How much does it cost to stock the typical family refrigerator?

Refrigerators were originally used to store just a few perishable essentials such as meat and milk. In fact, the first electric units of the 1920s were only slightly bigger than modern mini-fridges.

Nearly 100 years later, refrigerators are bigger than ever and used to store the bulk of the food consumed by a household.

Americans spend anywhere from $130 to just under $300 a week stocking up on food for a family of four, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But those numbers include dry goods that wouldn't be kept in the refrigerator and leave out fridge such staples as condiments that families don't typically buy every week.

Once in a while, you might have to fill a fridge from scratch. Take a tour and learn how much that can cost.

The door. Cost to stock: $44.50. Although the newest refrigerators have ample door bins designed for stowing milk and eggs, putting these items there will shorten shelf life and cost you more in the long run.

For best results, stock the door with a pound of butter ($4), two bottles of salad dressing ($5), a bottle of orange juice ($4), a bottle of apple juice ($4.50), extra virgin olive oil ($8), and a case of bottled water ($9). Remember such condiments as ketchup ($3), mustard ($1.50), pickle relish ($2.50), and barbecue sauce ($3) to give your meals zing.

Low-humidity crisper drawer. Cost to stock: $39.85. Refrigerators usually have two to four crisper drawers for stowing fruits and vegetables. Adjustable slides let you set the humidity level in each drawer to keep your produce at the right level for maximum freshness.

The USDA recommends two to four servings of fruit a person a day, or 56 to 112 servings to last the week. To maximize health without maximizing spend, stock 8 pounds of apples ($10.40), 8 pounds of pears ($12.80), and 5 pounds of grapes ($16.65).

Or join a food co-op, which pools participants' money to buy fresh, local produce directly from growers. Buy at least two baskets at $15 each to feed a family of four for the week. Although you'll save a bundle, you won't get to pick the produce you want.

High-humidity crisper drawer. Cost to stock: $33.21. Stock your leafy greens and other veggies here, with adjustment to the highest level to keep them from wilting. Fill this drawer with enough fresh veggies to equal the 84 servings per week your family of four needs, including two 2-pound packages of baby carrots ($5), two bunches of broccoli ($4), three heads of romaine lettuce ($7), two bunches of spinach ($6), five bell peppers ($3.80), two bunches of green onions ($1.16), and 5 pounds of zucchini squash ($6.25).

Don't waste money by putting veggies in your fridge that don't belong there. Store garlic, onions, tomatoes and potatoes outside your refrigerator.

Meat/cheese drawer. Cost to stock: $69.67. The USDA recommends two to three servings of protein a day, and this is the perfect place to store easy-to-prepare meats and cheeses for budget family meals.

Buy two 2-pound packages of turkey, ham, beef, or pastrami lunch meat ($29). A 2-pound brick of Dubliner Imported Irish Cheese ($10) adds a lot of flavor without adding calories when thinly sliced. Finish up with a four-pack of 1-pound bacon packages for breakfast ($15.86) and a 1.5-pound package of beef franks for weekend cookouts ($14.81).

Middle and lower shelves. Cost to stock: $37.75. Eggs help spice up boring meals. Keep them on the middle shelf, the coldest spot, along with other foods susceptible to bacteria. Store raw meat or poultry on trays or in baking pans so juices leaking from the packages don't contaminate other food.

Stock this shelf with three dozen eggs ($4.25), two gallons of milk ($6.50), and a protein for every night of the week. A serving of meat is just 4 ounces, so 3 pounds of ground beef ($11) and 5 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts ($16) serve as a nice base for budget family meals. Buy meat twice during the week, as it can spoil in just a few days.

The top shelf. Cost to stock: $22.05. One of the warmer spots in your refrigerator, this should be limited to things that won't spoil quickly, such as peanut butter ($4.50) and jelly ($1.80), hummus ($3.50), fruit cups ($6.25), and salsa ($6). It's also ideal for storing leftovers.

Grand total. All together, stocking a fridge for a family of four for a week can cost as little as $247.03 when you start from scratch. Protect your investment by preventing food-spoiling bacteria from building up in your refrigerator, and you won't have to worry about food-borne illnesses.

Line shelves, drawers and compartments with easy-to-clean fridge mats. You can make your own by cutting some plastic placemats from the dollar store to fit or just line your shelves with plastic wrap that you can peel off and throw away.