Wow so massive fridge de-cluttering happened and now I have been using up what is left. It's great! I am going to look for some nice clear food storage items today so that we can SEE what is leftover and possibly eat it instead of allowing it to start a colony in the fridge.
Thanks for all the great ideas and support.
LOL. It is a battle!
I have put my foot down and refused to have more than x amount of whatever. Use it up THEN open more and even gone as far as won't buy another until gone.
I also found with trial and error what works for our family. TWO salad dressings but that is better than the 4 we used to have. One jam and peanut butter are fine. Mustard is something we like variety on occasion. For that I buy the large size for our standard and then the smallest I can of the not so used one.
Buying smaller does work. I know in some ways you pay more for the smaller size but then if it takes precious space and you end up throwing away some of it- it is worth it.
I think your problem isn't organizing, but purging. I have a sharpie magnet to my fridge in which I put the date of purchase as they come in. That way, I can tell if I really use something or not. If you haven't used a condiment over a year, throw it out.
After you have decided what to keep. I recommend buying some trays or baskets. It is so hard to reach for stuff at the back of the fridge that you might just forget what condiments you have! I use the Peak Freans cookie trays, holds 6 jars each. I put all the curries in one, all the Japanese sauces in one, all the hot dog/burger condiments in one, all the jams & peanut butter in one... When I cook, I pull out the whole tray depending on the theme.
Yes adorita, I think you are right. I made a list of all the condiments I retained and have been meal planning around them. It is working beautifully. I am good at setting things like this up - not so good at sticking to them so that will be the test.
Exactly a year ago, the Washington Post had an Eating Down the Fridge challenge: basically, no grocery shopping for a week, planning menus around the mystery items, creative pickles and eggplant-cilantro marmalade jars that were lurking in the back of the fridge and pantry.
***Who is up for another EDF challenge?***
The (slightly modified) rules:
For one week, only buy perishables (milk, eggs, bread, fruit and veggies).
Make a list of archeological stuff in your fridge and pantry. If it expired, buh-bye. If not, plan a meal around it.
I'm moving in less than 3 weeks so I've been trying to EDF for a while. Tapioca pudding is actually being cooked as these words are being written, to finish up a bag of pearl tapioca that came into the house for my first, last and only attempt to make bubble tea (some dishes are better left to the professionals).
My challenge items for this week include:
Hot pepper jelly - 1/2 jar
Sauerkraut - about 2 cups
Pickles (of course)
Creamed coconut (it looks like a bar of soap - used it for a very complicated Indian dish I cooked from scratch and would like to make again - someday!)
Red lentils
Coconut milk - about 2/3 cup
Canned mushrooms - 3 tins
Pumpkin puree
Molasses
Spring roll wrappers
Today's cooking:
Red lentils, coconut milk and carrots from the bottom of the veggie drawer will become soup (with some ginger, cumin and curry).
Mushrooms will be sauteed with onions, mixed with eggs, cottage cheese and some sour cream and baked until nice and golden, a perfect light dinner.
Two thoughts which may be of use. I have discovered that my vegetables live better if I don't put them in the vegetable drawer. I have them in two baskets above the drawers. So I put Cdn bags of milk in one drawer below, and sauces, condiments etc in the other drawer. And the drawer which is labeled 'Meat' is used for cheese in my house.
For things that will expire, use a marker and rewrite the date where you will see it. In fact, date pretty well everything in the fridge.
Like everyone else I have a condiment problem. Salad dressings, different hot sauces, etc. It's just my husband and I but it does seem to accumulate. About once a year I try to clean out but there is still a lot of this stuff. I try to use some plastic baskets to corral these things. It's something that can be pulled out like a drawer and you get all the salad dressings in one fell swoop. Or all the hamburger/hotdog/sandwich condiments at one time. But I'm going to have to find a little bit bigger basket since I'm overflowing and that defeats the purpose.
Aunt Cloud - after moving several times (most recently in December) I know how you feel about eating things before moving. My challenge is not so much EDF as EDP (pantry).
I need to do something with the almond meal I bought ages ago. The original plan was to make orange and almond cake but I want a recipe that doesn't use eggs / eggs can be substituted with "No Egg" or equivalent and for preference doesn't require boiling something like 6 whole oranges!
The only other thing that I do with almond meal doesn't use lots; it's a big packet that won't fit in the Almond Meal container when it's opened without using lots to begin with.
You must log in to post. If you do not already have an account, you can register here.
