Family member has bought refrigerated gifts

Good point. Either it’s a short and repeatable (on Chrstmas morning) distance, or they've a cooling container they can employ chez OP.

I think you’d better buy a padlock for your fridge, @ScottyandWestie.

Just me picturing some sort of Jeffrey Dahmer fridge set-up, then?

Oh that sucks OP, turning up with a ton of stuff that has to go in your already stacked fridge was pretty much exactly what I posted on the ' things people do at Chrismas that seem helpful but aren't' MN thread that was running a month or so ago. No advice, just solidarity!

I agree, I was thinking a massive lobster. It’s way too much palaver for a few blocks of cheese

Whatever it is will be fine in the boot of the car surely, it's cold at night and boots stay cold.

I would also send them a picture of your full fridge post shop and say, no room, make other arrangements please. Let them buy a large cool box and a load of ice packs (which you could top up in your freezer maybe).

What a stupid Xmas gift. Are the recipients meant to eat whatever it is straight after Christmas when nobody wants more food or how are they meant to get it home?

Last Christmas I had to empty my fridge of all the jars of chutney, jam, sauces etc that was taking up a whole shelf. I put them in a cool box and changed the ice blocks every day, they were fine. Bottles of wine and beer were stored outside on the back door step which is out of the sun and we just kept a couple in the fridge for immediate consumption.

'And what do you suggest I do with all the food that needs refrigerating over the Christmas period?'

I can't wait to hear what it is. I reckon a ton of seafood

God knows … sounds like a total pain whatever it is!?!

They can leave it in my fridge if they want...shan't give it back though

I agree, it cant possibly be cheese. Shellfish perhaps?

That’s taken up two shelves? How much cheese can they be bringing?!?

What on earth can it been that needs two shelves and how stupid, who’s going to have two free shelves on a normal day, let alone Xmas. Think shed is the way to go unless you have a fridge in the garage or they can bring an under the counter one.

Genuinely cannot wait to hear about what it is. What a hilariously ridiculous request.

If they ignore clear instructions - 'DO NOT bring anything that needs to be refrigerated, we do not have space, the fridge is already full' (all in caps) - and arrive with something anything anyway, then I'd let whatever it is go off in their room/outside in the garden. And not invite them again, ever. People like this disrespect everyone else until they are given consequences.

Waiting to see what they gift.

I reckon it’s mushroom growing kits. They go in the fridge and can be pretty bulky!

Just say no OP, poor planning on their part doesn’t constitute an emergency for you.

while this is funny, its also not. Who thinks its ok to turn up and demand fridge space in someone else's fridge over Christmas while they are being hosted?!

Horribly entitled of them. STBEXH and I are unfortunately still living together and his sister is visiting, but staying somewhere else, over Christmas. I had to suggest that the idea of STBEXH picking up her Christmas shop from the supermarket and storing it in our fridge on the 23rd wouldn't work. We have a huge fridge, but fitting a whole family's Christmas shop just wouldn't fit

I wouldn't be able to accommodate that

I guess cheese. It will be fine outside in a cool bag. I wouldn't be giving up precious fridge space either.

I'd just say no, sorry, the fridge is already crammed full so there is no space. Then leave them to it.
If they still turn up with it, repeat, I told you there was no space for it.
I would probably put it in a lidded plastic box in the garden or leave it in the boot of the car depending on what it is. It's so cold at the moment anyway.
I can't lose much sleep over people who do this kind of thing. They're quite happy to be thoughtless and inconvenience you, why worry about putting them out a bit.
And for the people who suggested mounjaro, I really wish we had a laughing emoji - 😂

I'd have been googling the Norwegian word for 'No', quick-smart... 🤢

How daft to expect there to be spare hfridge space over Christmas! You’ll have to tell them there just will not be room!

I well remember buying a small fridge to go outside in a covered area, when we were expecting a really full house over Christmas - 9 adults, two of whom were very big eaters and would be staying for 4 nights!

I would assume its a cheese hamper.

I bought cheese once then realized it had to be refrigerated, was really stressful as everyone uses the fridge and I didn't want the receiver to see it. Lesson learned.

Still I have seen on worst gifts threads people who where gifted things with cheese without any storage warning and then it was put under the tree unrefrigerated in a cosy warm living room for days until everyone was like 'whats that ungodly smell'. Apparently not a rare occurrence.