in a cooler. Check the expiration date on each item and dispose of anything that has expired. To save space when you restock, remove products from their packaging when possible, then mark the expiration date on containers storing individual items using a permanent marker. Once the fridge section is empty, wipe down all surfaces with a damp cloth. Add a DIY refrigerator deodorizer, such as a jar of baking soda or coffee, to eliminate foul fridge smells.

And don’t forget that your refrigerator shelves are adjustable! Switch up the shelf heights as needed to accommodate different-sized items. You might be surprised at how much new space you can create by adjusting them.

Organize the Upper Shelves

Each zone of your refrigerator has a different temperature, though the exact degree will depend on how much food is inside and how often you open the door.

A good refrigerator organization idea is to take a top-to-bottom approach. Since this is usually the coldest area of the fridge, the upper shelves should be designated for drinks, dairy products, leftovers, and ready-to-eat foods. For example, it’s best to keep milk on an upper shelf rather than the door to stay at a more consistent temperature. To avoid eating food past its prime, label leftover containers with an expiration date before placing them in the refrigerator. According to the US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service, throwing out cooked leftovers after four days is a general rule.

As you refill the fridge, group foods by type, using clear bins ($13, Amazon), baskets, and other containers to corral similar items. This ensures everything remains properly stored in a space-efficient fashion. If you like chilled wine, consider using a wine rack ($19, Amazon) to organize bottles.

Arrange the Lower Shelves

As you begin stocking the lower shelves, start with the largest items first and group foods by type. Visibility is key to any successful refrigerator organization idea, so it’s best to use clear containers that allow you to see the contents. It’s helpful to add a Lazy Susan turntable ($18, Amazon) on one refrigerator shelf. This gives you easy access to your favorite grab-and-go goodies, such as condiments, yogurt, or jars (no more fumbling around for containers in the back). To prevent cross-contamination with other foods, place any raw meat packages on the refrigerator’s lowest shelf or inside the lowest crisper drawer if you have multiple.

Stock the Crisper Drawers

Cover the bottoms of your fridge’s crisper drawers with removable shelf liners ($10, Amazon) or placemats for easy cleaning. Then, when an accidental spill or splatter occurs, you can remove the mat, wipe it down, and return it to the shelf. Next, add small baskets or dividers to sort the drawer contents. Place the heaviest items, like citrus, on the bottom and layer more delicate items, like bell peppers, on top as needed. If you have a deli drawer, use that for processed meats and cheeses.

Adjust the humidity controls on your crisper drawers to best preserve fresh produce. Use low humidity for foods that rot easily, such as apples, grapes, peppers, and mushrooms. High humidity is best for foods that wilt in the fridge, like broccoli, carrots, and green onions.

Declutter Door Compartments

As the warmest area of the fridge, the door compartments should only be used for soft drinks, condiments, sauces, and butter. A helpful refrigerator organization idea is to place your most frequently used items closer to eye level and reserve the lower compartments for ingredients you don’t reach for daily. Group similar items together and label each section with the product category.

Organize the Freezer

For the most efficient use of space, store leftover food in containers as close to the size of the food as possible, which will also help prevent freezer burn. Use a label maker ($25, Amazon) or permanent marker to label leftovers and prepared foods with expiration dates as a reminder of when to use them. As you restock the freezer, create zones and group items by category. Add clear plastic tubs and dividers to help organize shelves, and freeze items flat when possible to save more space. To prevent continuous melting and refreezing, avoid storing high-fat items like ice cream in the door.

Everything needs its own place to maintain an organized fridge and ensure the freshness of your food. With these refrigerator organization ideas, it’s a snap.