The Movers.com Blog

Even if you leave your fridge behind, you can still take what's inside.

There are plenty of things to pack up when you get ready for a move. While you are likely to account for most of the items in your kitchen, it is easy to forget about the items in your refrigerator.

It can be costly and wasteful to throw away the contents of your fridge and repurchase everything anew. If you want to take some food items with you, there are several things you’ll need to keep in mind. Most importantly, you should determine whether it will be possible to take along your perishable food. If you are moving a long distance, transporting perishable goods might not work out so well. No matter how many precautions you take, that gallon of milk won’t be too pretty after a cross-country drive. Also, if you are moving to another country, perishable food will almost always be rejected at customs.

The first piece of advice on moving perishable food is to take as little as possible. In the weeks and days leading up to your move, try to consume whatever perishable food you can, so you will have less items to take with you. Now would be a great time to finally use that bag of frozen Brussels sprouts or those bricks of spinach that have been collecting ice buildup by being in the freezer for so long. Anything you don’t use can then be transported to your new home. (If you still haven’t eaten those frozen vegetables, you probably won’t eat them in your new place either. It might be best to throw them out.)

When moving your perishable food, it is of utmost importance that you maintain the freshness and frozen status of your goods. Use an airtight cooler or insulated freezer bag filled with plenty of ice, icepacks, or dry ice. Make sure you have enough of whatever cooling substance you use to keep the items from spoiling. You should also take into account whether or not the refrigerator will be plugged in and running before you arrive. If not, then you will have to rely on your cooling method a little longer. Before putting your perishable goods into your freezer, check their condition. If any frozen items have thawed during the move, or if your milk or other liquids have gone bad, dispose of them.

You may also want to transport perishable items that aren’t frozen and don’t need to be refrigerated, such as bread and fresh produce. These items don’t necessarily have to be transported in a cooler. However, you might want to do so if it will be a long drive in warm weather to get to your new home, or if you are traveling through a warm climate.

As long as you take the proper precautions, there’s no reason not to take your perishable foods with you, unless you’re moving across the country, or to another one.

Have you ever moved your perishable food?  Did you have to throw anything away at your destination?  Tell us about it with a comment below!