Get Organized in the Kitchen
Love your Kitchen! Let it be the Center of Holiday Activity
Imagine being unembarrassed by an open fridge or pantry door? It's possible to organize your kitchen before the holidays if you start now.
Wouldn’t it be great to know exactly where to find things including muffin tin liners or the turkey baster you know you have? The organizing habit you begin today will get you on track for a future with a neat kitchen. In ‘Organizing for the Holidays’ we talked about how it takes from 2 to 4 weeks to form a habit so if you’ve already started with your hall closets you’re well on the way.
Toss and Clean
What are you storing in your fridge? If the condiments expired before the last election you’re probably hanging on too long; check the dates and toss everything that’s expired. Next, the leftovers and they too might fall into the ‘expired’ category. A rule of thumb for leftovers is that after 3 days it’s probably safe to toss them. Your fridge should be home to frequently used items like milk, juice, cheeses, and eggs plus condiments like ketchups, mustards, jams and sauces. The fridge-drawers should be used for fresh vegetables, fruits and meats.
Before each grocery shopping trip, take a few minutes to clear out the refrigerator shelves and wash with warm soapy water; don’t forget the drawers and racks in the door. You’ll thank yourself when you return from the store.
Plan Ahead and Make a List
The bonuses of shopping with a list are that you’ll save money not buying impulsively and you’ll take fewer trips to the store in the course of a month.
While making your list, plan 5 to 7 days worth of meals in advance. For example, think about a typical week and list breakfast items like milk, bread, cereal, eggs, coffee and sugar. Then list lunch foods like sandwich meats, cheeses, soups, juices and fruits. For suppers you’ll need meats and entrees, vegetables and staples such as rice, beans, potatoes and pastas. Don’t deviate from your list while you’re in the store unless it’s critical; chips and dips may or may not be considered critical.
Pantry and Cupboards
Organizing the pantry and cupboards should follow the same process as the refrigerator and grouping like items together will make them easier to find. Consider using plastic containers for cereals, rice and dry goods so you can keep track of how much you have. They usually fit on pantry shelves better than the original containers.
You might pick up wire racks from the hardware or department store; they’ll double your storage capacity for canned goods, boxed soups and puddings and if your pantry is fairly deep you could consider installing slide out shelves.
Take advantage of storage solutions found at most department stores and stick with the organizing habit you’ve started. You will be amazed at the peace of mind you’ll have when your guests arrive for the holiday!
