Organizing your fridge can be a puzzling task, especially when deciding what goes in refrigerator drawers. Knowing how to utilize crisper drawers properly is a common conundrum that many of us face. But fret not, because today we’re on a mission to demystify these special compartments of your fridge!

Learn What Goes in Refrigerator Drawers

Refrigerators are marvels of modern technology, and those drawers you see? They’re not just regular drawers – they’re specially designed to maintain the freshness and prolong the life of your produce.

What Exactly Are Refrigerator Crisper Drawers?

These compartments, often referred to as fresh produce drawers, are specifically calibrated sections of your fridge. Their primary purpose is to create an environment that’s conducive to preserving the freshness of certain foods, a mini-ecosystem if you will.

Mastering the Use of Refrigerator Drawers

The crux of this guide hinges on the ‘high humidity’ and ‘low humidity’ settings. But what do they mean?

• High Humidity Drawers: These drawers work best for foods that tend to lose moisture quickly. This is the realm of leafy greens, veggies like carrots, celery, and many herbs. These items can wilt or dry out rapidly. By placing them in a high humidity drawer, you’re ensuring they remain fresh and crisp longer.
• Low Humidity Drawers: Best suited for produce that needs a drier environment or tends to emit ethylene gas, which can speed up the ripening (and spoiling) of many fruits and vegetables. Examples include apples, pears, and berries. The low humidity allows these gases to escape, thereby preventing premature ripening or rotting of the contents.

And before you load up your high and low humidity drawers, make sure to follow our refrigerator cleaning tips!

Tailoring Humidity Levels to Your Needs

Adjustment mechanisms may vary between fridge models. However, most contemporary refrigerators provide a straightforward sliding mechanism or dial on the drawer. Sliding or turning it in one direction increases humidity and vice versa. If you’re feeling unsure, a quick glance at your refrigerator’s user manual should offer clarity.

What Should You Steer Clear of in Refrigerator Drawers?

Not all produce will benefit from the confines of these drawers. Items like avocados, peaches, and tomatoes should typically be allowed to ripen on your counter before considering refrigeration. And while bananas thrive in a tropical environment, the chilly confines of a fridge aren’t their friend.

Furthermore, always be wary of mixing certain fruits and veggies. Some, like apples, produce ethylene gas which can hasten the ripening of nearby vegetables, causing them to spoil more quickly.

Mastering Your Fridge Drawer Organization

Navigating the intricacies of fridge drawer organization can be daunting. To make things simpler:

• Start with Grouping: Keep similar items together. This can be by type (all leafy greens together) or by ripening stages.
• Weightier Items at the Bottom: Heavier items can crush delicate produce. Place heavier items, such as bags of grapes, at the bottom, and lighter items, like herbs or spinach, on top.
• Multipurpose Middle Drawer: If you’ve ever wondered, “what is the middle drawer for on a refrigerator?”, it’s often designed as a deli or multipurpose drawer. Great for cheeses, cold cuts, and more. They’re usually set at a slightly different temperature, perfect for those items that don’t quite belong with the regular produce but need special care.

Lastly, don’t forget the aesthetics and practicality of clear containers or bins. They can be a boon for visual clarity and hygiene.

Bonus Tip: Labels can be your best friend. If you’re storing leftovers or pre-cut fruits and veggies, labeling them with dates can help you track freshness.

And if, after all your best efforts, your refrigerator or its drawers give you a cold shoulder, remember the experts at Moore Appliance Service are just a call away for top-notch refrigerator and freezer repair.