As part of my pantry and kitchen video tour series, here is what you'll find inside my refrigerator! Of course this is just one random day of the year and my fridge varies week by week, but hopefully this little snapshot will give you an idea of how things sometimes look around here. I'd love to hear what I'd find in your real food fridge in the comments below. Enjoy! :)
Patty Smith says
We are preparing for the 100 day challenge but what about things like mayo and ketchup? Do you have any suggestions?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Patty. Because Lisa couldn't find any great real food alternative, she just gave them up for her 100 days. You can find many homemade mayo recipes that people swear by. Finding a ketchup recipe might prove more difficult but here is one: http://www.food.com/recipe/honey-sweetened-ketchup-294050.
Carrie says
i really, really must clean my fridge....
Amber Sparks says
Hi! Can I ask what brand of milk you use? Thank you! :)
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Amber. Homestead Creamery is the milk Lisa buys: http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-roast-beets-in-the-oven-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-172827. ~Amy
Katie says
Love the behind-the-scenes peak! My fridge has a lot of the same items (just not as organized!), but I also always have homemade salad dressing on hand (and usually one in the freezer) and a salad bowl (large bowl of salad greens and hearty veggies) that we can use throughout the week for salads at lunch and/or dinner.
Mary Bonnier says
Thanks, Lisa.
I have enjoyed your blog for some time now. I am a cancer survivor and I credit my on-going(15 years) of good health to a total diet change. I also have food sensitivities and no one is pickier about what they eat than I am. I do share your links on my blog, as I was totally inspired with how you present the problem of changing the diet. This is something my weight loss clients find nearly impossible. You make it easier! (I am a hypnotherapist)
Mary Bonnier http://www.bravenewplanet.com
Nickie says
Thanks Lisa! I have followed you for a couple years now and when I watched this video I was actually kind of proud of myself and how similar our refrigerators are!! :) I have learned something!! I just got my copy of your new book and have read most of it already! Keep up the good work!
jules @ Less Sugar Naturally says
So your last kitchen tour video made me go on a clutter clearing spree. I reorganized our cupboards and drawers...but our fridge is bursting with stuff, I could never have it that clutter-free.
Dana Miles says
It is really helpful to see what your fridge looks like! How about giving us a peek inside your pantry? That would be just as "educational" for the rest of us, who are trying to get a better picture of how we should pick out our food. Btw, looooove your cookbook! :)
Zhinka says
Was happy to see you also have learned to not store foods in plastic! However you do tend to keep your salad ingredients in the highly toxic thin plastics, might want to change that to plain muslin bags, even a pillowcase will work!
Also maple syrup should NEVER be kept in the plastic jugs, it completely leeches out into the syrup and makes it unsafe.
I could not have your fridge, my mastiff quickly found out that the water and ice dispensers are a great way to get ice cubes and cold water, so we bought a fridge with a freezer on the bottom (more efficient than a side by side as well) I do miss the water,but I do not miss having to clean slobber from a 240 pound dog out of there lol.
Ya are learning and doing well!
Cathy says
Thanks for the tour of your fridge. I saw many of my favorite items that I have regularly in mine, also in yours.
I love Applegate Bacon and I am happy to be able to have it in my life again.
:)
Michelle Johns says
I noticed you don't "store" your fresh veggies in containers. I buy only what I'm going to use in a week, but I have noticed that storing carrots and greens in air tight containers ensures freshness throughout the week. Lately, I have noticed carrots, for example, getting soft within two to three days of purchase unless I store them. Thoughts?
Marina says
Hi Michelle,
I was told by a farmer at the farmers market that if you leave the greens on the carrots it will dry them out and make them limp. I started cutting them off and they last a lot longer now. Hope this helps!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Michelle. These will help, too: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2014/06/12/produce-storage-cheat-sheet/ and http://www.thekitchn.com/how-do-i-keep-my-carrots-crisp-122165. ~Amy
Karen says
You have the cutest little accent! I love how clean and uncluttered your fridge is, too. Appearances make a big difference in your interest in eating good food!
Alison says
I wouldn't have thought to use the smaller mason jars as soup/stock containers to freeze but I bet that is just the perfect size! Thanks for the tip and tour. My fridge is actually quite similar in terms of contents. I try to cut up some veggies, like carrots or peppers, for even easier access to snacking, and if I'm really on top of things I will even make little snack packs with things like grapes (that I've removed from the vine) and cheese cubes and individual portions of hummus or tzatziki. An aside, I've got your recipe for pulled pork in the crock pot as we speak - can't wait for dinner! Loving the new book, by the way. Thank you for all that you do!
mary says
The fridge is the perfect size for a whole food family...what brand is it??
Lisa says
GE Monogram. We like it but the water does come out kind of slowly from the dispenser. :)
mary says
I have been following you for over a year and have adapted most of what you have suggested..as we look to upgrade our kitchen I noticed your refridgerator was the perfect size..is it okay to share the brand it is so we can shop around? thank you so much for all your time spent on providing real food solutions to everyone!!
Lisa says
Thanks for following along! It's a GE Monogram. We like it but the water does come out kind of slowly from the dispenser.
Amber says
Which refrigerator do you own? Do you like it? I'm needing to buy a new one.
Lisa says
It's a GE Monogram. We like it but the water does come out kind of slowly from the dispenser.
Julie Brown says
I thought that clarified butter(ghee) does not have to be refrigerated and also maple syrup?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Julie. This will guide you on the butter: http://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/ButterGhee.htm and pure maple syrup does need to be refrigerated after opening. ~Amy
Jaimie says
I loved the fridge tour! I love being able to look inside your fridge and pantry on here. You give recipes to make the thinks you keep in them too! This site has helped me make so many food changes for my family. My husband calls it my food bible lol. Thank you for sharing all or your REAL FOOD information :)
Krys says
Thanks for the tour. My initial thought was "boy, that's a small frig for a family of 4" but seems you make it work. My question is how often do you shop each week? Once a week or more often?
Thanks :)
Lisa says
I usually go once a week unless I just forget something!
Kayla says
I loved the tour!! I think what people decide to eat is up to them. My in-laws are vegans and they don't judge my husband and I for eating meat and dairy, as well as I don't judge them for their choices. I love Lisa's website!! It has real food ideas for real people!!
Jamie says
There are many in this country who struggle to feed their families whole foods over processed, packaged foods that are the SAD and this website is full of information on just that. If you disagree, then please go find a paleo website to hang out on rather than making judgmental comments on this one.
Thank you!
Jessy says
Well Said Jamie! :)
Sandi says
I love your fridge, too, but even more I love your blouse! Where did you get it? (I'm in California, so I doubt we'll show up at the same function with the same blouse on... :) )
Lisa says
Hahah - what a sweet comment. I have had that shirt for so many years I can guarantee it's definitely not available anymore. I think I got it at Target.
Joy A says
Thanks for the tour. I love your refrigerator!
Lisa says
Thanks Joy!
Michele N says
Both tour videos are wonderful! Hope to tour your freezer & garden as well! THANK YOU!
Lisa says
Oooh a garden tour ...I didn't think of that one yet! Freezer should be coming soon though :)
Lisa M says
I have a question about the milk. You commented that it's pasteurized at a lower temp, but I've always heard that a very high temp for a very short time with a quick cool down is the best way to keep the nutrients and get rid of the bad stuff. Is that incorrect? We have a local dairy that we buy milk from, and that's how they do it. It doesn't stay fresh as long, but then who really wants milk that's been out of the cow for a month?
Thanks!
Lisa
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Lisa. Does you dairy refer to it as "flash pasteurization"? That method does retain nutrients better than traditional pasteurization but typically still has a decent shelf life.
Milena says
Lisa, why you avoid buying greens in those plastic boxes? I believe that the fresh from the market are best but I always thought that organic from those boxes are great too. Just curious ::)!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Melena. Lisa prefers to buy local whenever possible. Boxed organic greens are fine, too. ~Amy
Katrina says
Love it, thanks for sharing. Just curious why you refrigerate ghee, soy sauce & seasame seed oil? I keep those in pantry & thought it fine. Is it just a preference or is there another reason we should know?
Michele N says
The packaging on my butter (before it is clarifies) says keep refrigerated. The soy sauce & sesame oil says refrigerate after opening. The first time I bought sesame oil & did not refrigerate after opening it turned rancid quickly.
Michele N says
*clarified*
Cassie says
When I was a kid my family kept all sorts of stuff out of the refrigerator that most people store in it like butter, ketchup, mustard, peanut butter, even jelly. Many things I think are personal preference and you're probably fine not storing in the fridge. I store mostly everything there, but never noticed that sesame oil is supposed to be kept cold. I actually have it in a cabinet over my stove. It has been opened for quite a while and is not rancid. But maybe I'll go move that now...
Lynn Simmons says
Like Amy, I would also love tips for a shake with lots of fat for my slim kids!
Lynn Simmons says
Hi. My refrigerator looks just like that except much fuller for my huge family of 8 :)
I have 2 off topic questions..
Do you "can" your ball jars when you make tomato bisque soup. Do you just boil the jars and pour in the soup and skip the actual canning process of sealing the lid? Because I just put mine in the pantry after sealing. Can I skip the sealing process and freeze instead?
How do you keep your liquid coconut oil from turning solid when adding to your waffle batter? The cold milk always turns the coconut oil into chunks. Such a pain!
Thank you
Love love love your book!
Jennifer says
Be SUPER careful when canning soups - if you're not using a recipe that has been tested to determine that it's safe for canning (acidic enough to keep botulism spores from surviving), you'll need to freeze it instead. If a recipe contains dairy (including butter) or more than a tiny bit of olive oil, it's probably not safe to can in a water bath. If you add hot liquid to hot jars, the lids will seal but that doesn't mean that it's safe to store in your pantry. I'm not a microbiologist or a canning expert but I don't think Lisa's recipe isn't safe to can (although it is SO good and freezes well!!)
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Thanks Jennifer. That's right, Lisa's soups are frozen in clean canning jars but she does not go through the canning process and they would not be safe in the pantry. Here is info on cooking with coconut oil: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/02/07/how-to-cook-with-coconut-oil/. ~Amy
Jane says
Just a suggestion.........please remove the "background" music when you're talking.
Melanie says
Love the tour! Thank you for opening your home. Congratulations on the new cook book and all of your success! I'm shocked that the Food Network has not offered you a show yet! I'm sure that will be in the works soon, and I, for one, would watch.
Brittanyann says
I always thought it's better to store basil and citrus at room temp. Have I been doing it wrong?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi there. Citrus is fine at room temp but also does well in the fridge. Basil does do better at room temp. :)
Karen says
Yay for putting raw meat on the bottom! If it leaks, it won't contaminate other food.
Dana says
Love that refrigerator!! The food in ours is very similar. Lots of homemade leftovers and produce. I also just tried Maple Hill Creamery's whole milk yogurt and wow! It is beyond amazing! Organic and grass fed too. My refrigerator on the other hand is old and ugly lol
amy says
Would you mind coming up with a recipe for a high calorie shake to help kids gain weight (for a 7 year old) thanks in advance
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Amy. Check out this post: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/my-kitchen-essentials/ and then hop over to Dr. Kilbane's site. She might be able to help. ~Amy
Katlin Stewardson says
Hi, I have a 2-part question. 1) Where do you find your milk? 2)I'm really interested in using glass storage. Do they make them stackable? What's your favorite kind?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Kaitlin. You can find some of Lisa's favorites here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/my-kitchen-essentials/. ~Amy