With just over two weeks to go until Christmas, many Brits will be stocking up on festive foods, whether it’s delicious canapés, cheeses, or the turkey itself.
But it turns out you’ve probably been organising your fridge wrong.
Experts at Which? have revealed the correct position for every single festive item to avoid the dreaded ‘Christmas cram’.
According to Which?, Brussels sprouts are the only festive vegetables that need to be stored in the fridge, while parsnips, carrots, and potatoes will be fine in the pantry.
Your desserts will also need to go in different spots around the kitchen depending on their ingredients – with the star of the show, Christmas pudding, not needing refrigeration at all.
‘Whether you have a huge American–style fridge freezer or a small integrated one, the temperature in your fridge varies significantly from shelf to shelf,’ the consumer champion explained.
‘If you’re not careful about where you place certain items, your Christmas food could suffer.’
So, is your fridge in the optimal layout for the big day?
While your fridge should be kept between 0°C and 5°C, the temperature can vary significantly between shelves.
For this reason, it’s crucial you pack your fridge in a logical fashion.
‘It can be tempting to shove things in, especially if you’ve found them on offer, “just in case” you need them,’ Which? said.
‘But unless your neighbours turn up unexpectedly, you’ll likely be over–catering and causing problems in your cold appliances.
‘Packing things so full that food on one shelf is touching the shelf above can prevent cool air from circulating, which pushes up the temperature in parts of the appliance and invites heat–loving bacteria to contaminate your food.’
Fruit and veg drawers
Brussels sprouts are the only festive vegetables you really need to keep in the fruit and veg drawers, according to Which?.
‘These drawers have a slightly different climate and humidity from the rest of the fridge, so they’re definitely the best place for your sprouts,’ it explained.
Other vegetables – including parsnips and carrots – will be fine in the pantry.
Meanwhile, onions, garlic and potatoes should definitely not be stored in the fridge at all.
Bottom shelf
If you’re cooking a turkey this year, the bird should be stored on the bottom shelf, just above the fruit and veg drawers.
‘Unless you have a specially designed chiller drawer for meat and fish, which probably wouldn’t be big enough for a turkey anyway, the coldest part of your fridge will be the lowest shelf,’ Which? explained.
Middle shelves
Any meat and fish you can’t fit on the lowest shelf with the turkey should go on the next shelf up, according to Which?.
‘So that’s where you’ll want to keep your pigs in blankets and pork stuffing,’ it advised.
Meanwhile, the higher middle shelves are the best for sauces, pre–cooked foods, and condiments, such as bread sauce and cranberry sauce.
Top shelf
Your fridge is warmest on the top shelf and in the door rack, so Which? suggests ‘using that to your advantage’.
‘It’s the perfect place for dairy foods, such as cheese and butter, as they’re less perishable than meat and fish,’ it explained.
‘And it will take them less time to come up to room temperature if you want them to soften a bit before eating.’
The top shelf is also the best spot for cream–based desserts, including cream cakes or trifles.
‘You can leave Christmas puddings out of the fridge,’ Which? added.
What not to store in the fridge
To avoid the Christmas cram, you should keep some items out of the fridge entirely – including several fruits and vegetables.
Onions, potatoes, and garlic should always go in the pantry, while tomatoes, bananas and melons also don’t need to be refridgerated.
What’s more, baked items – including bread, Christmas cake, and mince pies – are fine to keep at room temperature.
‘If you’re really struggling for space, removing bulky bottles and canned drinks will free up a lot of room,’ Which? added.
‘If it’s chilly outside, you could even get away with storing drinks in a plastic bin or box in a safe place outside as they should stay fairly cold.’
