DENVER — As the holidays approach, many of us face the daunting task of preparing for festive meals — and making room in the fridge and freezer for everything. With a little planning and the right strategy, you can keep your kitchen organized and ready for whatever the season brings.
According to Paul Hope, home editor at Consumer Reports and a classically trained chef, the key to holiday food prep is getting ahead of the game.
"About a week or two before a big holiday meal, I like to go through the fridge, stop buying new groceries, and try to use up things I already have," Hope said. "It's also a good time to throw out anything that's expired or purge things you know you’re not going to use before the end of the year."
This simple step creates much-needed space, allowing you to efficiently store all your holiday meal ingredients and leftovers.
Organizing your fridge for maximum efficiency
Once you've cleared out the clutter, it's time to make room for the important items. Hope recommended strategic organization for a well-functioning fridge.
"On the top shelf, you want to keep raw, ready-to-eat foods — things like prepped salads or desserts," he said. "Anything you don’t want to come into contact with foods on the other shelves."
For dishes that are prepped and ready to be heated, the middle shelf is your best bet. Less perishable items, like cranberry sauce and relishes, can go on the side shelves or in the door. But when it comes to raw meats — whether it's turkey, ham or anything else — Hope stressed the importance of placing them on the bottom shelf. This helps prevent any drippings from contaminating other foods.
Tips for storing leftovers
After the big meal, don’t toss leftovers into the fridge willy-nilly. Hope suggested separating food into smaller portions to speed up the cooling process and help preserve freshness.
"To keep things airtight and fresh, use products dedicated to that, like freezer bags," he said.
If you don't plan to eat the leftovers within three to four days, don’t hesitate to freeze them.
"Freezing is your friend," Hope said. It ensures your meals stay fresh long after the holiday rush is over.
Need more space in a pinch? Hope also suggested using coolers as a temporary solution for last-minute storage. Depending on the temperature, coolers can be used to store perishable foods or beverages, giving you extra room in your fridge.
With these simple tips, you'll be able to efficiently manage your kitchen and enjoy stress-free holiday cooking and storing. As Hope puts it, "A little planning ahead goes a long way in making the holidays smoother."
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