Pantry & Fridge Organization

Purpose

Maintain organized, efficient food storage. Proper organization reduces food waste, saves money, and ensures you always know what's in stock.

Fridge Organization

Layout

Zone	What Goes Here
Top shelf	Leftovers, ready-to-eat foods, dips, hummus
Middle shelf	Dairy — milk, cheese, yogurt, labaneh
Bottom shelf	Raw meat/chicken — always below other items to prevent drips
Crisper drawers	Fruits in one, vegetables in the other
Door shelves	Condiments, sauces, juices, water

Ezra's Items

Keep Ezra's food together in a designated area. Label breastmilk/formula with date. First in, first out.

Weekly Fridge Maintenance (Before Shabbat Shopping)

1. Remove everything from one shelf at a time
2. Check expiration dates — toss anything expired
3. Identify items to use soon — plan meals around them
4. Wipe shelf with damp cloth
5. Return items grouped by category
6. Make shopping list based on what's low

Pantry Organization

Category Grouping

Section	Items
Grains & Pasta	Rice, couscous, pasta, quinoa, oats
Canned Goods	Tuna, beans, tomatoes, corn
Baking	Flour, sugar, baking powder, vanilla
Oils & Vinegar	Olive oil, vegetable oil, vinegar, tahini
Spices	Dedicated rack or container
Snacks	Crackers, bamba, nuts, dried fruit
Baby Food	Ezra's cereals, pouches, snacks
Beverages	Coffee, tea, juice boxes
Shabbat & Holiday	Candles, grape juice, challah covers

Principles

• Eye level: most-used items
• Upper shelves: less-used, bulk storage
• Lower shelves: heavy items (canned goods, bottles, rice/flour)
• FIFO: new items behind older ones
• Labels facing forward

Freezer Organization

Zone	Contents
Top / door	Ice, frozen veggies
Middle	Meat and chicken (labeled and dated)
Bottom	Bulk items, bread, challah for Shabbat

Label everything with contents and date frozen. Use within 3 months (6 for raw meat).

Food Waste Reduction

• Plan meals before shopping — buy only what you'll use
• Use leftovers within 3 days
• Freeze bread, challah, and meat if not using within 2 days
• Wilting vegetables → soup, stir-fry, or smoothie
• "Eat first" box in fridge for items expiring soon

Notes

Israeli Context: Cottage cheese (קוטג'), labaneh, hummus, and tahini are fridge staples — they go fast and should always be stocked. Bamba is a pantry essential with a toddler. Keep extra challah in the freezer for Shabbat backup.