Aldi's fridge storage hacks to make food last and save money

Western Telegraph

19-07-2025

Well, you're not alone, and Aldi is calling on shoppers to rethink their fridge storage habits to reduce food waste and save money.
It comes as the budget-friendly supermarket has revealed that the average Brit throws away around £387 of food a year (insights from a OnePoll survey found), some of which is thought to be due to incorrect fridge storage.
In a bid for households to keep their groceries fresher for longer and to make their money go further, Luke Emery, national sustainability director at Aldi UK, has shared the correct way to manage food and drink in the fridge.
What are the rules for storing food in the fridge?
Back of the fridge
'The back of the fridge is the coldest area with the most consistent temperature, so it's the best place to store your perishable items.
'People often keep their milk in the door for easy access, but this is actually the warmest area of the fridge, with the temperature fluctuating every time you open it. Moving your milk to the back of the fridge can help it to last up to three days longer.'
Top and middle shelves
'Likewise, you'll find a much more consistent temperature higher up in your fridge, helping to keep your leftovers, eggs, and dairy fresh.
'While you don't need to refrigerate eggs, storing them in the original packaging in the middle of the fridge can keep them fresher for longer by avoiding any temperature fluctuations.
'And while cheese should also be kept in this area, you'll need to use different storage methods for different cheeses.
'Typically, hard cheeses such as Grana Padano are best stored in an air-tight container to retain moisture, while soft cheeses such as Brie should be wrapped in baking paper and stored in a box for breathability.'
Bottom shelves
'When thinking about your fridge storage, it's also important to be mindful of food safety and hygiene.
'Raw meat and fish should always be stored on the bottom shelves of your fridge to remove any risk of leakage which could lead to contamination.
'Once you've opened the original packaging, it's important to store any remaining meat or fish in a well-sealed container or freeze in a sealed container to use later. Make sure to make a note of the expiry date so you can use the leftovers safely.'
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Crisper drawer
'This storage compartment is normally found at the bottom of the fridge and is also known as a 'crisper drawer', designed for fresh produce storage. Most people know to keep their fresh fruit and veg in here – but you might not realise that they can interfere with each other.
'Certain fruits, such as apples and bananas, release a gas that can cause other fruit and vegetables to ripen prematurely and potentially go off before you've had a chance to use them. Try to keep these away from other produce, in their own drawer or container.
'You can also keep fruit fresher for longer by not washing your berries until you're ready to eat them and try adding a sheet of kitchen paper to a bag of salad to prevent wilting.'
Fridge door
'If not milk or eggs, what should you store in the fridge door? It's generally the warmest area of the fridge so you should only keep products here which don't need to be extremely cold.
Which food goes off the quickest in your fridge? (Image: Andrey Popov/Getty) 'Things like sauces, jams and jars are likely to be fine in the fridge door as well as other drinks like water and juices.'
Luke explained: 'At Aldi, we're committed to reducing food waste wherever we can and part of that is helping our shoppers to get the most out of their groceries too.
'Storing your food correctly can help it last longer, reducing waste and ensuring customers get even more value from their Aldi shop. Even something as simple as changing where you store your milk can make a big difference.'
How to make fruit last longer in the fridge
If you're wondering what other ways you can try to make your fruit last longer in the fridge, many people have been discussing their hacks on Reddit, as separating them into tubs as soon as possible wasn't working for some.
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In response to someone asking, 'how can I make fruit last longer?', the most popular method was washing fruit, particularly berries, in vinegar.
This person said: 'I wash my berries in vinegar (either white or apple cider) and water; let them air dry completely for a few hours on the counter, and then put them in a tight sealed jar or tupperware.
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'Sometimes there may be one or two berries that gets moldy by the end of the week (I meal prep on Sundays for M-F), but the mold doesn't spread so all the other berries are good to go!'
Another replied: 'Yes this. And put a paper towel in the container with them to absorb any moisture.'
Meanwhile, an account chimed in: 'I've found that putting strawberries and blueberries in glass jars with a tight-fitting lid helps extend their life in the fridge.'