By Chelsea Reinberg

As we approach the end of the year, we may find ourselves cleaning and organizing things to host guests for the holidays or to bring in the new year in a clean and organized house.

One area of the house that is often overlooked for cleaning is our refrigerators, freezers and cupboards.

If you are feeling inspired to clean out your refrigerator, consider doing so on Nov. 15, which is National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day!

You may be wondering, how often should I clean out my refrigerator? Experts recommend wiping down and disinfecting your shelves every one to two weeks. Try doing this before you go to the grocery store. Doing so at that time will also help you see what you have on hand and prevent extra purchases.

The next important thing to note about keeping your refrigerator and freezer clean is not overloading them. This helps ensure the temperature stays at the correct 40 F for your refrigerator and 0 F for your freezer , food stays safe and it is easier to find what you need!

The third aspect of keeping your refrigerator and freezer clean is using appropriate food storage containers. Food-safe containers are those that are airtight, designed for multiple uses, and moisture and vapor-proof. This is not only for food safety reasons but also makes it easier to know what is in your refrigerator. You won’t be fooled by thinking you have a container of butter in the fridge when it is really your leftovers from last week!

So now, let’s talk about how to know if you should discard something in your refrigerator, freezer or cupboards.

First, we want to take a look at the date label on a product. These labels inform us as consumers of the date at which we can expect the food to retain its optimal quality, including flavor, texture and color. However, if you see signs of spoilage despite the date label, throw it out. And remember, when in doubt, throw it out!

• Sell-by date is primarily for the store to know when it should sell or move off its shelf. The product will still be safe to each after this date.
• Best if used by date means you should consume the produce by this date for best quality. It is not a safety date and is still safe to consume after this date.
• Use by date means it is the last date recommended for peak quality; after this date, quality will deteriorate noticeably.

Second, we can review resources that guide us on how long certain foods are good for. One of my go to websites is foodsafety.gov. On that site, you will find a lot of great information, including The FoodKeeper.

The FoodKeeper is a resource that helps you understand proper food and beverage storage. It is a great tool that can help you maximize the freshness and quality of items and when to discard them. There are many other great resources for you to check out on the website, too.

Have food safety, nutrition or health questions? Contact us at foodhelp@jocogov.org.

Chelsea Reinberg is health, food safety and nutrition agent at the Johnson County K-State Research and Extension Office.