Unused fridge compartment???

[twocultures]

Ok a bit boring and not sure if this is in the right section.

Due to the small size of the kitchen we only have a small built in fridge (there's only me DP and DC 1.5) .
At the bottom there's a compartment for (I only assume) vegetables etc.
But I never use it as its too hard to get to as you have to sort of lift the bottom shelf to get to the contents of it and it's just too much fussing about as things get thrown all over the place on the shelf or you'd have to take everything out to get to it so it's not convenient.

I'm thinking I could keep something in there that I don't use often so 1. It won't use up space in the rest of the fridge and 2. I get to use the extra space and 3. It won't be a hassle having to remove it from the compartment and mess up the other shelf as it will only be done very rarely. But my minds drawing a blank ATM... What would you put in it?

[twocultures]

Realised my ramble might not make sense, you can see the compartments underneath the shelf so you have to lift the shelf.

[minipie]

Is it not a drawer that slides out? I'd have expected that to be a veg/salad drawer.

Is the shelf adjustable - could you put it in a higher position so you can access the container underneath?

[Chasingsquirrels]

My built in fridge is similar, although the shelf on mine slides out rather than lifts so it's slightly easier to access - still a faff and you have to Hereford, but you don't have to clear it.

I keep extra bulk stuff in there, so if I but 2-4-1 cheddar, butter spread etc. So not stuff I'd get out everyday.

Quite often it is empty though.

[Chasingsquirrels]

Hereford be careful (no idea how that autocorrected)

[twocultures]

Unfortunately it's not a drawer ...
I can't put the bottom shelf higher as there's 2 more shelves above it so I'd have to remove one.

I though of butter/cheese etc and ATM it's my top pick but I can't help but think that now I will have to buy cheese and butter in bulk just so I use the compartment

[KP86]

Can you just take the shelf out and use it as a basket? So you lose a shelf space but gain a deeper drawer without a lid.

[SilverBat]

Are you sure it doesn't slide out?
I would just get rid of it (unless of course it's holding up the veg shelf).
That way you can store a few more things under.

[SilverBat]

Have you checked under your other shelves - just thought, I have what the manufacturers call a cheese drawer in my fridge, which slots under one of my shelves, and pulls out.

[BerylStreep]

You could take the drawer out and use fridge boxes that they sell in TX Maxx for storage.

[BerylStreep]

Can you post a photo of the full fridge?

[twocultures]

Sorry for the wait here's the full fridge (excuse the sorry contents we need to go shopping)

[BerylStreep]

Oh I see better now. The drawer is more of a compartment recessed into the bottom. hmm, will think.

[iMatter]

Chocolate.

You need a chocolate compartment.

[BerylStreep]

So what I would do is to raise the middle shelf up one notch, and use a fridge binz tray which you can pull out for shallow stuff like cheese & butter.

Move up the bottom shelf to the lowest notch, thereby leaving the recessed but accessible.

That gives you 3 shelves (one of which you put a pull-out tray / drawer' onto), along with your recessed cubby at the bottom.

[icyfront]

Have you checked the manual? Most are online these days.

That might give a clue. It does seem odd that there's an area you can't easily get to.

Though I'm wondering if the front could be a drop-down door - one of those fiddly things that you have to lift up and then pivot outwards.

[Chasingsquirrels]

Looks v similar to mine except a different top bit - so the front half of it slides out.
If you you just take the shelf out you can store most of the stuff you currently have on too and other salad/veg/fruit as it will be a bit deeper.
The only problem is the "dip" isn't as wide or towards the back of the fridge as just the shelf would be.

[Chasingsquirrels]

I've also split mine by putting in two large icecream tubs which just fit snuggly.

[twocultures]

Chocolate compartment yessssssss!

Yes it's just an awkward shelf..... Maybe raising the shelves up is a good idea....but ATM the space I get out of them is perfect for me (I'm weird I know).

[NannyR]

Mine is the same, I've just taken out the shelf completely and use the basket for veg.