How to Make Fridge Room Before Thanksgiving

Step by step

1. 1

   Check the temperature first

   Put a fridge thermometer on a middle shelf and read it the next morning. FDA says it should read 40°F or below, and the freezer 0°F. Fix that before the turkey goes in.

   What it looks like: the thermometer sitting at 40°F or a little under.

2. 2

   Toss old leftovers and anything past its date

   Pull out every container. USDA’s rule of thumb is 4 days for cooked leftovers, so anything older goes. Check sauces and dressings for dates while you’re in there.

   What it looks like: the counter covered with everything from the fridge, and a trash bag at your feet.

3. 3

   Wipe the empty shelves

   With the fridge empty, wash the shelves in warm, soapy water, then rinse and dry them. Let a cold glass shelf sit on a towel until it reaches room temperature first. Whirlpool says cold glass shelves may break from a sudden change in temperature.

4. 4

   Move pantry-safe food out

   Put potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, squash and apples in a cool pantry or a basket. Unopened soda and water can wait in the pantry too.

   What it looks like: a basket of potatoes and onions on a pantry shelf, and an emptier crisper drawer.

1. 5

   Give the drinks a cooler

   Fill a cooler with ice and drinks for the week. That frees up a whole shelf, and guests can grab a drink without opening the fridge. USDA says to keep the fridge door closed as much as possible.

2. 6

   Save the bottom shelf for the turkey

   The turkey thaws in a pan for days, and North Carolina State Extension says that pan belongs on the bottom shelf. Clear that shelf now, so nothing sits underneath where drips could land. A 16 to 20 pound bird needs 4 to 5 days to thaw.

   What it looks like: an empty bottom shelf with just a roasting pan on it.

3. 7

   Leave gaps so the cold air can move

   Put food back with a little space between items, and keep eggs in their carton on a shelf, not in the door. FDA says a fridge packed so tight that air can’t move does not keep food as cold.

   What it looks like: containers with a finger’s width between them, and the egg carton on a middle shelf.

When it will not work, and what to do instead

Some fridges are just too small for a holiday. Here’s what helps.

• The turkey still won’t fit. Thaw it in cold water instead. That takes hours, not days, and the bird is cooked right after.
• The sides are taking over. Keep fruit pies on the counter. USDA’s FoodKeeper says apple and other fruit pies can sit out for 1 to 2 days, so they don’t need a shelf.
• The cooler ice melted. Drain it and add fresh ice. Keep only drinks in a cooler, and keep raw meat and cold dishes in the fridge.
• The fridge smells after you cleared it. Set an opened box of baking soda on a shelf. USDA suggests it to help with odors. For a stronger smell, our fridge cleaning page has the full method.
• The thermometer reads above 40°F. Turn the fridge colder and check again the next day, before the turkey goes in.

Why it works

Here is what is going on. A fridge cools food by moving cold air around it, so if you pack every inch, the air can’t reach the middle of the shelf and some food sits warmer than the dial says. FDA’s advice is simple: don’t crowd it.

The bottom shelf matters for a different reason. Raw turkey leaks as it thaws, and anything below it can catch the drips. With nothing under it, there’s nothing to catch them.

Taking out the food that never needed the cold is the easiest win. Potatoes even do better in the pantry, because the fridge can turn them dark and sweet.