Apr. 02, 2004
Taking Stock Of What's In America's Refrigerators
National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Week™ 2004 Event Helps Americans Manage their Cold Contents
Benton Harbor, Mich. and Oakland, Calif., April 2, 2004 — In celebration of the National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Week event, April 4 - 10, 2004, The GLAD Products Company and Whirlpool® Home Appliances have taken a peek inside America's refrigerators to determine exactly what cold contents are hot and find out how Americans are managing their full fridges.
The Whirlpool and GLAD survey revealed some interesting regional food preferences. Westerners like it spicy with 70 percent reporting that they normally have salsa in their refrigerator compared to only 55 percent of Northeasterners. Ranch dressing reigns supreme in the Midwest with 80 percent reporting the item in their refrigerators in comparison to the only 61 percent in Northeastern refrigerators.
Comparing refrigerator contents between genders disproved that women are the ones with the sweet tooth. While about 60 percent of both men and women report having ice cream in their freezers, men more often have candy bars and cake in their refrigerators as well. On the other hand, women are more likely than men to have bottled water in their refrigerators — close to 61 percent reported having water in their refrigerator versus only 48 percent of men. Not surprisingly, beer is found in close to 42 percent of men's refrigerators versus only 33 percent of women's refrigerators.
Leftover take-out food is common-place in American refrigerators with close to 93 percent reporting having leftovers in the fridge. Italian take-out proves hugely popular in the Northeast. It makes an appearance in close to 34 percent of the region's refrigerators, whereas Midwesterners don't seem to miss the meatballs with only 17 percent enjoying Italian leftovers. Not surprisingly, Mexican leftovers were more common in the West than anywhere else in the country (19 percent vs. 4 percent of refrigerators in the Northeast and 9 percent in the South).
While Americans have plenty of cold contents in their refrigerators, most aren't managing those items very well. A majority of people (61 percent) throw out at least one produce item a week because it's no longer fresh. In addition, 51 percent of people have a hard time finding items in their refrigerator because it's over crowded, which speaks to why 62 percent of people would like a larger refrigerator.
"Creating order in key areas within the home, such as a refrigerator, can make a significant impact on everyday life," said Stacy DeBroff, author of Mom Central and a nationally recognized home organization expert. "National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Week, is the perfect catalyst to get families focused on home organization. Families can face their fridge frustrations and get the job done by following a three-step approach that's as easy as A-B-C."
The ABCs of Cleaning Out Your Refrigerator
ASSESS THE SITUATION
Examining your habits may unlock the answer to your fridge frustrations.
There are three main culprits for fridge problems: lack of space, storing food improperly and inconsistent cleaning.
Get more from your refrigerator with organization techniques.
The GLAD Products Company is a subsidiary of The Clorox Company, headquartered in Oakland, Calif. In addition to GLAD Press'n Seal™ sealable wrap, the GLAD line up of products in the United States and Canada includes freezer, food storage and sandwich bags; food wraps; outdoor, indoor and recycling disposal bags; odor-fighting trash bags with ODOR SHIELD technology; and GLADWARE containers and ovenware. GLAD products are developed and manufactured under a joint venture agreement between The Clorox Company, The GLAD Products Company and The Procter & Gamble Company.
About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of more than $12 billion, 68,000 employees, and nearly 50 manufacturing and technology research centers around the globe. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Brastemp, Bauknecht, Consul and other major brand names to consumers in more than 170 countries.
The Whirlpool and GLAD survey revealed some interesting regional food preferences. Westerners like it spicy with 70 percent reporting that they normally have salsa in their refrigerator compared to only 55 percent of Northeasterners. Ranch dressing reigns supreme in the Midwest with 80 percent reporting the item in their refrigerators in comparison to the only 61 percent in Northeastern refrigerators.
Comparing refrigerator contents between genders disproved that women are the ones with the sweet tooth. While about 60 percent of both men and women report having ice cream in their freezers, men more often have candy bars and cake in their refrigerators as well. On the other hand, women are more likely than men to have bottled water in their refrigerators — close to 61 percent reported having water in their refrigerator versus only 48 percent of men. Not surprisingly, beer is found in close to 42 percent of men's refrigerators versus only 33 percent of women's refrigerators.
Leftover take-out food is common-place in American refrigerators with close to 93 percent reporting having leftovers in the fridge. Italian take-out proves hugely popular in the Northeast. It makes an appearance in close to 34 percent of the region's refrigerators, whereas Midwesterners don't seem to miss the meatballs with only 17 percent enjoying Italian leftovers. Not surprisingly, Mexican leftovers were more common in the West than anywhere else in the country (19 percent vs. 4 percent of refrigerators in the Northeast and 9 percent in the South).
While Americans have plenty of cold contents in their refrigerators, most aren't managing those items very well. A majority of people (61 percent) throw out at least one produce item a week because it's no longer fresh. In addition, 51 percent of people have a hard time finding items in their refrigerator because it's over crowded, which speaks to why 62 percent of people would like a larger refrigerator.
"Creating order in key areas within the home, such as a refrigerator, can make a significant impact on everyday life," said Stacy DeBroff, author of Mom Central and a nationally recognized home organization expert. "National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Week, is the perfect catalyst to get families focused on home organization. Families can face their fridge frustrations and get the job done by following a three-step approach that's as easy as A-B-C."
The ABCs of Cleaning Out Your Refrigerator
ASSESS THE SITUATION
Examining your habits may unlock the answer to your fridge frustrations.
- Can you put away and find items easily in your refrigerator?
- Are you constantly throwing away spoiled or rotten food or buying food that's already in the refrigerator?
- Have you converted your refrigerator into a time capsule consisting of artwork, half-empty jars and iced-over meats?
There are three main culprits for fridge problems: lack of space, storing food improperly and inconsistent cleaning.
- If you have an older refrigerator, it may have outgrown its usefulness. New refrigerators boast more capacity and versatility than ever before to fit today's lifestyles. Some new refrigerators can store eight frozen pizza boxes as a result of an In-Door-Ice® system located in freezers. Other space-saving features on the market are adjustable shelves for handling large items and hidden control panels to give more room on top shelves.
- By storing food properly you can cut down on wasted food. Create customized food storage solutions with GLAD Press'n Seal™ wrap. This revolutionary new wrap seals to practically any surface — even plastic containers that are missing lids.
- More than half of Americans don't get around to cleaning their refrigerator on a weekly or monthly basis. Make a habit of throwing out any spoiled food the night before garbage pick-up, that way you can take the items from the kitchen to curb. Torn on what to toss? Follow the cardinal rule "when in doubt, throw out."
Get more from your refrigerator with organization techniques.
- Develop a "store more" strategy. Stacking items will enable you to maximize your space. GLAD Press'n Seal wrap creates a spill-proof seal strong enough you can stack containers on top of each other.
- Maximize your fridge features. Some refrigerators have the capability to funnel the cold air from your freezer to make the in-the-door refrigerator shelves colder — enabling you to store a gallon of milk without the worry.
- Buying Bulk? Separate items into smaller portions for the refrigerator or freezer by using plastic wraps or bags. For example, take bulk ground meat, shape it into patties and use GLAD Press'n Seal wrap to separate individual items and help protect against freezer burn. Not only are you creating more room but you are creating smaller packages that freeze and defrost quickly.
The GLAD Products Company is a subsidiary of The Clorox Company, headquartered in Oakland, Calif. In addition to GLAD Press'n Seal™ sealable wrap, the GLAD line up of products in the United States and Canada includes freezer, food storage and sandwich bags; food wraps; outdoor, indoor and recycling disposal bags; odor-fighting trash bags with ODOR SHIELD technology; and GLADWARE containers and ovenware. GLAD products are developed and manufactured under a joint venture agreement between The Clorox Company, The GLAD Products Company and The Procter & Gamble Company.
About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of more than $12 billion, 68,000 employees, and nearly 50 manufacturing and technology research centers around the globe. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Brastemp, Bauknecht, Consul and other major brand names to consumers in more than 170 countries.
