Many of us have considered stockpiling shelf-stable food for emergencies — items that won't go bad for years, even if there's no electricity to power a refrigerator or freezer. However, what about everyday life? Unless you're living in an extremely remote area without a reliable power grid, or you just time-traveled here from the 1930s, you probably store your everyday food items in a fridge. So, it's important to make the most of the food you use on a daily basis, including perishable items like dairy and fresh produce, rather than only considering emergency food storage.

Optimizing your home's food storage — whether it's the fridge, freezer, counter, or pantry — will have a dramatic effect on your life. Here are a few key benefits of rethinking your food storage system:

• Quick access – Stop digging through disorganized leftovers to find the items you need.
• Longer lifespan – Properly stored items won't spoil as quickly, and you won't end up with moldy science experiments in the back of your fridge.
• Better taste – Fresh food tastes better and retains more nutrients.
• Save on groceries – Less spoiled items means less wasted money and fewer trips to the store.
• Replenish supplies – Learn to re-grow fruits and veggies without spending a dime.
• Help the planet – Tossing less food in the trash means less ends up in landfills, and more food is available for those who might otherwise go hungry.

Self Storage Finders created the following infographic that helps visualize food storage and pantry organization. It addresses several important topics, like how to organize your food, which items don't belong in the fridge, and tips for how to extend the lifespan or regrow vegetables. Check it out below, or click here for a full-size version.

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Written by Patrick McCarthy