National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day is this Sunday, November 15th Posted Thursday, November 12, 2020 @ 8:58 AM Celebrate National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day with UCF Housing by following these 5 tips to ensure your kitchen is ready for all those Thanksgiving leftovers! This post is especially helpful for our residents who will not be returning to us after the break. 1. Throw out expired food and beverages. Consuming expired food or spoiled beverages can be harmful to your health. To keep you and your roommates safe from accidentally consuming something that may be well beyond use, start observing National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day by tossing out anything that is expired or way past its use-by date. To cut down on food waste, check out the USDA’S FoodKeeper app to help you with guidelines for safe food and beverage storage. 2. Consider donating to Knights Pantry. If you have food sitting in your refrigerator that is unopened and well within its expiration date, pack these items up and donate them to Knights Helping Knights Pantry or another local food drive of your choice. For more information about items accepted by Knights Pantry or what is in high demand, visit their website here. 3. Clean your empty refrigerator. Once any expired or unwanted foods have been cleared out, arrange for a refrigerator deep clean (this could be a great roommate bonding experience). Be sure to use a cleaning agent that is safe to use on fridges or opt for natural ingredients like hot water, lemon juice and baking soda, or saltwater. There are lots of recipes to choose from online so feel free to search for something that meets your specific needs! 4. Deodorize your fridge. Stinky fridge odors are an unfortunate reality we all must face at some point in our adult lives. Luckily, there are many easy and affordable ways we can combat these odors and keep the fridge smelling fresh. Try using baking soda or purchasing refrigerator air filters with baking soda already in them. You can also combat odor naturally with freshly ground coffee, cotton balls soaked in vanilla extract, or lemons! 5. Don’t forget the freezer! We know it isn’t National Clean Out Your Freezer Day BUT, the freezer is attached to the fridge and needs some upkeep from time to time also. To keep your freezer clean and fresh, repeat the steps from above, and don’t forget to keep your frozen foods frozen by placing them, as well as other perishable items, in a cooler while you clean. For more details on guidelines for safely storing food in the freezer, visit the USDA Food Safety website for an easy-to-read chart. Back