How to Position Your Refrigerator to Avoid Food Poisoning

If you are one of those who accumulate dirt inside the refrigerator, you should know that you are exposing yourself to food poisoning. Yes, lack of hygiene can lead to the multiplication of pathogens that naturally live in our environment and are found in some foods. like rabbits in heat they were treated

In addition to hygiene, it is important to maintain the correct order in the refrigerator. And no, this is not an obsession on the part of lovers of order and OCD. They may seem like minor details, but they ultimately make a difference in extending the shelf life of our products.

Not only does this protect us from the dreaded food poisoning, it also reduces food waste in the home and saves money in the long run. So, even if it’s for “money”, please keep your refrigerator in good condition. And it doesn’t matter the size of the refrigerator or the amount of food you store in it. These tips apply to everyone. Chefs or those who prefer to drop delivery.

The refrigerator door is dark and harbors the horrors of food poisoning

For years, refrigerator manufacturers have been obsessed with selling us refrigerators with egg cups in the door. Yes, that little piece of plastic that you have never cleaned in your life and that keeps dirtier than the sofa in the back. Regardless of your poor sanitation skills, the truth is that storing eggs in the refrigerator door is not a good idea.

The reason is that this area is closely related to temperature changes. Thus, every time we open and close the refrigerator, we expose the food in it to temperature fluctuations similar to those your grandma’s hip at the village holidays. That is, it is inconvenient to store perishable or sensitive products in the refrigerator door. No eggs, meat, fish or food leftovers. Don’t even think about putting the pottage container in the refrigerator door. It probably won’t fit, but I can see that you are capable of breaking the laws of physics: don’t try to put it in a vertical position, because you will get everything dirty.

What will we then hang on the door to avoid food poisoning? Well, sauces, drinks or jams. Also chocolate in the summer so it doesn’t melt. That is, products that they last a long time and which temperature change is not affected as much. It is also a good place to store unopened preserves, which for some gastronomic reasons we prefer to eat cold, but which can really be perfectly stored out of the refrigerator.

We said that keeping an egg in the refrigerator door is not a good idea. The reason is that our terrible friend salmonella, the queen of food poisoning. This pathogenic bacterium may be present in eggshell naturally coming from within the chicken. It is currently difficult, if not impossible, to guarantee the absence salmonella in the egg, so we must be very careful with its handling and storage at home. In this sense, it is necessary to avoid placing eggs in the refrigerator door and it is advisable to choose intermediate shelves.

Refrigerator interior, it’s the great unknown

Inside the refrigerator we find different sections, usually separated by shelves or shelves. Surely after making a purchase you go like crazy to post food as you catch and without any logical criteria. From today this will change. Your food poisoning health and your wallet will appreciate it.

For example, it’s interesting that we store fruits and vegetables in the bottom drawers because those are the coldest and most humid places. If we go upstairs, we’ll find the bottom shelves where it’s perfect to store foods such as meat and fishor food for defrosting. This is to ensure that possible juices or exudates from defrosting do not stain other foods in the refrigerator. Since the lower fruit and vegetable drawers are closed, there is no problem in this regard.

Then we find intermediate shelves. As we said earlier, these are ideal places to stay eggs, dairy products, sausages as well as ready meals. Finally, on the top shelves, it is interesting that we place leftovers from cooked food or ready-to-eat foods such as guacamole or hummus.

Important tips to keep your food as long as possible

To conclude, here are some general tips for keeping our refrigerator in order, recommended by AESAN, the Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency. And run away from those food poisonings.

• At least once a month, thoroughly clean your refrigerator.
• Keep the refrigerator at a maximum temperature of 4 degrees.
• Pay attention to expiration dates or preferential consumption.
• It uses the “FIFO” principle (nothing to do with EA Sports). That is, “first in, first out”: the first thing that goes in is the first thing that goes out.
• Separate raw foods from cooked foods to avoid cross-contamination.
• Use closed and airtight food storage containers.
• Refrigerate or freeze prepared foods.
• Read labels for manufacturer’s storage recommendations.

It is also important that we allow enough space among foodstuffs. In other words, let’s not leave them crowded because the cold won’t be able to circulate properly between foods. Our food will not cool properly and spoil prematurely. And yes, with the corresponding food poisoning.

Finally, it is important to clarify that not all vegetables should be ideally located in the refrigerator. Some, such as bananas, avocados or tomatoes, it is desirable to place from the refrigerator. That is, at room temperature, so that its maturation is optimal. However, in hot weather, such as summer, it may be acceptable to store them in exceptionally cold conditions to extend their shelf life – at the risk of spoiling the taste.