I had to chuckle when I spotted this holiday. We’re celebrating Clean Out Your Refrigerator on November 15th. Great idea before Thanksgiving! Can you guess who suggested this one? Whirlpool Home appliances created this National Holiday in 1999. They even had a toll-free number!
Then I started to think of refrigerators and owners I have known…
My Mom had a system once a week of ‘cleaning the refrigerator’. We never had leftovers. We would have Dib-Be-Dab-Night. She loved serving up a dab of this or a larger dib-be of that for the evening meal. Remember Corning ware? First the blue cornflower pattern appeared on the table. Later the harvest pattern pieces were used for normal meals and Dib-Be-Dab Night. Those containers were versatile. You could cook, serve, store, and then reheat it in the same container.
An overnight visit to a friend’s house showed me another method. She didn’t cook but ate out, collecting the remains of her meals in Styrofoam containers. When she opened the door to her refrigerator it was packed front to back, top to bottom with Styrofoam containers! Oh, and the stench created from the combination of different aromas and rotting food turned my stomach and turned off my appetite. But not hers. She offered me some blueberries from a container in the front, but I declined.
My husband is the main cook in our family. He routinely reviews what we have left and consolidates the containers or uses the leftovers to create a new dish. What’s your favorite technique for cleaning out your refrigerator?
create sytems that help
There are articles discussing how to clean a refrigerator. The best way we found is to do it routinely, not to wait for a special day. I do want to leave you with a couple ideas that work for us.
-We use containers with lids and that are clear to store leftovers. If you can see it, you’ll eat it.
– Square or rectangular shapes work well together. They also stack and fit nicely within the boxy shape of the refrigerator cavity.
– For small items use trays or clear plastic boxes that are easy to pull out completely or use them as a drawer to locate something in the back, grab and then slide back.
– Develop a system of where certain items go. It can become automatic, and a glance can alert you if you need to replenish.
Do you have any tips or tricks? Please share your ideas in the comments section below.
PREPARING FOR THE HOLIDAY
The home economists at Whirlpool suggested this ‘holiday’ because they knew families would soon be gathering around a Thanksgiving table groaning with food. That food would require safe storage before and after being prepared. Food and gatherings of people have been associated with Thanksgiving since the first.
The very name of this holiday could also be reversed to Giving Thanks, especially to the people in our lives. Thanksgiving is a time to examine our hearts, who are we grateful for in our lives? Take the next step and let them know. Just like food will spoil if not properly handled, so can our relationships. If you see them over the holiday, have a special conversation. You can do the same by phone, text or email. I’m going to suggest a handwritten note or a card that expresses how you feel.
Cards are another way to express your feelings and have lasting value. They have a physical presence that can be held in someone’s possession long-term. Consider a card either to someone far away or in gratitude to the person inviting you into their home this holiday. A seasonal card is nice, but the important thing is to do it. If you have a note card, write a few words expressing your gratitude. Surprise someone this holiday. If you need tips on getting started read this earlier blog:
https://papercraftedbliss.com/2024/06/13/how-to-write-heartfelt-card-messages-tips-and-pointers/
Thanks for taking time to read this article. Wishing you a safe, joyful Thanksgiving Holiday!
Paper Crafted Bliss 