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The top of the refrigerator can look like the perfect place for extra storage, especially in a small kitchen. It’s flat, easy to reach, and often sitting there completely empty. But that space comes with a few drawbacks that make it a poor choice for many everyday items.
Your refrigerator gives off heat as it runs, and some of that warm air rises around the appliance. The area above the fridge can also collect plenty of dust and grease from cooking. Depending on your refrigerator and how it is installed, putting too many things on top can also interfere with ventilation.
That doesn’t mean the space has to stay completely empty. It just means you should be selective about what you put there. These 12 items are better stored somewhere else.
Pantry Items
Cereal, canned goods, flour, pasta, and other pantry staples are better off in a cabinet or pantry.
The top of the fridge can get warmer than the rest of the kitchen, and repeated exposure to heat can affect food quality over time. Cereal and other dry goods may lose their freshness, while canned foods are better kept in a cool, dry place.
A cabinet or organized kitchen pantry gives these foods a more stable environment and keeps them away from the dust that tends to gather above the refrigerator.
Dried Herbs
Spices and dried herbs such as oregano, basil, and parsley don’t belong above the fridge either.
Heat, light, and moisture can cause herbs and spices to lose their flavor and aroma sooner. Since the top of the refrigerator tends to be warmer, your spice collection can lose its freshness faster than it would in a cool, dark cabinet.
Keep dried herbs in an enclosed cabinet away from the stove and other heat sources.
Perishable Food
Leaving bread, fruit, or other fresh foods on top of the fridge might seem convenient, but the extra warmth isn’t doing them any favors.
Some foods can spoil or lose quality faster when kept in a warm spot. Bread can also become stale more quickly. Find a cooler location that suits the particular food instead.
Related: 10 Canned Beans Every Emergency Pantry Should Have
Batteries
Batteries don’t do well with heat or repeated temperature changes. Keeping them above the refrigerator exposes them to warmth from the appliance, which can shorten their storage life and increase the chance of leakage.
A drawer or cabinet in a cool, dry part of the house is a much better place for spare batteries. Keep them in their original packaging or a container where they won’t come into contact with metal objects.
Heavy Cookware
Large pots, cast-iron pans, and other heavy cookware may seem like an easy way to free up cabinet space, but storing them above the refrigerator creates a falling hazard.
The refrigerator can vibrate while its compressor runs, and reaching for a heavy pan above your head can be awkward. One slip could send the cookware crashing down.
Heavy kitchen equipment belongs on a sturdy, low shelf where it’s easier and safer to retrieve.
Related: Say Goodbye to These 8 Pantry Items Now
Books
Cookbooks can be tempting to keep above the fridge, especially if that’s where you do most of your cooking. But the warmth and humidity around the appliance aren’t ideal for books.
Over time, heat can contribute to warped pages, faded covers, and damaged bindings. Grease and dust from the kitchen can also settle on them.
Keep cookbooks on a shelf or in a cabinet away from appliances that give off heat.
Small Appliances
The top of the fridge may seem like a convenient spot for a microwave, toaster oven, air fryer, or other small appliance, but it isn’t always a suitable surface.
These items can be heavy, and some produce their own heat during use. Placing an appliance above the refrigerator can also make it difficult to access safely.
Check the refrigerator manufacturer’s clearance requirements before placing anything on top, and keep appliances on a sturdy counter or shelf whenever possible.
Liquids
Bottles of oil, wine, vinegar, and other liquids are better stored somewhere with a stable temperature.
Heat can affect the quality of certain oils, while wine needs more controlled storage conditions than the top of a refrigerator can provide. There is also the simple issue of spills. A leaking bottle can leave a sticky mess on top of the fridge and may run down into areas that are difficult to clean.
A pantry or appropriate storage rack is a better choice.
Related: 17 Pantry Staples That Make Cooking From Scratch Easier
Open Food Containers
Open bags of snacks, bowls of food, and other uncovered items can attract insects and other pests. The warmth above the fridge can make the area even less appealing as a food-storage spot.
If food needs to sit out temporarily, keep it covered. For longer storage, move it into a sealed container and place it somewhere appropriate.
Fragile Items
Vases, glass jars, picture frames, ceramics, and other breakable decorations are risky choices for the top of a refrigerator.
The appliance can vibrate while it runs, and a person reaching for something nearby can accidentally knock an item over. A falling glass or ceramic object can break on the floor and send pieces across the kitchen.
If you want to display something decorative, choose a stable shelf where it won’t be disturbed by the movement of the appliance.
Cleaning Supplies
Keeping cleaning products above the refrigerator may seem like a clever way to keep them away from children, but it’s still a poor storage spot.
A leaking bottle can damage the surface of the refrigerator, and a spill could create a mess near food and food-preparation areas. Cleaning products should be stored according to their labels, preferably in a secure cabinet away from food.
Medication
Medicine should generally be kept according to the storage instructions on its label. Many medications call for a cool, dry place away from heat and moisture, which makes the top of the refrigerator a poor choice.
Heat can affect some medications over time. A bathroom cabinet may also be unsuitable because of humidity, so a cool bedroom or kitchen cabinet may be better for medicines that don’t require refrigeration.
If a medication specifically says it needs to be refrigerated, follow those instructions rather than storing it above the appliance.
The top of the fridge can be useful for a few lightweight items, but it’s easy to turn the space into a cluttered catch-all. Keeping heat-sensitive, heavy, fragile, edible, and chemical items somewhere else will help protect your belongings and keep the area around your refrigerator cleaner.
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