Avoid Storing Eggs in the Fridge Door and Protect Tomatoes from Cold: 5 Essential Food Storage Tips
Discover how the smart arrangement of food in your refrigerator can preserve freshness and health. Follow these 5 expert tips to store your groceries properly and extend their shelf life.
Refrigerator shelves are designed not only for convenience but also to protect our health. The key to maintaining the nutritional value of your food lies in storing items thoughtfully and separately.
In today's world, no modern homemaker can imagine daily life without appliances that simplify tasks. The refrigerator is an indispensable kitchen essential that helps keep food safe and fresh. Therefore, all perishable items should be refrigerated immediately after purchase.
Keep in mind: when it's hot outside, you have about an hour to bring groceries home and maintain their freshness.
Warm air encourages bacterial growth on food, introduced by handlers, sellers, and other customers. While the refrigerator slows bacterial spread, it’s crucial to separate different food types properly.
For example, dairy products are common sources of harmful bacteria, so one key rule is to store raw and cooked foods separately.
Experts recommend this storage layout:
Use the top shelf for ready-to-eat foods and deli meats.
The middle shelf is ideal for dairy products and eggs (it’s time to stop storing eggs in the fridge door).
The bottom shelf is best for raw meats and fish, whether in factory packaging or in deep dishes if marinating. This shelf maintains the coldest temperature, perfect for raw items.
The lower drawers are designated for fruits, vegetables, and herbs. These items should avoid direct contact with fridge walls to prevent freezing. For loose produce, keep bags open to allow airflow, as pre-packaged fruits and veggies usually have ventilation holes.
The fridge door is the warmest spot, suitable for juices, jams, and canned goods, which contain preservatives and can tolerate milder temperatures.
If you need to store items long-term, place them in the freezer to preserve nutrients and prevent spoilage. Typically, food can be frozen for 1–2 months without losing flavor. Previously, we shared tips on how proper freezing can save your budget.
Additional Tips for Specific Foods:
Store apples separately from other fruits and vegetables because they release ethylene gas, which accelerates ripening and can cause bananas or apricots nearby to spoil quickly.
Keep unripe fruits at room temperature until fully ripened before refrigerating.
Watermelons should be kept at room temperature, whereas melons like cantaloupe are best refrigerated.
Tomatoes, potatoes, onions, zucchini, and garlic prefer a cool, dark pantry over the fridge, as cold temperatures can cause them to spoil faster.
Also, avoid overstuffing your refrigerator. Stacking food items can reduce the appliance's efficiency and shorten its lifespan.
Maintain cleanliness by defrosting and cleaning your fridge and freezer every 2–3 months to prevent unpleasant odors that can transfer to food.
Immediately clean any spills to avoid sticky residues, which are harder to remove later.
Photo credit: Shutterstock/Fotodom.ru
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