The following is a guest post from regular contributor, Emily R. at My Love For Words.
Not long ago, opening my refrigerator door felt a lot like walking through a haunted house. There were piles of goo here, scary containers of who knows what there… it was a mess.
Thankfully, I’ve found a great solution that helps us keep track of containers, and it’s really the easiest way to organize refrigerated foods.
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My secret is that before anything goes into my fridge it gets labeled with these Label Once Erasable Food Labels. We used to waste so much food because we’d throw things into containers and forget either what was inside or how old it was. There was practically no point in having left overs at all because all we were dealing with was leftover dishes. Thanks to labeling, we’re now able to easily see and keep track of exactly what we have and need to eat.
Nothing turns my stomach more than pulling a moldy container of mystery food out of the fridge. The best way we’ve found to stay on top of our leftovers and eat things before they go bad is to write the date it goes into the fridge right on the label. It takes all the guesswork out of going through the fridge, which is great because my mommy brain isn’t the most reliable.
Before I found Label Once Erasable Food Labels I tried dry erase and permanent markers, but both either wore off quickly or permanently stained my storage containers. The labels have been a great alternative because they come in a bunch of different sizes, last through multiple rounds in the dishwasher, and don’t smear. I’ve had mine for more than a year, and I’ve only had to replace one label so far, which was my own fault. I peeled a corner up to move it so the slightly curled corner was bugging me. Those who are better at placing the labels the first time around (or aren’t as picky) will be able to go even longer without having to replace a label.
The labels come with a marker and eraser, and the ink is truly erasable. I don’t know if anyone else will remember these, but when I was in elementary school erasable pens were all the rage. Unfortunately, they never really erased well. My papers were always left with streaks and faded marks of what I was trying to erase.
These markers aren’t like those at all. The ink is extremely easy to remove so if you happen to write the wrong date or are storing a different type of food entirely it’s easy to change what’s been written. Here’s an example. This is the exact same container, but I’ve erased the date.
These Plastic Ball Jars are another one of my favorite kitchen items because they seal really well (in other words, no more piles of goo!). They can be used in the fridge or freezer, and they’re easy to stack. The bottom of one will actually screw into the top of another, which is great for keeping things together and from toppling over.
I’m a bit of a kitchen gadget addict. I don’t think I’ve ever left a Williams Sonoma empty handed, much to my husband’s disappointment, but these little labels have become one of my most favorite, must have kitchen items. I hope they become a favorite of yours too.
What are your favorite kitchen gadgets or storage solutions?
Emily is a wife and stay-at-home mom to her four children. She’s currently sharing the good, bad, and ugly in her journey to creating an organized and decluttered home on her blog My Love for Words. She also shares recipes, crafts, home decor ideas, and thoughts on life and motherhood. When she isn’t blogging, she can be found reading, cooking, or homeschooling her kids.
Nancy Downs says
I am using the Label Once labels I bought about 10 years ago. They’ve been on the same containers that long and have been used regularly in the fridge, freezer and dishwasher. Love em!
Chelsea says
I love the LabelOnce labels! We’ve been using them for a couple years around here. FYI: You can use a fine point Sharpie when the stock pen runs out and the eraser still works great.
The only problem I have with them is that they won’t stick to my Pyrex glass storage lids. They’re too textured and the labels just can’t get enough purchase to stay on for very long. They’ll stay through a few washings in the dishwasher, but the edges peel up after a while.
I also use the pen/eraser combo to label the tops of my husband’s lunch containers. They’re your basic Target brand plastic containers, but the eraser takes the permanent marker right off. I use the LabelOnce label for the date/contents and then write his name on the lid itself. Since I use many of the same containers for food storage, I can erase his name when he brings the container back home and it’s good to go again.
The last time I ordered fridge label refills, I noticed that they have a lot of decorative storage labels as well. Those are on my list for future closet reorganizations.
Marcia from Organising Queen says
Too true about food going mouldy at the back of the fridge.
I made a rule a good few years back – only to use see-through containers, and I use masking tape and a permanent marker to label.
Jean says
Love these, thanks for sharing as I had never heard of them.
I use a cardboard box to hold all my plastic container lids, it is perfect and now, I just pull out the box and no searching for lost lids!
Fran Gibson says
You should consider moving away from plastic as a storage system: it is toxic and can leach chemicals harmful to human health. Glass is much much better for you!