Buzz
I generally avoid starting my Fridays with a silent scream, but today that’s exactly what happened. One of TikTok’s latest missteps (which are beginning to feel like personal offenses) is 'fridgescaping.' After running through the five stages of grief, I can confidently declare, with a sense of peace, that fridgescaping is silly—and potentially wasteful—but there are some positive aspects that could help us organize our food more effectively.
What does fridgescaping mean?
Fridgescaping is a blend of 'fridge' and 'landscaping.' It brings to mind the term 'tablescape,' which Sandra Lee popularized (at least for me) during her Semi-Homemade era. This Hobbit-inspired fridgescape is one of my favorite examples to roll my eyes at (especially since I’m a LOTR fan, and, obviously, Hobbits don’t use fridges—they use larders). Here's another example with the caption, 'Where’s my food?' which at first made me think someone was asking for help after losing their food behind a pile of objects.
Much like other 'scapes,' fridgescaping involves altering the appearance of your fridge by rearranging its contents—let’s call them 'food and storage containers'—and adding non-essential items—let’s call these 'random stuff.' This 'random stuff' includes, but is not limited to: candles, tree stumps, mirrors, handwritten notes, decanted candy (actually, decanted everything), glass or ceramic cat figurines, battery-powered fairy lights, and flowers in open glass vases.
Fridgescaping mostly doesn't improve the storage of your food.
Apparently, fridgescaping is meant to make your fridge look more attractive when you open it. Beyond that, I’m not quite sure what the purpose is. Maybe it’s to impress… yourself? Or perhaps to leave your guests wondering whether you understand the true function of a fridge?
Decanting certain items, like milk (cow or otherwise), can expose them to harmful bacteria if not done carefully, causing them to spoil more quickly. Leaving foods uncovered in baskets might lead them to dry out or soak up too much moisture. And, while I’m a fan of string lights, batteries don’t fare well with moisture. Fabrics and wood don’t thrive in humid conditions either. Essentially, you’d need to redo your fridgescape daily, or you might end up with some unwelcome growth.
Unlike your living room or your perfectly manicured front yard, refrigerators aren’t meant to be stylish. They exist to preserve the life of your perishable food. A fridge is an efficient, cold, humidified storage unit, and it excels at this job. Before fridgescaping, ask yourself: is this enhancing your food storage or cooking process? Just like Sandy shouldn’t have changed who she was at the end of Grease, your fridge doesn’t need a makeover either. The wicker baskets aren’t helping anyone, but there are a few aspects of fridgescaping that might be useful.
Store your food in a more efficient way.
Take the time to clean your fridge shelves now and then. Every fridgescaping video begins with someone removing everything from their fridge and giving it a good wipe-down. It’s not necessary to do this every week, but it’s definitely beneficial to clean your shelves, tracks, and drawers from time to time. It’s also a great opportunity to toss expired condiments and discover forgotten, moldy surprises.
Get your fridge organized. While you don't need to go overboard with custom storage containers, reorganizing your fridge is a wise idea. A well-organized fridge where everything is visible will help you follow the FIFO (First In, First Out) method and cut down on waste. For example, placing eggs in an easy-to-reach spot and positioning fresh veggies front and center ensures they won’t get pushed to the back and forgotten.
Declutter your fridge. I prefer my fridge to be spacious enough for my groceries to fit comfortably. Once I start stacking containers haphazardly on top of jars, I know I've made a mess. A well-organized fridge is typically more streamlined, allowing you to easily see all of your items, which helps reduce waste and encourages consumption. You don't need to fill your fridge with eight mini vases of flowers to make it look attractive. Just avoid over-purchasing and ensure you can store everything properly.
