Refrigerator space

[annavon]

Any one have refrigerator space issues? I feel silly, after I live alone and I have a large fridge. However, I constantly feel like I can't find things because the veggies take up too much room. I also store my nuts in the fridge because I live in a hot climate and they go rancid quickly. I make it work for just me, but when I have company or am preparing something to take to a pot luck, I have to take the nuts out.

I am considering buying a second refrigerator to take some of the burden, but it seems wasteful to use the electricty for it.

Any thoughts?

[Veganforlife]

Are you kidding me? I sure do! I've taken out a couple shelves. I also gave my dtr. my stove and purchased a freezer for nuts, dates, seeds, dishes I've prepared, juices, etc.

[margoss]

I do too!! I've started using the 'green bowls' vs the bags..maybe I should take out a shelf, never thought of that. the bowls help it stay a little better. I have a side by side, do not like it. I've started keeping the herbs in one of the green bowls(not debbie myers), they've lasted longer than 2 days:). I would love to have an industrial fridge. They sell them at Sears. It's about the size a of regular stand up freezer only a solid fridge!

[Thick]

I keep all of my counter vegetables on shelves in my pantry. Things like citrus, tomatoes, avocadoes, pineapple, melons, onions, plums, apples, mangoes etc..

[Thick]

Also, I try not to buy everything in the store I want, just the things I'm craving that week if you know what i mean. With a tentitive plan for what I'll be making and eating, I buy less and waste less, too.

[annavon]

I keep all of my counter vegetables on shelves in my pantry. Things like citrus, tomatoes, avocadoes, pineapple, melons, onions, plums, apples, mangoes etc..

Unfortunatly due to the heat, I can't keep anything out on the counter except unripe avocados.

Buying less is definatly one option. Also, I think I might store some of my nuts in the freezer instead.

[revdrcyn]

I am ashamed to admit I have a second fridge in the garage -- not good for the State of California, but good for my health. I struggle to keep my husband's SAD food away from my healthy food :(, so there is no way I can get by with just one.

Believe it or not, last week I thought about adding a third fridge, but that is just absurd. It was my first 100% raw week, and I bought tons of food for fear of starving to death! Now that I know that won't happen, I can buy a little less.

Also, I have decided to shop twice a week instead of just once, thereby decreasing the need for space and keeping foods in circulation (as in Fridge to Mouth LOL).

[commoncents]

This has been an issue since I became RAW.

If I keep my condo, I plan to remove the stove and microwave and get a bigger frig. But then I won't have enough cupboard space. I think I need a bigger kitchen altogether.

[a1icia]

I definitely feel like a need a bigger refrigerator. It's just me and my husband but all this produce takes up a lot of counter and fridge space.



Also, I have decided to shop twice a week instead of just once, thereby decreasing the need for space and keeping foods in circulation (as in Fridge to Mouth LOL).

I think I need to do this as well. After my day at the farmers market, my fridge is bulging. No room for anything. I would love to get another one but it does seem wasteful.


This has been an issue since I became RAW.

If I keep my condo, I plan to remove the stove and microwave and get a bigger frig. But then I won't have enough cupboard space. I think I need a bigger kitchen altogether.

I keep telling my husband we may have to move in order to make more room for all this produce!

[xPIXIEx]

I keep telling my husband we may have to move in order to make more room for all this produce!

Lol! I'm so glad I'm not alone. Just a few days ago, I told my husband I might need 2 fridges. Then I told him when we move then I WILL be buying a fridge and it will be HUGE! (our apartment has the oldest model...I swear. It's sooo tiny)

We can't leave anything at all out because of damn fruit flies. Those are the most annoying things ever! I've been working on organizing it so there's more room, but there is so much to shove in there that it gets hard.

[margoss]

For those that have a seperate freezer, consider getting one of the industrial fridges from Sears vs 2 fridges. here's a link
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10153_12605?vName=Appliances&keyword=freezerless+refrigerator&sLevel=0&relatedwords=mini+fridge%7Cfrigidaire%7Cfridge

I can't keep in on the counter either but I don't like cold fruit.

[solarliving]

I'm always having to re-organize the fridge so I know what I have. All my nuts and seeds are in mason jars in the fridge and I have produce in rectangle containers. Definately helps them last longer. We also bought an additional freezer so we could stock up on fruit, especially when it is in season and more affordable. It would be nice to have one of those
walk-in's : )

[DebB]

For those that have a seperate freezer, consider getting one of the industrial fridges from Sears vs 2 fridges. here's a link
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10153_12605?vName=Appliances&keyword=freezerless+refrigerator&sLevel=0&relatedwords=mini+fridge%7Cfrigidaire%7Cfridge

I can't keep in on the counter either but I don't like cold fruit.

Wow Margo - I didn't know there was a freezerless fridge! I would love having that... *Ü*

[RawKnitster]

We have an extra fridge in the basement that used to be my husband's beer fridge. He has slowly been pushed out. Now it is the veggie fridge. I still let him have one drawer to keep his beverages in. :p

Same thing happened in our pantry cupboard. I have gradually taken it over, one shelf at a time.

[juliebove]

Yes! Although things have gotten some better since husband moved away. He was transferred to CA for his remaining 3 years in the military. He'll be back for a week about every three weeks so that will present another problem. Anyway...

My daughter has her own little fridge. I bought it for her when she was first diagnosed with food allergies. Her dad and my parents seemed unsure of her food allergies and at that time she wasn't really old enough to read labels and such. They all knew anything in it was safe for her. She no longer needs it for that reason. She's 11 now. But it does help in terms of space.

What I used to have that I really liked was a little counter top fridge made just for fruits and vegetables. Sort of like an electric fruit bowl. It kept the produce cooler than if just sitting on the counter, but not as cold as the fridge and supposedly at the correct humidity.

I had that for about 2 years and it was just perfect! But then the motor went and they no longer make them. I have tried something since that purported to be somewhat similar, but then I found it is really more for bakery breads and oddly, marinating meats but in the fridge! It didn't seem to work at all for fruit and if anything made it rot faster.

I really wish I had room for another big fridge but I don't. My parents have a second one downstairs and it's just the two of them. My MIL had a second one in her basement when she had the larger house. My SIL had a second one in the basement too. I think it's a pretty common thing for people to have.

[klomasius]

Me too!

I think most rawbies have this issue. Especially with greens taking up lots of space.

sigh.....

[zinny]

If I didn't juice so much, it might not be a problem...but man I go through a lot of produce! I have one main shop each week from the organic co-op (which I can only pick up once a week)--I so wish that they were open twice per week instead! I go from totally full fridge to totally empty by the end of the week.

[Dimond]

Unfortunately I have a very small fridge to begin with. It can be hard to fit everything at times. Living in a hot climate, I have to keep practically all food items there to keep the food fresh and prevent bugs. I definitely store things in the freezer too. If there were other people to feed, this would definitely be more of an issue. Still happily raw though. :)

[MiahTay]

Margo - in our home that we are going to build (if we ever sell the one we are living in) our intention is to do a stand alone refrig and a stand alone freezer side by side. Just like the picture on the sears link you posted. Some day ...

Blessings,
Heather

[gritsnla]

Thanks for the Sears link...boy, would I love the one with the glass door!

[iluvmangos]

We have two refrigerators. It's a necessity in our house.

[cara4art]

"I do too!! I've started using the 'green bowls' vs the bags.." - margoss

Where do you get the "green bowls"? I've seen the green bags at stores, but not these - thanks!
I hear about the refrigerator space! It seems that most refrigerators are not designed with truly health-conscious or raw foodists in mind, as the crisper drawer is just one draw(or maybe two side by side)at the very bottom of the refrigerator, and then all these shelves for SAD foods. Would like to see a refrigerator with more than one level of crisper drawer myself. You have no idea how STUFFED my crisper drawer is with my greens, and some have to be on the regular shelves which is less than ideal, even though they get eaten up soon - LOL! Hey maybe this is a green niche for appliance designers - a whole different kind of refrigerator!

[margoss]

I buy them at Big-lots. I think they're called 'ever fresh'. They were out b4 DM.

[cara4art]

"I buy them at Big-lots. I think they're called 'ever fresh'. They were out b4 DM. " - margoss

Thanks! One more question, what's DM stand for?

[margoss]

what's DM stand for?[/QUOTE]
Debbie Meyers