The Refrigerator: Time to Get Reacquainted

You will find them in almost any home in North America. They are probably the most frequently used item in the kitchen and without them, you would probably get sick or starve. I’m talking about your refrigerator. The single most important feature and invention in the kitchen, the refrigerator has revolutionized how we cook and eat our foods.

Being such an important accessory in the household, most individuals do not have a clue how it actually operates. It’s a basic cooling system that uses a compressor to push very cold Freon through a complex system of pipes to keep your tasty dishes, foods, and drinks cool at an optimal temperature.

There are rules and guidelines you should follow when placing foods and maintaining your refrigerator. Lucky for you we have a little guide so you can get reacquainted with your refrigerator.

Ok, so your refrigerator keeps everything cool but what keeps it from freezing your foods and developing ice crystals on it? Well the refrigerator should be kept at a nominal temperature of between 32° F and 40° F. This cool atmosphere actually inhibits enzymatic breakdown and slows down the growth of bacteria. Setting it at this exact temperature keeps the food fresh but does not allow ice crystals or ice burns to form on the food. This artificial process extends food quality, texture, taste, and prolongs the life of the dish in question. Note that contrary to popular belief, refrigerators DO NOT kill bacteria nor do they improve food quality. 

A lot of people love to cram their refrigerator so much full of food that it would take two fully grown men just to close it. Bad idea!! You should keep a bit of distance between all your dishes, foods, and drinks to allow the refrigerated air to circulate freely around them. Doing this also distributes the temperature evenly so all your foods get the right amount of coolness to stay fresh.

Some people forget but it is very important to cover your foods when you place them within the refrigerator. Foods left uncovered will quickly dry out, become bland, and a once amazing dish won’t be good even for the family dog. The problem is that the air within the refrigerator is very cold and therefore extremely dry. Furthermore, if you do not cover your foods, odor absorption might occur between different foods. This means that if you leave cauliflower uncovered next to some dairy product, such as milk, it will absorb the order and make for a very nasty milkshake!!

There is a common myth in households that hot foods should not be placed inside the refrigerator. Well let me tell you that this is completely FALSE!! This appliance is made for cooling down foods, no matter what temperature they are at initially. Think about it. The fridge is made to slow down the growth of bacteria. Will bacteria breed quickly in a cold environment of 40° F or at warm temperature of 70° - 80 ° F? Obviously it’s the warmer temperature but thick warm dishes, like lasagna, should be cut into smaller pieces to speed up the cooling process.

Remember that certain food can be left out for a fairly long time without going bad, like apples, but certain foods need to be placed inside the fridge fairly quickly. Certain foods, such as milk, need to be placed inside the fridge in under 2 hours to prevent the spread of bacterial growth. In hotter climates, the 2 hour leeway time is shrunk down to 1 hour so be careful when bringing foods home from the grocery store.

Now, keeping your fridge full is just as important as keeping your fridge clean! About every month or so, you should take out all the contents of the fridge and give it a good thorough cleaning. What I usually do is take a soft damp cloth, dip it in baking soda, and start wiping all the shelves, seals, and gaskets. This will ensure that your fridge won’t smell like your trash receptacle. Also, it’s a good idea to keep an open box of baking soda somewhere in your fridge to absorb all the odors.

Follow this guide and you should be able to properly maintain and take care of your refrigerator and foods.  

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