fridge refresh and organization essentials
my favorite part of spring cleaning + the weekly 2-2-2!
I often get DMs when I show the inside of my fridge online that people are happy to see I have a normal fridge—which always makes me laugh, but I know what it means. Aesthetically pleasing refrigerator organization has become a bit of a trend (and don’t get me wrong, I love that!) but most of the time I’m wondering… what do they actually eat??? There’s usually a few jars of herbs, bins of fresh fruit, maybe a carton of eggs or milk… and sometimes even plants in there? It looks pretty but doesn’t seem practical.
While I’m fully embracing my normal fridge, I do find a lot of value in a fridge clean out and reorganization, especially as we enter spring cleaning season. My Friday routine, as many of you know, includes a pantry, fridge, and freezer inventory session where I evaluate what I have on hand so I can make my grocery list and meal plan for the week. When I have the time, coupling that process with a clean out and tidy really helps me reduce waste and feel less overwhelmed. Because when you don’t know what’s in the back and can’t reach for it through a sea of jars, it is SO overwhelming.
Keeping your fridge organized isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s one of the most underrated ways to make meal prep easier, save money (less waste!), and actually enjoy cooking at home. A well-organized fridge helps you see what you have, use what you buy, and waste less food—which is the foundation of a sustainable meal routine. So today I’m diving into my approach—how I stay motivated to clean out my fridge, what I use to organize it, and some practical tips to guide your own fridge & kitchen refresh!
🚨P.S. We have a lot going on this week!
Tomorrow I’m sending out a bonus newsletter sharing something new I’ve been working on that I think you’re going to love! We’re getting serious about our meal prep faves 👀
I’m doing another Substack Live this Wednesday afternoon, more to come on that! Plus a fun update to share that I’ve been working on behind the scenes.
I’ll be participating in Grubstack, Substack’s first virtual food festival, on Friday at 2:30pm est meal prepping & answering Qs, so mark your calendars! I hope you join 🫶
This time of year is a refresh for so many of us, and it should include your fridge! Organizing your kitchen should make you feel better, not stressed, so don’t let it overwhelm you. Don’t feel like you have to tackle everything in one day and do what works for you. If you want some of my tips & essentials, I’ve outlined everything here:
Cleaning spray — I love Branch Basics all purpose cleaning spray. It’s non-toxic & works well to break up stains and anything sticky on the shelves. These reusable dish cloths are also great to pair. Code JENNEATSGOOOD to save $$
Lazy Susan — The best purchase to organize my sauces and other small jars. No more reaching for one in the back and knocking down everything in the process!
Storage shelves — I always keep a stock of Sprindrift, Olipop, Culture Pop, or other fun drinks. Storing them in these is such a game changer and keeps the fridge sectioned off which is key! You can also use them as produce or can bins.
Produce bins — There never seems to be enough storage in the produce bins, especially once the spring and summer hit. These plastic storage bins are perfect for that overflow + they’re super easy to take in and out and fit in between shelves.
Stasher bags — These are one of the first sustainable swaps I made in my kitchen and I never looked back. They help my half used produce fit in the bins like a perfect puzzle. I also use them for meal prep and marinades!
Tackle one space at a time that way if you don’t have the time, you don’t need to do it all in one day. I’m all about creating small attainable goals to get it done. If you struggle with motivation, set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes, if you get it done before the timer, yay! Move on to another space or call it a day. Take one day to focus on your produce bins and another to go through your sauces and syrups.
Clear out one shelf at a time so you know what you have and what you have to throw away—this helps track your fridge staples! My tip is to create a running list (I have a fridge white board that I LOVE) for your next trip to the store. Once one shelf or bin is cleared out, wipe it down, and put everything you’re keeping back in a way that makes sense for your use. This way you don’t clear out the entire fridge, get halfway through cleaning and lose motivation to finish the job.
You’ll use what you see; storing food in clear containers ensures nothing gets lost in the back of the fridge and there’s no digging for the onion you swear you have. This goes for produce bags too—one of the many reasons I love Stasher! If you can see everything you already have, it helps build your meals and save money at the store each week. If you see the pepper you haven’t used yet, you can build one meal around that ingredient this week and save money on produce at the store. This is another reason I love to use glass meal prep containers—I can actually see what meal I have ready to go, which makes it much more likely that I’ll eat it!
Spring cleaning: top spots to hit in your kitchen
Fridge and Freezer: Use today’s newsletter to guide your process and check out my Fridge and Freezer Guide when you’re ready to restock!
Pantry: Clean out what’s old, donate what you can to your local food pantry, and take inventory once it’s all cleared out. Check out my pantry staples checklist. You can also find all of my pantry organization essentials here.
Under the sink: This is one of those spaces that I swear gets messy without me even trying!! I love to do a little reset of this space to I can easily grab towels, cleaners, or restock soap, sponges, etc. These organizers are a lifesaver.
what I’m prepping
Chocolate Cherry Latte Chia Pudding — my hyper-fixation with 24g protein
Miso Glazed Salmon Bowls — this month’s Substack-exclusive meal prep recipe
what I’m loving
Versed Cleansing Balm — on my face every night for 2 years now… truly obsessed
Sezane Oversized Button Down — my new fun staple piece for spring!!
what I’m recommending
Habits & Routines for Decluttering podcast — so on brand for this week & full of so many practical and applicable tips, this episode really inspired me!
Lick Mats — let’s just say the dogs have had big energy lately & these saved me
👩🍳 meal inspo for this week’s dinners
🍒 check out the video for the chocolate cherry chia pudding
🐟 seeing lots of love for this dinner lately
🚨 Want a free month of the eat goood newsletter?
If you make one of the recipes this week, leave a rating and review on my website & you’ll be entered to get a free month of the paid newsletter! All you have to do is leave your rating & review, then comment on this post letting me know you reviewed—it can be any recipe on the site! There will be 3 winners every month 💕
I hope you all have a lovely week, and be sure to stay tuned over on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to see what I have for y’all this upcoming week!
Do you have a link to the drawer that the dill is in?