Date the bin, not the food

The most effective way is to write the earliest expiration date (month and day) on the outside of each clear bin using a dry-erase or chalk marker, then update it whenever you add something new.

Here’s the system: Group similar items into clear bins – dairy, leftovers, condiments, produce that needs eating first. Each bin gets a label with the category and a small strip of washi tape or a sticky note where you write the soonest-use-by date inside that bin. Put newer items behind older ones so the oldest goes first.

The trick is making the bin’s date the only thing you check. When you open the fridge, you see “Leftovers – expires 3/12” and grab whatever’s in there before it turns. No digging through packages, no forgetting that half-eaten container of pasta in the back. If you don’t see a date, you know the bin is empty or everything is fresh.

Update the date every time you add something with a sooner expiration. Takes ten seconds.

Future You won’t have to play “smell test” every week.