- How to organize food in the fridge
- Foods that don't need to be in the fridge
- Validity of food in the refrigerator
- How to save leftover meals
- Foods that can be frozen
- How to get the bad smell out of the fridge
- Kitchen cleaning tips
To keep food in the refrigerator for longer, without risking damage, you need to cook and store food properly and be careful about cleaning the kitchen, countertops and hands.
In addition, the refrigerator temperature must always be kept below 5ºC, because the lower the temperature, the slower the growth of microorganisms that spoil food and cause intestinal infections such as gastroenteritis that generates symptoms such as acute abdominal pain. and diarrhea.
How to organize food in the fridge
Each food in the refrigerator must be stored in closed containers or bags, so that it does not have contact with other products that may be contaminated. In addition, the refrigerator should not be overcrowded, so that cold air circulates more easily and conserves food for longer.
To reduce the risk of food contamination, the refrigerator should be organized as follows:
- Upper part: yogurts, cheeses, mayonnaise, pates, ham and eggs; Intermediate part: cooked food is placed on the upper shelf; Bottom shelf: meat and fish raw or in the process of defrosting; Drawer: fresh fruits and vegetables; Port: milk, olives and other preserves, condiments, butter, juices, jellies, water and other drinks.
A tip to preserve the chopped vegetables and spices for a longer time, you must wash and dry each vegetable well before placing them in the refrigerator, covering the storage container with paper towels to absorb the excess water that forms in the cold environment.
In addition, in the case of milk, for example, whose recommendation is to stay on the refrigerator door, it is important that its consumption be made as indicated on the label. This is because as the milk stays on the refrigerator door, it is exposed to more temperature variations due to the opening and closing of the refrigerator, which can favor the development of harmful microorganisms and lead to the occurrence of infections, even if it is within the expiration date..
Foods that don't need to be in the fridge
The list below indicates the foods that do not need to be kept in the refrigerator:
- Onion because it spoils faster than in the pantry; Garlic because it can be tasteless and moldy faster; Tomato because it can lose its flavor; White potatoes or sweet potatoes because they can get drier and take longer to cook; Canned pepper because it already has ingredients that prevent it from spoiling; All kinds of bread because it dries out faster; Honey or molasses because they will crystallize; Fruits such as banana, apple, pear, tangerine or orange because they lose their antioxidants, the ideal is to buy in smaller quantities; Fruits such as papaya, watermelon, melon or avocado after opening can be kept in the refrigerator wrapped in plastic wrap; Pumpkin because it loses liquid and flavor and therefore needs to be kept in a dark, but well-ventilated place; Peanut butter and Nutella because they are hard and dry, so they must always be inside the pantry or on a clean counter, with tightly closed packaging; Carrot because it can be dry and tasteless, prefer an airy place, but protected from light; Chocolates even if they are open because it is hard and tends to smell and taste differently, never leave it close to the onion; Breakfast cereals because they can be less crunchy; Condiments and spices such as oregano, parsley, powdered pepper, paprika should not be kept in the refrigerator because they can become moist and lose their flavor; Industrialized sauces such as ketchup and mustard do not need to be kept in the refrigerator because they contain preservatives that keep them for a long time even at room temperature; Cookies even in open packaging because moisture can take away the crispness and taste different from the original.
Eggs can be kept in the refrigerator because they only last 10 days at room temperature, but they can last longer when placed in the refrigerator because the cold temperature helps to preserve them.
When the fruit is very ripe, it is advisable to put it in the refrigerator because it will ripen and make it last longer, but for better preservation of fruits and vegetables it is advisable to buy only enough for the week, because they are not at risk of spoiling easily in the pantry, no need to store in the refrigerator.
Learn how to make herbal salt, which also doesn't need to be in the fridge, in the following video:
Validity of food in the refrigerator
Even if a food looks good in the refrigerator, it can be contaminated with fungi and bacteria, and for this reason, the expiration date of each one must always be respected. The following table shows the shelf life that foods have when stored correctly in the refrigerator.
| Food | Duration | Comments |
| Sliced cheese | 5 days | Wrap in plastic film |
| Cheese, whole or in pieces | 1 month | - |
| Raw meats | 2 days | In the packaging |
| Bacon, sausage | 1 week | Out of original packaging |
| Sausage | 3 days |
Out of original packaging |
| Sliced ham | 5 days | Wrap in plastic film |
| Raw fish and crustaceans | 1 day | Keep covered |
| Raw birds | 2 days | Wrap in plastic film |
| eggs | 3 weeks | - |
| Fruit | 5 to 7 days | - |
| Leafy vegetables, eggplant, tomato | 5 to 7 days | Keep in plastic bags |
| Milk cream | 3 to 5 days | - |
| butter | 3 months | - |
| milk | 4 days | - |
| Canned open | 3 days | Remove from the can and store in a closed container |
| Ready food | 3 days | Store in a closed container |
In order for food to last longer, it is important to store it in clean glass or plastic containers with a lid, so that they do not come into contact with other foods, especially raw.
How to save leftover meals
Hot foods should not be placed in the refrigerator because in addition to damaging the functioning of the refrigerator, they can allow the development of microorganisms that may be inside the refrigerator, in a spoiled food, for example. So to save leftovers from lunch or dinner, let it cool first and then store it in the refrigerator.
In order to freeze the leftovers of a meal, it must be placed in a plastic container, without BPA, or a glass with its own lid in the amount you want. You can save the 'done dish' to eat on another day, when you have no time, or you can freeze the rice, beans and meat in separate containers.
The most correct way to freeze leftovers is to place them in the container you want, as long as it is clean and dry and then put it in a tray with cold water and ice cubes, because this will quickly change the temperature, allowing the food last longer.
Foods that can be frozen
It is possible to store food in the freezer or freezer so that it will last longer. It is practically possible to freeze all foods, although some need specific care. Some foods that can be frozen are:
- Yogurt: it can be useful if you want to take it to the pic nic because it must be defrosted when eating; Remains of a birthday cake: they can be kept in a clean and dry container, like an old ice cream jar, but you must place a napkin sheet underneath. To defrost, just leave it in the refrigerator, but it should not freeze again; Leftover meals: in their own packaging that can be made of plastic without BPA or glass, but always well identified, to defrost, use the microwave or let it defrost inside the refrigerator; Meat: can be stored inside the bag that comes from the butcher shop, the packaging that comes from the market or inside square or rectangular containers, which allow a better use of space; Vegetables, fruits and vegetables: they can be stored in freezer bags of different sizes, but they must be cut and always dry before freezing. To freeze bananas peel first and wrap each one in plastic film, they are great for making fruit smoothies. Learn how to freeze fruit pulp. Sliced cheese and ham: can be stored in plastic boxes without BPA, tightly closed or in glass jars with a lid; French bread, baguette or loaf of bread: they can be frozen in freezer bags, or individually with plastic wrap.
Learn how to freeze vegetables without losing nutrients.
How to get the bad smell out of the fridge
To do a good cleaning in the refrigerator and remove the bad smell, you must follow the following steps:
- Unplug and put in the trash any food that may be spoiled; Remove the drawers and shelves and wash them with hot water and detergent. Then pass vinegar or lemon, rinse and let dry naturally or wipe with a clean cloth; Clean the entire refrigerator with water and detergent; Clean the outside with a clean, soft cloth; Clean the condenser coil with a brush; Place the shelves and organize the food back; turn on the device and adjust the temperature between 0 and 5ºC.
If the refrigerator is kept clean on a daily basis, a deeper cleaning should be done every 6 months, but if it is constantly dirty and with food scraps, the general cleaning should be monthly.
Kitchen cleaning tips
Hygiene in the kitchen is necessary to reduce the risk of contamination of food in the refrigerator, it is important to wash utensils, sponge and washcloths with water and detergent after use, remembering to wash the countertop and the dish drainer at the same time. at least once a week, using lemon, vinegar or bleach to help clean.
A good tip for cleaning the dishwashing sponge is to fill it with water and heat it in the microwave for 1 minute on each side. In addition, you must use different cutting boards for meat, fish and vegetables, and use a trash bucket with a lid, so that the remains of food are not exposed to insects.
