Get Ready for Thanksgiving: Clean Out the Fridge Day Tips
- Declutter Empress
- Nov 18, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 4, 2025
November 15th is #CleanOutTheFridgeDay—a perfect chance to refresh your kitchen, cut down on waste, and simplify meal prep before Thanksgiving. 🦃 🍂
Food Network Star Catherine McCloud and the Declutter Empress, Derria, have teamed up to provide essential kitchen decluttering tips and meal prep strategies. These will help you make room for your holiday ingredients and prepare for the busiest cooking day of the year!
🎉 In this bonus episode of Declutter Empress Radio, host Derria speaks with Catherine McCord, author of Meal Prep Time Saving Tricks for Stress-Free Cooking. They share practical ways to transform your kitchen into a zen oasis just in time for the holidays!
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or iHeart Radio.
Thanksgiving Kitchen Prep Action Plan
Getting your fridge and pantry ready for the holidays means creating space for large Thanksgiving ingredients. It also ensures your kitchen is organized for the busiest cooking day of the year.
Here’s your quick action plan to get started:
🗑️ Purge and Donate
To kick off Thanksgiving prep, start by clearing out your fridge and pantry! Catherine’s advice for this first step includes:
Toss Expired Items: Get rid of anything expired or past its prime. This extra space will make it easier to store large items like the Thanksgiving turkey and trays of ingredients.
Donate Unopened Goods: If you have non-perishable items you won’t use, donate them to a local food bank. It’s a perfect time to give back for the holidays!
Clean the Shelves: Wipe down fridge shelves and drawers quickly. This will help keep your holiday ingredients fresh and organized.
Declutter Empress Tip: Set a 15-minute timer, play your favorite Thanksgiving playlist, and see how much space you can free up. Extra points for donating unopened items!
📦 Organize for Easy Thanksgiving Prep
Once you’ve purged, it’s time to organize! An organized kitchen means smoother, stress-free meal prep on Thanksgiving Day.
Visible Storage: Transfer dry goods like flour, sugar, and spices into clear jars. This way, your ingredients are easy to spot when prepping pies and casseroles. 🥧
Label Everything: Label jars and containers so you can grab what you need quickly. This saves you precious time when cooking multiple dishes.
Group Ingredients by Dish: Store ingredients by dish or cuisine for easy access. Think of all the pie-making items in one spot.
Thanksgiving Prep Tip: Invest in matching containers that stack easily. This makes storing leftovers simpler and more organized after the big meal!
💸 Plan for Savings and a Stress-Free Thanksgiving
With grocery prices on the rise, Thanksgiving can get expensive. Catherine shares her top tips for meal planning and budget-friendly shopping to make the holiday affordable:
Inventory First: Before shopping, take stock of what you already have. Planning meals around what’s already in your fridge and pantry helps avoid doubling up on ingredients.
Shop Seasonal and Save: Prioritize seasonal produce like pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and cranberries. They’re fresher and often cheaper.
Batch Cook and Freeze: Make-ahead items, like pie crusts or cranberry sauce, can be prepared in advance and frozen to save time and space.
Thanksgiving Meal Prep Hack: Pre-chop ingredients like onions, carrots, and celery. Freeze them in advance so you can quickly assemble sides and stuffing on Thanksgiving Day.
📝 Your Thanksgiving-Ready Clean Out the Fridge Day Plan
Follow Catherine’s POPE method to declutter and organize in time for Thanksgiving:
Purge: Clear out expired items and donate what you won’t use. 🗑️
Organize: Use clear containers, label everything, and group items by dish. 📦
Prep: Plan meals around your current pantry and fridge items to save money. 📅🍲
Execute: Use meal prep strategies to save time and reduce Thanksgiving Day stress. 🎉
Additional Tips for a Successful Thanksgiving
Create a Cooking Schedule
A cooking schedule can help you manage your time effectively. Write down what needs to be done each day leading up to Thanksgiving. This could include grocery shopping, meal prep, and cooking.
Involve Family and Friends
Thanksgiving is about togetherness. Involve family and friends in the cooking process. Assign tasks to make the day more enjoyable and less stressful.
Set the Table Early
Setting the table early can save you time on Thanksgiving Day. You can focus on cooking and enjoying the company of your loved ones.
Prepare for Leftovers
Plan how you will store leftovers. Use clear containers and label them. This will help you enjoy your Thanksgiving feast long after the day is over.
Resources:
Website: Weelicious.com
Twitter / X: @Weelicious
Follow Declutter Empress Radio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or iHeart Radio for more actionable advice on simplifying your space, decluttering, and meal prepping like a pro.
Let’s make this Thanksgiving organized, stress-free, and delicious!
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