How to store food in the refrigerator
All home refrigerators come with internal shelves, drawers and storage compartments on the inside of the door, but do you know which foods go where? If food is not stored properly, there is a risk of cross-contamination between raw or unprocessed foods and ready-to-eat foods. In the worst case, this can lead to food poisoning.
top shelf
You should store ready-to-eat foods such as packaged foods, leftovers, deli meats, and prepared salads on the top shelf of your refrigerator. These should be covered or kept in airtight containers to prevent contamination. Store ready-to-eat foods on top of the refrigerator, away from raw foods, so harmful bacteria cannot transfer from raw foods to cooked foods.
Middle shelf
The middle shelf of the refrigerator is the best place to store dairy products such as cheese, cream, cream, yogurt, desserts, and eggs. Wrap cheeses or place them in a container to prevent them from drying out. Storing dairy products in the center of the refrigerator rather than in the door helps keep them longer as the temperatures are lower.
bottom shelf
The bottom shelf of the refrigerator is the coldest part of the refrigerator and therefore should be used to store raw meat, poultry, and fish in airtight containers. Raw meat should always be stored at the bottom of the refrigerator to prevent cross-contamination - for example, if any juices (which may contain harmful bacteria) leak from the packaging, they could drip onto food stored on lower shelves. Make sure each item is wrapped or placed in an airtight container to avoid contact with other foods.
salad drawer
The bottom shelf of a salad drawer or refrigerator should be used to store fruits, vegetables, and salad greens that have been washed before storage. Make sure your fruits, vegetables and salads are wrapped in something like air-perforated paper or plastic to protect them from any contamination. For salads and herbs, try wrapping them in a damp paper towel before storing to prevent them from drying out and keep them fresher longer.
refrigerator door shelf
The refrigerator door is the warmest part of the refrigerator, so it should be used to store foods that won't spoil quickly, such as juices, mayonnaise, ketchup, jams and other condiments or preserved foods in jars or bottles. These foods tend to have a longer shelf life than other, more perishable foods.
Refrigerator Food Hygiene Tips
To keep your refrigerator operating optimally and the food stored in it safe, follow our refrigerator tips:
- Your refrigerator temperature should be set between 1 and 5°C to slow food spoilage and prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying. At this temperature, high-risk foods will be safe to eat.
- If your refrigerator thermometer reaches above 8°C, turn the thermostat down to a lower setting or food may enter the temperature danger zone.
- Please pay attention to the expiry date. Any food that is past its sell-by date should not be eaten as harmful bacteria have a chance to grow and make the food hazardous to health. However, food that has passed its sell-by date can still be eaten, as this is only a sign of quality, not safety.
- Make sure you never overload your refrigerator, as you may clog the cooling mechanism that cools food, or the door may not close properly. Air needs to be able to circulate around the food to effectively cool it.
- Newly purchased food should always be placed behind the food already in the refrigerator. This ensures good stock rotation and ensures you finish your food before it expires, reducing food waste.
- Never store opened cans in the refrigerator as this may cause chemical contamination, especially with acidic foods such as fruits and tomatoes. Instead, first pour the canned food into a container suitable for refrigeration.
- The best place to thaw food is in the refrigerator, as this allows it to defrost slowly without causing harmful bacteria to develop.
- If you put leftovers in the refrigerator, make sure to place them in an airtight container and store them within 2 hours of cooking. Never place hot food directly into the refrigerator. You can divide food into smaller containers to help it cool faster.
