It’s practically a given that refrigerators will turn into a black hole where food goes to die. That gorgeous haul you got at the farmers' market? Vanished, until everything mysteriously turns up spoiled and rotten weeks later. Your leftovers from dinner last night? Good luck finding them.
That’s why I stopped in my tracks when I came across a genius fridge organization hack on Instagram. Thanks to my husband, my fridge is highly organized with a slew of special clear drawers, but my household falls short with the stuff that doesn’t have a designated drawer. That’s where this hack comes in.
This smart hack, which suggests you should have an "eat me first" bin, comes to us courtesy of Jen Robin, an organizational expert and founder of @lifeinjeneral. It's a place where you stash food that needs to be eaten ASAP, like those leftovers or things that won’t last for very long, like fish or produce that's on the way out.
“This simple trick helps reduce food waste, save money and keep your meals fresh,” she wrote in the caption of her Instagram post. People promptly freaked out in the comments. “This is such a great tip! I can’t tell you how many times stuff goes to waste in our fridge ?,” one person said. “It’s wild how the right label can make you win at life,” added another.
I, for one, am definitely giving this a try. Here's why it's such a clever idea and how to put it to use at your house.
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What Makes The 'Eat Me First' Bin Fridge Trick So Great?
There are so many reasons why this organizational hack is so great. “Today’s American refrigerators—large, overstocked—are well overdue for an organizational structure like this that places food safety as a chief concern,” says Darin Detwiler, food safety expert and author of the book Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions and a professor at Northeastern University's College of Professional Studies.
This method is a great way to help reduce food waste, lower the risk of eating spoiled or unsafe food, and help to save you money, says Detwiler. It can also help serve as a visual cue when you plan meals to make sure you’re using all of your ingredients efficiently, he adds.
Just keep in mind, says Detwiler, that you’ll want to declutter and clean out this drawer regularly. Otherwise, you're defeating the purpose of this hack.
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Leftovers are an obvious choice. (Detwiler says that meals that have been cooked should usually be eaten within three to four days.) But deli meats, fresh produce that’s getting close to spoiling and prepared ingredients (think: sliced onions) are also a good fit for this bin. He also suggests using it for opened dairy products that are near their use-by dates, like yogurt or sour cream.
“This drawer should not be used for raw meats or high-risk items unless it’s very clearly labeled and stored at the correct temperature—below 40° Fahrenheit—to avoid cross-contamination,” he says.
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Signs Your Food Is No Longer Safe to Eat
Even when you have the best of intentions, you still may not get to the food in your “eat me first” bin in time. Detwiler recommends keeping an eye out for these signs that your food is no longer OK:
Sour, rancid or sulfur-like smellsTexture changes, like sliminess or stickinessColor changes (think: grayish meat or darkened lettuce)Visible moldBubbling or swelling in the packageExpired dates“When in doubt, trust your senses, but err on the side of caution,” Detwiler says. “If it looks off, smells off, or you’re unsure, don’t eat it!”
Sources
Darin Detwiler, Food safety expert and author of the book Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions and a professor at Northeastern University's College of Professional StudiesRelated: What's the Difference Between Cold Brew and Iced Coffee? Experts Spill the Beans
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