It’s the focal point of kitchens around the world.
But it turns out that you’ve probably been organising your fridge wrong.
Experts from Which? have revealed the correct spot for every single item in your fridge, including raw meat, leftovers, and condiments.
What’s more, they’ve finally settled the debate on where ketchup belongs in your kitchen.
Aside from making your fridge aesthetically pleasing, the layout can ensure you don’t fall victim to food poisoning.
‘Your fridge and the way you’re using it could mean your food is going off more quickly than you’d like,’ Which? said.
‘In the worst cases, it could even lead to you getting ill.
‘But it’s about much more than simply twiddling your thermostat.’
Here’s how you should organise your fridge, according to the experts.
Experts from Which? have revealed the correct spot for every single item in your fridge, including raw meat, leftovers, and condiments
How to organise your fridge
You might be tempted to chuck your food in the fridge wherever there’s space.
However, Which? advises paying more attention to where you’re putting certain items.
‘No matter how accurate your thermostat is, the temperature in your fridge will still vary between shelves,’ it explained.
‘It’s best to think of your thermostat temperature as an average for the fridge because, as a general rule, the higher the shelf, the higher the temperature will be.’
Cured meats, leftovers, cream cakes, or any other items that don’t need to be cooked before being eaten should be stored on the top shelf, according to Which?.
The middle shelf should be used to store dairy products including cheese, butter, and yoghurt, as well as eggs.
While many of us keep our milk in the fridge door, scientists also advise keeping this on the middle shelf.
While many of us keep our milk in the fridge door, scientists also advise keeping this on the middle shelf
Dr Christian Reynolds from City, University of London, previously told MailOnline: ‘Milk is a perishable commodity so where you store it and the temperature you store it at in the fridge affects its shelf life.
‘It’s not just milk either – think about cheese, meat and all dairy products. Storing it the right way gets you better bang for your buck.’
The bottom shelf should be used for raw meat, poultry and seafood.
‘Raw meat, poultry and seafood should be stored in sealed containers, so they can’t touch or drip onto other food,’ Which? said.
Meanwhile, the drawers should be used for fruits and vegetables – although not together.
‘You shouldn’t store fruit in a drawer that doesn’t have a switch or contains vegetables,’ Which? explained.
‘It’s likely to produce ethylene, a natural gas that can over-ripen other fresh food when trapped in a confined space.’
Finally, the door rack – the warmest spot in the fridge should be used for certain condiments.
The consumer champion advises keeping bread, cucumbers, and tomatoes in the cupboard. Meanwhile, several condiments – including ketchup – don’t need to go in the fridge
This includes maple syrup, mayonnaise, pesto, salad cream, and tartare sauce.
‘The presence of natural preservatives, such as vinegar, in many condiments means they don’t need to be kept in the much cooler parts of the fridge,’ Which? added.
Surprising foods that don’t need to go in the fridge
Which? highlights several foods that many of us tend to put in the fridge, but are actually better placed in the kitchen cupboard.
‘There are a number of foods that are typically stored in the fridge that can actually quickly lose flavour and freshness as a result,’ it explained.
‘Others can become outright unsafe if stored in cold conditions.’
The consumer champion advises keeping bread, cucumbers, and tomatoes in the cupboard.
Meanwhile, several condiments – including ketchup – don’t need to go in the fridge.
In order to keep your food fresher for longer, Which? says that it’s crucial to keep your fridge between 0°C and 5°C
‘It’s not essential to keep ketchup in the fridge,’ Which? said.
‘Not only does it contain vinegar, but tomatoes are naturally acidic, and this helps to preserve the product in ambient (room temperature) conditions.’
Other condiments that are safe to keep in the cupboard include brown sauce, mustard, mint sauce, pickles, mango chutney, and chilli sauce.
What temperature should you keep your fridge at?
In order to keep your food fresher for longer, Which? says that it’s crucial to keep your fridge between 0°C and 5°C.
If your fridge gets too hot, it can allow germs to grow on your food.
‘At anything over 8°C, most harmful bacteria can grow rapidly on your food – it’s commonly referred to as the danger zone for microbial growth,’ Which? added.
‘The faster your fridge gets down to within that 0°C-5°C temperature range, and the longer it’s able to stay there, is key to maximising the amount of nutrients in your food.’