fridge

8 Recipes That'll Clean Out the Fridge

Marla Walters — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 08:30:14 +0000

"Mom, there's nothing to eat!"

Ah, the cry of the hungry child. But there is plenty of food in the fridge, even if it looks like a collection of mismatched ingredients. Maybe instead of hitting the grocery store, you need to get into frugal mode and whip up something delicious and easy with those leftovers. Handy items to have around that can bring any assortment of ingredients together are whole-wheat tortillas, spring roll (rice paper) wrappers, biscuits, panko (Japanese breadcrumbs), and eggs. Here are eight easy meals that'll clean out the fridge. (See also: 10 Cheap and Easy Meals That Make Even Better Leftovers)

1. Fried rice patties

Got fried rice? Make crispy fritters. Stir an egg or two (start with one, and see if that is enough to bind the rice). Add some chopped onion, a tablespoon or two of panko breadcrumbs, and a little garlic. Heat up some oil, add the patties, and fry on each side until crispy. This will be delicious with a fried egg on top or some peanut sauce.

2. Fried chicken salad

Lucky you, if you have fried chicken leftovers. Dice the chicken up, toss it onto a bed of lettuce with tomatoes and cucumbers, and pour over some buttermilk salad dressing. It's such a good salad, you may find that you prefer the leftovers to the original dinner. (See also: 9 Ways to Use Up Leftover Buttermilk)

3. Roasted veggies and quinoa

Toss together your remaining quinoa with any other veggies in your fridge — leftover roasted vegetables are great, or sauteed mushrooms — and toss with a lemony vinaigrette. Top with some nuts and you will have a delicious power bowl ready to take to work.

4. Cheesy baked potatoes

Leftover baked potatoes are so versatile that I just bake extras on purpose. Slice cold potatoes in half and scoop out the center. Mix the potato with any leftover vegetables. If you have any frozen broccoli or spinach, use them up! Add some cheese and heat in the microwave. (See also: 11 Meals That Make Terrific Leftovers)

5. Rotisserie chicken lettuce wraps

Costco has wonderfully low-priced rotisserie chickens, and at $5 a chicken, these are pretty much a constant in our refrigerator. Use any chicken you have left over in these delicious lettuce wraps.

7. Stuffed biscuits

Refrigerated biscuits are so versatile that I keep a can of the Pillsbury rolls around at all times. You can put pretty much anything in a flattened biscuit, fold it in half, and bake. I especially like leftover sausages, tomato sauce, peppers, and mozzarella.

8. Tamale pie

Bet you have some Jiffy cornbread mix in your pantry. It's all of 59 cents, so you should. Put your leftover chili into a casserole dish. Prepare cornbread as directed and spread over the top. Add some grated cheddar cheese. Bake at 400 F for 20 minutes and you have a sort-of tamale pie.

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This article is from Marla Walters of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Dried Fruit, Paint Brushes, and 8 Other Things You Should Keep in the Fridge

Marla Walters — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 08:30:24 +0000

Did you know your chill box is good for keeping a variety of things other than the standard perishables? Here are 10 things that will benefit from being added to your fridge.

1. Paint rollers or brushes

Not quite done painting? There's no need to clean everything just yet. Wrap up those rollers or paint brushes in aluminum foil or a wet towel and pop them into the refrigerator. The next day, take them out, and resume painting without missing a beat.

2. Medications

We keep our Pepto-Bismol in the refrigerator. Somehow, the chilled sensation makes it easier to get down. And there are several other medications that should kept be in the fridge, too, as the label should indicate.

3. Bulbs

Like the look of potted bulbs like daffodils, hyacinths, and crocus? A pot on your desk will remind you that spring is just around the corner. Hopefully. Chilling the bulbs breaks their normal cycle, allowing the plant to bloom earlier.

4. Washcloths

If you've got a sick kid, or it's just a sticky, hot day, dampen a washcloth, pop it into a plastic bag, and tuck it into your refrigerator. It'll feel really wonderful when you take it out.

5. Dried fruit

Wait... it's dried, right? So shouldn't it last a while without being chilled? Yes. However, as it turns out, refrigerating it will make it last even longer. Just make sure it's in a sealed container. You might find out you like the flavors of some fruits even better when chilled.

6. Polymer clay

Polymer clay is fun for making all sorts of stuff (like this gorgeous faux sea glass), but it should be stored in a cool place lest it decomposes. Heat is not its friend. Just make sure it's wrapped up well and marked.

7. Dishes for cold meals

Keeping some bowls in the fridge for ice cream, or small plates for salad and other cold meals, is ideal. The food will taste fresher, longer. (Beer mugs in the freezer will always serve you well, too.)

8. Fresh Flowers

Keep cut flowers in the fridge until you are ready to arrange them. Blooms will stay prettier and last longer.

9. Nuts

Ever pulled nuts out of your pantry and found that they taste awful? That flavor is called "rancid," folks, and that's what happens when nuts go bad. Nuts contain oils, so they're best off kept tightly sealed in your refrigerator for up to six months, or in the freezer for up to a year.

10. Eye masks

Suppose you stayed home with a cold, and then you watched "The Notebook." Now you have really puffy eyes. No problem, just pull your chilled eye mask out of the refrigerator and get the swelling down.

But make sure it's actually cold enough

How cold is your refrigerator? For food safety, it should be between 32 and 40 F. If you don't already have one, invest in a refrigerator thermometer.

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This article is from Marla Walters of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Food Going Bad Quickly? Here's How to Fix It

Amanda Meadows — Fri, 15 May 2015 11:00:16 +0000

Ever remember that you have delicious leftovers or fresh veggies in the fridge, only to discover rolling hills of mold covering their surface? It's the worst and it's time to learn how to prevent rapid food spoilage. Keeping food fresh for longer saves money — and it's easy.

1. Store Fresh Produce Correctly

Do you place different types of produce in different areas of the kitchen, or do you shove everything in the crisper drawer? Here's how to store them best.

Greens

These go in your vegetable crisper. Be sure to keep them at the top, never stacking heavy veggies on top of lettuces and baby greens.

Vegetables

Remove rubber bands and twist ties. Be sure to trim leafy ends and wash the veggies. Place in a clean bag with air holes punctured for air flow. Give them a space in the crisper or the bottom shelf of your fridge.

Fruit

Do not store fruit and vegetables together — a gas called ethylene accumulates, attracting bacteria too quickly. Stone fruits, apples, pears, and melons should all be left to ripen on the countertop. Oranges and all citrus, bell peppers, and most berries should be refrigerated immediately. And because bananas ripen fastest, place them near any other fruit you'd like to ripen faster, such as apples or pears.

Roots

Basic roots like onions, potatoes, beets, and turnips should stay outside in their own basket. Once they have been cut, store them in a Tupperware in the fridge.

2. Store Leftovers Immediately

Do you normally let dinner cool on the stove after eating? That actually allows bacteria to accumulate faster, giving it a head start before entering the colder, less hospitable fridge environment. For best results, store food while it's still piping hot. Build time into dinner prep to immediately pour a portion of leftover food into storage containers and throw into the fridge.

3. Use Natural Preservatives

There's no need to go out and buy antimicrobials and antifungal chemical preservatives unless you are cooking for large groups. For home cooking, here are a few simple ways to keep food from spoiling without resorting to pickling everything:

Brining (or Salting)

Have a whole bird or large cut of meat and worried you might not get to it in time? Freezing is only good if you have the right containers to prevent freezer burn. Try brining your meat by coating it in salt. This pulls water from bacterial cells, killing the bacteria which cannot live without moisture.

Sugaring

Similar to brining, sugaring also pulls moisture from bacterial cells, making food safer to eat for a very long time. This is great for fruits, making delicious snacks out of fruit you may not have had enough time to eat fresh.

Citric Acid

Lemon and lime juice are a godsend for fruits and vegetables that have already been cut and are vulnerable to browning or spoiling. From guacamole to pre-made salads, use plenty of lemon or lime juice that not only adds vitamin C and brightness to your food, but also stalls the spoiling process for a day or two.

4. Sweep the Refrigerator

It's smart to take stock of the fridge once a week and clean it out. Here what to look for.

Other Rotten Food

If there is anything rotting in your fridge, get rid of it immediately. The gases coming from those bacteria flourishing in nearby rotting foods could be spoiling your fresh food by proxy.

Cleaning

For the same reasons as above, random condiment smears, beverage spills, and other grime attracts bacteria and fungus along the surfaces inside your refrigerator. Be sure to clean any food residue from the surfaces regularly.

Temperature

Be sure that your fridge is cold enough to prevent fast bacteria growth, but not so cold that it freezes fresh food (which can ruin most fresh produce by the time you want to eat it).

5. Sterilize the Tupperware Regularly

One of the easiest things you can do is also one of the easiest things to forget: keeping Tupperware clean. If things get really bad, sterilize containers by soaking them in boiling water for at least 10 minutes.

Are you still bothering with flimsy plastic containers? It can be difficult to remove mold spores from plastic, so invest in some more durable and less porous glass containers. They are not only easier to clean, but are safer to store food for much longer than their plastic counterparts.

How do you keep your food fresh for longer?

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This article is from Amanda Meadows of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Here's How You Maximize Fridge and Freezer Space

Ashley Marcin — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 09:00:13 +0000

Is your freezer a mess? Do you frequently find old food rotting in the back of your fridge? I used to lose so much money this way. Now I take time to regularly clean and organize my refrigerator and freezer spaces, and it has made a huge difference. Even a few simple hacks are helpful here. (See also: Schedule Regular Fridge Cleanings to Avoid Food Waste)

So, check out these handy tips to get your foods onto the table with less mess, confusion, and — most important — waste.

Clear Out

Before you begin any project, it's good to clear out the old so you can start fresh. Take a good half hour (depending on your level of crazy) and take everything out of your fridge and freezer. Trash what's rotting, examine what's expired, and keep the rest. This occasion is also a great opportunity to spray some homemade cleaner in there and wipe all the crud and grime away. If you don't like how your refrigerator is configured, most shelves are moveable, so try a few layouts before putting your food back in.

Create Zones

The next step: Create zones for all your stuff to live in. There's no right or wrong way to divide, however — temperature and humidity does vary in the box, making ideal environments for some foods versus others. This organization guide helps to identify the areas that work best for all your foods. For example, eggs do well on the middle shelf where temperature tends to be most consistent. Fruit, on the other hand, thrives in a low humidity drawer, whereas you'll want to keep veggies in higher humidity. And condiments — which have more preservatives — can happily hang out in the door. (See also: Fridge or Counter? Where to Store Fruit for Best Flavor)

Contain It

Whole foods and leftovers can certainly get lost without visibility. So, just as you'd box your belongings in other areas of your home, consider bringing some clean bins into the mix. The before and after shots of this refrigerator are jaw-dropping. Corralling snacks into one spot keeps them from migrating to the back of the refrigerator where they'll likely expire before use. And think outside the box here. I've seen friends use lazy susans or even magazine holders as unique shelving options. These same tips work in the freezer, too.

Freeze Flat

If you do any bulk or assembly cooking, space is at a premium in your freezer. Even if you have a dedicated chiller, like I do, you can get much more out of your investment by freezing foods flat whenever possible. Of course, you can't do this with absolutely all foods, but soups and stews, pre-cut fruits and veggies, sauces, meats, and even some baked goods can be placed in zip freezer bags and flattened. You can even freeze smoothies, soups, and other liquid items in ice cube trays and then transfer to flat bags. Try to remove as much air as possible to create even more space (and avoid dreaded freezer burn).

Label It

From there, you might notice that many foods become almost unrecognizable once frozen. And, though you think you'll remember what's what, that's rarely the case. Keep a Sharpie marker on your fridge or in your junk drawer and immediately label anything that goes in with the name of the dish and the date it was made. Otherwise, try to stick with clear storage containers versus opaque for quick identification of, say, applesauce from chili. It's a simple trick, but it cuts down significantly on time and guesswork.

Section Out

If you have a chest freezer — great! But I know how tricky it can be to organize. This blogger built DIY dividers to section off space for different items using plywood. If you don't have a jigsaw at home, you could take all the measurements and ask your local hardware store to make the cuts for you (usually at a small price). If you're not into that idea, consider buying a few larger plastic bins to put your flat bags into and dividing them into broad categories like breakfast, lunch, and dinner or soups, desserts, and whole ingredients. Then stack the bins on top of one another. You get the idea.

Make Lists

Once all your food is happily organized, it helps to make a list of what's there to aid with meal planning each week. That way, if something does disappear from the inventory, you'll still know it's worth digging out. I also write the date it was purchased (with produce), the date it expires (with packaged foods), or the date it was packaged (with frozen foods) and try to list in order of what spoils first. You can keep a spreadsheet if you're more computer-oriented. A small dry erase board works well in my household. Always consult these lists before bringing more food into the house.

How organized (or disorganized) is your fridge or freezer? What's your system? Please share in comments!

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This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

12 Surprising Things You Should Keep in Your Fridge

Paul Michael — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 17:00:04 +0000

What do you keep in your fridge? If you're like most people in America, you store milk, eggs, meats, cheeses, soft drinks, juices, and a whole bunch of fruit and vegetables. In short, the fridge is for food, right? Well, not always. (See also: Fridge or Counter? Where to Store Fruit for Best Flavor)

Turns out there are lots of things better served cold, like these 12 surprising items you should consider keeping in your fridge.

1. Candles

You can extend the burning life of taper candles by storing them in your refrigerator. Place them in something that will stop them absorbing moisture, such as zip-lock bags, foil, or cling wrap. Then when the time comes to use them, you'll get more bright for your buck.

2. Rechargeable Batteries

When you're not using batteries, don't keep them in the junk drawer or garage cabinet. Instead, pop them in the fridge; batteries can be preserved by keeping them cold. You can extend them by minutes or hours, and can get some seemingly dead batteries to come back to life. The freezer works well for this, too.

3. Whole Wheat Flour

That's not a mistake. The wheat germ in whole-wheat flour has a short shelf life, and can go off pretty quickly. You should keep your whole-wheat flour in the fridge, but make sure you put it in an airtight container. Flour acts like sponge for other odors and flavors, and anything strong (like onion) can taint the whole batch. Nobody wants a bunch of onion flavored cupcakes.

4. Metal Spoons

Why would you want access to a cold spoon? This is a tip from people who work in the beauty profession. If you wake up with bags under your eyes, pressing the back of a cold metal spoon against them can take away the puffiness and swelling. This is, however, only a temporary solution. It also works with slices of cold cucumber, but the great thing about spoons is that they never go bad.

5. Skin Cream and Sunscreen

If you don't like the idea of pressing icy-cold metal to your face, store your skin cream in the fridge instead. Keeping it nice and cold will have a similar effect to the cold spoons, and it's also a soothing thing to put on in the hot weather. This goes double for sunscreen on hot days.

6. Nail Polish

Celebrity manicurist (yes, there is such a profession) Kait Mosh says that heat and light are the enemies of nail polish, and will thicken it up over time. As the father of two young girls, I can't tell you how many times I've tried applying goopy nail polish, with awful results. To stop this happening, keep your nail polish in the fridge. It will prolong the life and keep it flowing freely.

7. Bowls and Plates

If you're a fan of ice cream (and who isn't?) or other cold foods, it doesn't hurt to devote a section of your fridge to a few plates and bowls. They stack nicely, and when it comes time for a helping of ice cream, the cold bowl stops it from melting as quickly. It's also good for any other foods that will benefit from staying colder, longer.

8. Olive Oil

You may not realize it, but olive oil is delicate. Many experts agree that the best way to store olive oil is in the same conditions as wine — roughly 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, very few of us have a wine cellar or wine fridge, so the next best things is a spot in the regular fridge. (Note: High-end or premium extra-virgin olive oils should not get the same treatment, as it interferes with the flavor and aroma.)

9. Camera Film

Does anyone still use traditional camera film any more? Yes, they do. Like vinyl, it's starting to make a comeback. There are certain effects people want from traditional film that are difficult to fake in the digital world. However, it's a lot more difficult to get hold of camera film these days, and it's more expensive. So make sure it produces the best results by keeping your camera film in the fridge. It won't extend the shelf life though.

10. Nuts

You can double the shelf life of nuts by keeping them in the fridge. A tub of them in the pantry will last three months, but that can be extended to six months in your fridge. You can also freeze them and extend their life to over a year. Just like flour, remember to keep them in air-tight containers as they will absorb odors from strong-smelling foods.

11. Flower Bulbs

Professional gardeners can chime in on this one, but many people store tulip bulbs in the fridge for 12-16 weeks as a method of "forcing" them to send up shoots:

You can chill the bulbs in the old-fashioned way by potting them up and placing the pots in cold storage (40 to 45 F). An easier method, especially if space is limited, is to place the bulbs themselves in the fridge for the big chill, then planting in pots.

12. Dead Birds

How could I not include this one? Of course, don't expect to get your money back from the magic store. You have to admit, it's the most surprising item on the list!

What do you keep in your fridge, other than the obvious items? Let us know.

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: Fifteen Ways to Make Money to Fill Your Fridge

Ashley Jacobs — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 09:00:20 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some fantastic articles on ways to make money to fill your fridge, bills you can cut from your budget, and things to bring to a job interview.

Save your Lunchmeat: Insurance for your Fridge

Linsey Knerl — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:39:41 +0000

I stumbled into the kitchen during the early morning hours last week to find my fridge door slightly open. Confused as to how it got that way, I opened it further and was met by a draft of hot air and a slight sour smell. I immediately noticed the stalk of celery that had found its way into the gasket of the fridge door, and knew that it was all over. The $200 of groceries that I had just bought the afternoon before had spoiled, and it all could have been prevented!

We often protect our computers, TV’s, and sound systems with special power strips to protect against power surges. Most families I know go the extra mile to stain-protect their living room furniture against stains. Have you really stopped to consider investing in protection for the food in your fridge?

If you haven’t, now is the time to do so. While there isn’t much you can do if a storm knocks out power to your fridge, you can insure yourself against the condiment bottle that keeps your fridge door from shutting completely. Renter’s insurance will not cover such things usually, and would you really want to file a claim for the 8 pounds of sale hamburger you just purchased?

After having this type of thing happen to me TWICE in the past month, I decided to look into options for food loss-prevention. The first thing I did was disable the light bulb in my fridge. Aware that the heat coming from the 25 watt bulb was a major contributor to the rapid spoilage the night before, I just put a piece of electrical tape over the button that turns it on when the door is opened. Now if the door happens to stay lodged open somehow, there will be more time to notice before something goes bad. (You don’t really need your fridge light anyway. If you’re snacking after 8 p.m., you are probably doing yourself an injustice – If you work the night shift, just ignore me.)

The second thing I did was to buy a fridge alarm. Available in many styles, this simple thermometer attaches to the fridge wall and constantly monitors the temperature. As soon as the fridge wall drops below a safe level, an alarm will go off. Hopefully I will be home to hear it, and I can find out what the problem is before my food reaches that same temperature! The cheapest model I found is also the one I use. (You can also use this in your freezer for similar purposes.)

If you have children in your home, a fridge lock or safety clasp is also a very good idea. I have a feeling that some of the problems were caused by unsanctioned juice runs in the late evening. Not only do you not want your 3-year-old getting into your prized Havarti, but there is also a greater chance of them not getting everything put in place for the door to completely shut.

Even if you are a bachelor with little more than a box of baking soda and a stale jar of pickles in your fridge, following one or all of the above tips is a good idea. The money you save in wasted electricity alone just might spot you a pack of baloney.

This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

fridge

8 Recipes That'll Clean Out the Fridge

1. Fried rice patties

2. Fried chicken salad

3. Roasted veggies and quinoa

4. Cheesy baked potatoes

5. Rotisserie chicken lettuce wraps

7. Stuffed biscuits

8. Tamale pie

Like this article? Pin it!

Dried Fruit, Paint Brushes, and 8 Other Things You Should Keep in the Fridge

1. Paint rollers or brushes

2. Medications

3. Bulbs

4. Washcloths

5. Dried fruit

6. Polymer clay

7. Dishes for cold meals

8. Fresh Flowers

9. Nuts

10. Eye masks

But make sure it's actually cold enough

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Food Going Bad Quickly? Here's How to Fix It

1. Store Fresh Produce Correctly

Greens

Vegetables

Fruit

Roots

2. Store Leftovers Immediately

3. Use Natural Preservatives

Brining (or Salting)

Sugaring

Citric Acid

4. Sweep the Refrigerator

Other Rotten Food

Cleaning

Temperature

5. Sterilize the Tupperware Regularly

Like this article? Pin it!

Here's How You Maximize Fridge and Freezer Space

Clear Out

Create Zones

Contain It

Freeze Flat

Label It

Section Out

Make Lists

Like this article? Pin it!

12 Surprising Things You Should Keep in Your Fridge

1. Candles

2. Rechargeable Batteries

3. Whole Wheat Flour

4. Metal Spoons

5. Skin Cream and Sunscreen

6. Nail Polish

7. Bowls and Plates

8. Olive Oil

9. Camera Film

10. Nuts

11. Flower Bulbs

12. Dead Birds

Like this article? Pin it!

Best Money Tips: Fifteen Ways to Make Money to Fill Your Fridge

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Save your Lunchmeat: Insurance for your Fridge