Time to clean out that fridge!

When was the last time you cleaned out your refrigerator? Nobody enjoys this task, but without a routine schedule, your fridge can get nasty and it will be more difficult to keep track of expired products. Follow these easy steps once every 6 months to create a cleaner and healthier environment for your food:

1. Start by taking everything out of the freezer and loading it into a large cooler or two.
2. Using a bucket of warm water and mild dish detergent, clean the entire inside of the freezer, removing grates, shelves and bins, and thoroughly wiping them down.
3. One by one, take each item from the cooler(s) and make note of its expiration date and visual condition. Is it expired, freezer burned or molded? Throw out anything that fits these descriptions.
4. Load the rest back into the freezer by category. For example, one shelf or bin could be used specifically for meats and seafood.

As an added tip, use a Sharpie to label new frozen items with the date that they are put into the freezer to help keep track of expirations.
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Follow the same routine for the refrigerator, remembering that leftovers only survive about a week before they should be thrown out.