Household hints

Freshen up your home with our handy tips and tricks

Tips to organise your fridge and washing-up buys, plus tried and tested food steamers

HOW TO... organise your fridge

It may be hidden behind a closed door, but a well-organised fridge can make cooking a whole lot easier. It’s not only aesthetically pleasing, but it also helps to prevent the spread of unhealthy bacteria and minimises food waste. Here are our top tips to help you keep your fridge in order going forward…

• Start by taking everything out. Fridges can easily become overcrowded, so dispose of anything you’re not going to eat and all of those jars that have been lurking on the shelves for far too long. A decluttered fridge will also help to improve energy efficiency.

• Reserve the bottom drawers for your veggies, salads and any fruit you want to keep in the fridge. As the coolest part, it’ll keep your food fresher for longer and protect it from unwanted smells.

• Raw meat and fish should always be stored on the lowest shelf, where it can’t leak onto any other foods. Place cooked and ready-to-eat items on the top shelf so that there’s no chance of contamination. In the middle shelves, where the air is able to circulate well and keep the temperature regulated, store dairy items like milk, cheese and yogurt.

• As the door shelves are most susceptible to temperature changes, it’s best to store foods that contain natural preservatives here, like jams, condiments, juices and preserves.

• For the ultimate organised fridge, invest in reusable containers and jars that you can decant your everyday staples into or use for leftovers. As they’re airtight, Kilner jars are perfect for berries, preventing them from going mushy too soon!