Your January Fridge Clean-Out Starts With These 9 Forgotten Foods

January is the perfect time to reset your kitchen—but a proper fridge clean-out isn’t just about wiping shelves. It’s about dealing with the foods that quietly get pushed to the back and forgotten. These overlooked items are often the biggest sources of waste, mystery smells, and clutter. Start with these nine common fridge offenders.

Half-Used Condiment Bottles

Salad dressings, sauces, and marinades tend to pile up fast. If it’s been open for months and hasn’t been touched, it’s time to check the date—or let it go.

Opened Jars of Salsa

Once opened, salsa doesn’t last nearly as long as people think. If it’s been sitting since football season, it’s likely past its prime.

Old Takeout Containers

Leftovers get lost easily, especially in opaque containers. If you can’t remember what’s inside—or when it was made—it’s probably time to toss it.

Cheese Ends

That small chunk of cheese wrapped in plastic often gets ignored. Check for mold and dryness—hard cheeses may be salvageable, but soft ones usually aren’t.

Opened Broth or Stock

Once opened, broth only lasts a few days in the fridge. Forgotten cartons are one of the most common fridge clean-out surprises.

Produce Drawer Stragglers

Wilted herbs, limp carrots, and mystery greens hide in the crisper. January is the moment to sort what’s still usable from what’s not.

Open Yogurt Containers

Yogurt can last a bit past the date, but once it’s been open for weeks, it’s worth inspecting closely for texture or smell changes.

Butter With Absorbed Odors

Butter absorbs fridge smells easily. If it tastes off or smells like everything else in your fridge, it’s time to replace it.

“Just-in-Case” Ingredients

That specialty sauce or paste you bought for one recipe often lingers untouched. If you haven’t used it since last year, it may be taking up valuable space.

This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Disclosure Policy