Where does milk go in the refrigerator? What shelf do I put the leftovers in? What about the sauces? Is there a method by which I should arrange foods in the refrigerator?
In recent years, I have led a life that was anything but sedentary. On my resume I have six transfers to three different regions and one abroad to my credit–in seven years! But what does that have to do with it? To make a long story short, my many moves have allowed me to meet so many people, couples, families. Beautiful encounters that I carry in my heart and that allowed me to enter different homes, sit at the table to share good times and … peek into refrigerators. No, I’m not a busybody-maybe a little, okay-but so I got to notice something: many people don’t use the refrigerator in the right way.
In this article we review the rules of good refrigerator use: we will derive a number of “invisible” but really valuable benefits. In summer, then, with rising temperatures-they are worth double!
Why should I learn the secrets of food preservation?
Using the refrigerator properly has its advantages:
- consume less energy: our utility bills will be lower and the environment will thank us;
- our foods will last longer;
- limits the contamination and spread of bacteria and mold as much as possible.
How should I arrange foods in the refrigerator?
Almost everyone falls here-do you? Are you sure you are storing each food item in the right compartment? Before that, however, we need to make sure that we store our food properly. Bulk products and leftovers should be stored in airtight containers. Alternatively, we can wrap them in special wrappers made from beeswax, which can be reused and save us from using tin foil and cling film. Another important caution is not to refrigerate foods while they are still hot. Wait for them to cool so the refrigerator does not have to consume energy to do so instead of time, which is free.
NOTE: To understand the logic by which food should be placed in the refrigerator, remember that air inside the appliance circulates. We can set the temperature to 4°C, but just like in any other room, thehot air herewill go upward and the cold air will go downward. That’s why we distinguish different shelves according to food requirements. That being said, let’s see where to store different foods starting from the bottom:
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
They should be stored in the drawers at the base of the refrigerator, kept inside paper bags or beeswax wrappers.
MEAT AND FISH
Meat and fish, and raw foods in general, should be placed above the vegetable drawer. In short, in the lowest shelf, which also corresponds to the coldest shelf. Before storing meat in the refrigerator it is best to seal it in food bags , remembering that large cut meat lasts about 2-3 days.
CHEESE and CURED MEATS
Both cheeses and cold cuts should be placed in the medium-cold area, thus in the middle shelves.
EGGS
Eggs will typically keep for up to a month and should be placed in the egg rack found in the refrigerator door, or in the middle areas.
CREAM-BASED DESSERTS
They should be stored in the middle shelf.
ADVANCES
Leftover lunch or dinner, are to be placed on the middle or top shelves instead. Store leftovers in clean, lidded containers and consume them in a short time.
MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS
Milk and yogurt should be placed in the least cold areas, such as door or higher shelf. Once opened, if fresh, they should be consumed within 2-3 days. In addition, milk, rice and dairy products can absorb odors: close the package tightly when storing them in the refrigerator.
SAUCES, DRINKS, BUTTER
They are fine in the refrigerator door or overhead because they require only light refrigeration and still keep for a long time.
Did you know that.
Does winter give us a natural “refrigeration effect”?
Coming back after shopping, in the cold months we can facilitate the cooling of food at no cost by placing bags and cases of water on the balcony or windowsill. After a couple of hours, they will have added a temperature such that the refrigerator will have to do the least amount of work and will only have to keep it cold. This shrewdness will ensure less energy consumption and consequently less impact on your utility bill!
A compendium to keep on hand
In addition to the proper arrangement of food in the refrigerator, there are other tricks that can help us maximize its effectiveness by minimizing energy consumption and spoilage time. Let’s look together at the rules to always keep in mind:
- The refrigerator works best if the air inside it is free to circulate. How can we make sure this happens? Arranging the foods so that they are a little far apart and not overfilling the refrigerator so that the foods do not stick together. We also always leave some space at the bottom of the refrigerator-that way air can circulate there as well and no ice will form;
- Watch out for frost formation: ice is responsible for a considerable increase in consumption and costs. Therefore, it is generally good to pay attention to it and defrost the refrigerator and freezer when we notice ice formation;
- Periodically check the effective operation of the refrigerator and perform regular maintenance. Ideally, the refrigerator should be emptied and cleaned thoroughly every ten days, paying special attention to food debris that may be hiding in the fruit and vegetable drawers and in the door;
- The refrigerator temperature for proper storage should be around 4 degrees Celsius;
- He who stops is lost: let us not open the refrigerator and then stare at it blankly! We try to minimize the opening time and close it as quickly as possible so that the internal temperature does not rise causing avoidable energy consumption.
