Refrigerator maintenance guide for Thanksgiving

With the increased loads of groceries and piles of leftovers after the big meal, your refrigerator will be put to the test this Thanksgiving. Get your fridge cleaned, organized, and fully prepped to store all your holiday ingredients and dishes. A properly prepared refrigerator means you can relax and enjoy time with your loved ones on Turkey Day!

Remember don’t wait till the last minute to check your appliance in case parts are needed. If you have to order any parts there could be delays because of shipping closures due to the holiday or out-of-stock parts. So the sooner you check the unit and get the parts ordered the better luck you are going to have with getting the part on time. You can check with us at AppliancePartsPros.com for parts. Use your model number to locate the correct part you need for your unit.

Deep Clean the Refrigerator

The first step in preparing your refrigerator for Thanksgiving is to give it a deep clean inside and out. Here is a thorough cleaning process:

• Remove everything – Take out all shelves, drawers, and food items so you can see the hidden corners in the back. This lets you fully assess what’s currently in your fridge.
• Check expiration dates – Examine all food items and toss anything that is expired, moldy, or generally questionable. Be ruthless – you’ll need that space. Also consolidate half-used yogurt containers, juice cartons, etc to free up real estate.
• Check pantry items – Scan for condiments, jarred foods, dressings, and other non-perishables that can be stored in the pantry instead of open fridge space.
• Clean all surfaces thoroughly – Use warm water, dish soap, and disinfecting wipes/sprays to wash any removable shelves, drawers, and internal surfaces.
• Organize food by type – As you put items back in the freshly cleaned fridge, group similar foods together, like cheese blocks, yogurt cups, milk cartons, etc. Keep meats and dairy products on lower shelves since they’re colder.
• Adjust shelves as needed – Now is the perfect time to rearrange and adjust shelves to make room for larger holiday dishes.
• Strategically restock – Place items you’ll use soon in the front. Reserve an easily accessible space for Thanksgiving ingredients.
• Clean condenser coils– dirt and debris on the condenser coils can cause the unit to not cool properly. Cleaning these coils can help your unit run more efficiently.

Read more: How To Deep Clean Your Refrigerator

Make room for the turkey

That large frozen turkey needs special accommodations in your fridge. Here are some tips to make sure it fits:

• If you plan to bring the turkey, measure the space needed and adjust fridge shelves ahead of time. Leave an open area on a lower shelf.
• Clear a bottom shelf to hold the weight of the bird. This is the coldest area of the fridge.
• Place the turkey on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips and leaks. Then put the whole pan on a bottom shelf.
• If the turkey is too tall, remove shelves or drawers as needed to fit its height.
• Use vertical space creatively by attaching bags or containers to higher shelves with binder clips or crate organizers.

Read more: A Complete Guide to Refrigerator Organization

Stock up on essentials

In addition to the main dishes, you’ll need to accommodate small fridge items to make holiday meals and snacks go smoothly:

• Stock up on butter, sour cream, cream cheese, gravy, condiments, and any other staples your recipes call for. You’ll likely need more than usual.
• Chill beverages like soda, lemonade, juice, and alcohol if applicable. Store in a dedicated area.
• Ask guests to coordinate who’s bringing dishes that need refrigeration. Communicate to avoid duplications.
• Make room for guests to store their chilled items in your fridge upon arrival. Assign space.

Read more: 8 Tips To Prep Your Kitchen For A Holiday Feast

Strategize where leftovers will be stored

One bonus of large holiday meals is enjoying the leftovers for days to come! Maximize storage with these pro tips:

• Use your freezer to store any dishes or desserts you prepare in advance. Remove day-of to thaw and bake.
• Let guests take home leftovers. Provide takeout containers, boxes, and bags. Ask them to label their items.
• Reserve freezer space for you to store extra portions of turkey, side dishes, gravy, pie, etc after guests depart.
• Transfer leftovers from the fridge to freezer within 3-4 days for long-term storage. Frozen items will last for months.

Read more: 8 Ways To Keep Your Kitchen Safe This Holiday Season

Organize the Fridge

As you put items back into the freshly cleaned fridge, be strategic about the organization:

• Group similar foods in designated areas – keep holiday foods, snacks, and beverages in their own zones.
• Store foods you’ll use frequently in the front half of shelves for easy access – butter, milk, cream cheese, etc.
• Prioritize shelf space – reserve room on upper shelves for dishes that will be prepared closer to meal time.
• Use crate organizers or open shelves on the door to neatly corral vegetables, fruit, and loose items.
• Install lazy susans or turntables if you have a lot of leftovers to allow easy access to items in the back later on.

Pre-Guest arrival fridge check

On the morning of Thanksgiving day, do a quick scan of your fridge:

• Consolidate open milk cartons, yogurt tubs, juice bottles, etc. so partially used ones don’t get overlooked.
• Toss any old leftovers or food you didn’t eat to clear as much space as possible in the fridge. Every inch counts.
• Wipe up spills and food drips that occurred during the cooking process. This will give your fridge a clean slate for the new dishes coming in.
• Confirm the turkey will still fit in the reserved space. Adjust items or shelves if needed.
• Clean exterior surfaces – the outside of the fridge is part of the kitchen too! Make it shine.

Read more: How To Clean Refrigerator Coils In 5 Easy Steps & Why To Do It

Freshen up the fridge

After storing all the food prep ingredients, give your fridge a refresh:

• Place a small open bowl of baking soda or coffee grounds inside the fridge to absorb odors.
• Clean interior surfaces with a mix of baking soda and water for a clean, neutral smell.
• Replace air filters if they are overdue. Clogged filters impede airflow.

Adjust the Temperature Setting

Make sure the temperature is optimized for holiday food storage:

• The ideal fridge temp is 35-40°F. Use a thermometer to check the interior temperature.
• Adjust the thermostat 2-3 degrees lower than usual. Frequent opening on Thanksgiving will raise the interior temperature.
• If you add many hot dishes right before dinner, turn the temp down temporarily to allow adequate cooling.

Read more: Why Is Water Pooling in My Fridge?

Safely store leftovers

You prepared a monumental feast. Now store it properly:

• Allow all foods to cool completely before packing into the fridge to prevent temperature spikes.
• Portion leftovers into shallow containers or smaller batches for quick, even cooling in the refrigerator.
• Label all leftovers with the name and date. This avoids mystery leftovers down the road.
• Use freezer-safe storage bags or airtight containers for any foods going into the freezer.
• Freeze broths, sauces, or pie fillings in ice cube trays for easy portioning later on.

Maintain your fridge

Keep your refrigerator clean and organized:

• Check and replace air filters if needed. Clogged filters make the compressor work harder.
• Rearrange contents, moving most used items up front for visibility. Keep new leftovers easily accessible.
• Discard leftovers within 3-4 days unless you intend to freeze them. Toss produce that’s gone limp or moldy.
• Give shelves another quick wipe to remove new spills and crumbs that occurred during Thanksgiving food prep.

Enjoy stress-free Thanksgiving meals!

Having an organized, temperature-controlled fridge means you can simply focus on enjoying time with loved ones over delicious holiday meals! Let others enjoy the food while you relax, knowing your refrigerator is running efficiently.

Thanks for reading! If you have any other appliance repair needs or projects, you can find other resources and our DIY blog at AppliancePartsPros.com. There, you can enter your model number to order the exact parts you need. Most orders arrive in 2-3 business days.

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