-
Truth in Advertising: A Novel
by: John Kenney • view -
Flight Behavior: A Novel
by: Barbara Kingsolver • view -
Rabbit, Run
by: John Updike • view -
The Happiness Project
by: Gretchen Rubin • view -
Mamas Bank Account
by: Kathryn Forbes • view -
If It's A Choice, My Zygote Chose Balls
by: Jeremy Hooper • view -
The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook
by: Deb Perelman • view -
Baked Elements: Our 10 Favorite Ingredients
by: Matt Lewis • view -
Home Vegetable Gardening
by: F.P. Rockwell • view -
Classic Zester
Microplane • view -
Hand Blender
Cuisinart • view -
Blade for 5-Quart KitchenAid Mixers
New Metro Design • view -
Cut Kit Tray
Hydrofarm • view -
Seedling Heat Mat
Hydrofarm • view -
Grow Light System
Hydrofarm • view
-
The History of US: A Novel
by: Leah Stewart • view -
The Hungry Ear: Poems of Food and Drink
by: Kevin Young • view -
A Prayer for Owen Meany
by: John Irving • view -
Edible Selby
by: Todd Selby • view -
Slaughterhouse: The Shocking Story of Greed, Neglect and Inhumane Treament..
by: Gail A. Eisnitz • view -
Twain's Feast: Searching for America's Lost Foods in the Footsteps of
by: Andrew Beahrs • view -
Meatless: More Than 200 of the Very Best Vegetarian Recipes
by: Martha Stewart Living • view -
Pure Vanilla: Irresistible Recipes and Essential Techniques
by: Shauna Sever • view -
American Beauty: Renovating and Decorating a Beloved Retreat
by: Thom Filicia • view -
Cookie Cutter Set
Wilton • view -
60-Ounce Utensil Crock
BIA Cordon Bleu • view -
Jumbo Spoon Rest
BIA Cordon Bleu • view -
Stainless Watering Can
Blomus • view -
Copper Watering Can
Master Craft • view -
Stainless Steel Pinwheel
Blomus • view
Refrigerator/Freezer Cleaning Tips
- posted in:
- Decor
- / Housekeeping Tips
Remember that huge harvest of raspberries three years ago? Or that Strawberry-Cumin-Chive Jelly you thought sounded interesting up until the first spoon full? How about those cheese cubes leftover from a party tray that you swore would make fabulous macaroni and cheese one cold winter day? That’s pretty much all they should be right now…a memory. But chances are you have a few “Ghosts of Bumper-Crops Past” lurking in your freezer, and jars of Condiment Remorse hiding behind the ketchup in your refrigerator door.
As children, we remember our mothers and grandmothers completely emptying out the refrigerator and freezer to let them “defrost.” Being forced to empty the contents of them twice a year was a great way to keep track of one’s inventory, and also gave one a chance to thoroughly clean the units. But since the advent of “Frost Free” refrigerators and freezers, there are no more mandatory deadlines for giving your refrigerator and freezer the once-over.
Martha Stewart recommends deep cleaning your refrigerator and freezer four times a year. We’re not that ambitious, but we never let a spill set unattended, try to give the shelves and drawers a good wipe-down at least three times a year, and schedule one big deep cleaning for our two freezers and refrigerator during the week between Christmas & New Years. What better way to start the New Year than with a clean refrigerator and no food past its due date? Plus, during the winter months, you can store your food outside during the cleaning to avoid any thawing or spoilage.
Watch the slide show for handy refrigerator/freezer cleaning tips. And in the comment section, tell us the one food item you know you’ve had in your fridge for too long, and vow to throw out today!
You may also like
-
The Sauce That Could Change Things
-
Leave ‘em Laughing
-
Krups Espresso Machine Giveaway!
-
We all could learn a lot from Omaha.
-
“Love Your Neighbor” Beekman 1802 Ghirardelli Chocolate Giveaway
-
Dirty Veggies
-
Reuse that Salad Container for …Salad.
-
The Future Home of Beekman 1802 Mercantile
-
A New Year
-
Walk After Snowstorm
Quite a lot of things are still fine long after the “best before” or even the “use by” date.Cheese, for example, often improves. Unopened cans and jars keep for ages..
Long ago I began to make a point of wiping down every item that’s returned to the fridge or the pantry every time it’s used. It’s so easy to overlook something that’s greasy or sticky, and end up with a mess. It takes a few seconds longer, but wiping down each item pays off in the long run. It’s become a habit for me, something I do without even thinking.
Oh by the way….does Martha ever have to clean her frig. Somehow I can’t picture that:)
Or digging in the garden, or feeding the chickens.
When I was at one of the “festivals” ” downtown” in beautiful Sharon Springs, one of the vendors had honey. That is where I learned that honey never spoils. You can keep it indefinitely. You don’t need a ” frig” . Be like Winnie the Pooh and just enjoy your honey! But if you like a variety of food you will have to take care…….but not for the honey! Think I will have a cup of cinnamon tea that I bought at the Black Cat and sweeten it with my honey……which I won’t have to check the expiration date! Stay warm and healthy during this very cold spell!
This chore has been on my to do list for a week or more. Going to use some of your helpful hints and promise to get it done this week! I’m kind of afraid to see what’s in there, in the dark corners behind the yogurts…. pray for me.
well, I finally gave up on my giant jar of capers that I bought from Costco 2 years ago!!! I must say, that your comments encouraged me to take on the difficult task of cleaning out our fridge!!! thank you : )
Creating a schedule is so true – it’s so easy to forget what the heck is in that freezer or fridge.
For me it’s jars of pickles – they come in at Christmas and stay the whole year invariably.
I do this for Passover too, sometimes I have to put the really large glass shelves in the tub.
Well, you shamed me into cleaning my freezer and refrig. There were some nasty things in there, including a dead earwig that must have crawled out of a bag of greens I cut in the garden this fall. Obviously, this was a job that was long overdue! Thank you for the inspiration!
I use the outdated peas and corn as cold packs for boo-boos and injured joints.
The hood of the Olds in Schoharie served as second fridge. Now we live in Florida and had to buy another fridge for the the overflow. Every holiday we have the “maybe we should move back” conversation.
I love the phrase ‘condiment remorse’…..I generally have three or four of those. I like to wipe down and throw out before each major grocery trip….outdated cheese is usually my biggest foe.
“Condiment remorse”! Perfect…
The moment I open a jar or package of something I write a new “expiry date” on it before putting it in the fridge or cupboard. I use the shelf life guidelines on STILLTASTY.COM. That way I don’t have to remember when I opened what or take chances with freshness.
Just finished the refrigeteator, throwing out the last bits of leftovers from Christmas (not much left) have to make room for all the new leftovers for New Years, Love you both, Happy New Year to all of Beekman 1802.
Why, oh why did you never do that when you were living at home
And I bet they don’t offer to come over and do that now, either! Ha ha. Happy New Year, Jackie, you raised a great kid, regardless.
You sure you guys don’t want to start a side business of cleaning other people’s fridges? It seems like you’d be very successful at it
But when I get back to my apartment, I’m pretty sure I’ll be going through and tossing a lot more items out. Especially old jars of stuff that I don’t remember the last time I used.
OK, everything is clean. Can we go out to play now??
I cleaned out my fridge before Christmas so I’d be ready for holiday entertaining, and was glad I did because way in back of a bottom shelf I found a bottle of champagne. (Now I’m set for New Years!) Your tips are great, so I’ll bookmark them for next time.
I love the idea of setting my frozen stuff outside while I clean the freezer! Thanks guys!
That plus taking a before photo were most helpful