One of the best ways to ensure that your food stays safe to eat and lasts longer is by correctly storing it in the fridge. Although many of us may perceive the fridge to be a device that merely keeps our food cold, there is more science to it than one would think.
We know what you are thinking, but this is not a Marie Kondo moment to organise your fridge and “toss what does not spark joy”. This is a basic guide to how to store food in your fridge to ensure the food products last longer and are safe to consume.
It covers all the compartments and shelves of the fridge and offers insight as to why it’s best to store specific food items in certain areas of the fridge.
Door storage
Fridge doors are the warmest part of the fridge and, as such, items such as drinks, sauces, and natural preservatives such as jam and condiments are best to store in this area as they are the most resistant to spoiling.
If you have a double door fridge it is best to store juice, water and other drinks in one side of the door while storing sauces in the other door interior to avoid cross-contamination of items.
Many fridges come with an egg carton holder and can be found in the fridge door. Although we may be tempted to place our eggs in this space, Consumer Reports, a US non-profit organisation that advocates for consumer transparency, advises against placing eggs in the door space as this space should be reserved for items that can handle warmer conditions.
Bottom shelf
According to reports from Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Food Safety, it is best to store raw food items such as meat at the bottom of the fridge.
Meat items should not be stored on the top shelf as there is a high risk that raw meat juices may drip onto ready-to-eat products and cause contamination.
In addition, meat items must be placed in a closed container to avoid cross-contamination with other food products.
In some cases, some fridges may have a slightly smaller drawer at the bottom of the fridge compartment. This area is usually colder and it is advisable to store sliced cured meats there.
These days, many fridges include a crisper drawer. This drawer has been designed for the storage of fresh produce such as vegetables as it is placed at a lower humidity temperature range.
This means that the produce is able to stay fresher for longer under correctly aerated and cooling conditions.
Although one can store all vegetables together, Life Storage recommends that it is better to not place fresh produce together as they give off different gasses.
Middle shelf
The middle shelf is often the coldest area of the fridge and, as such, it is advisable to place cheeses and dairy-related items in this space.
This area of the fridge offers ample ventilation and the correct conditions for the products to last longer. If you do plan on placing eggs in the fridge, it is advisable to place them on the middle shelf.
According to Consumer Reports, colder temperatures are required for dairy and related items as they are more susceptible to developing harmful bacteria.
Top shelf
This is often labelled as the space for ready-to-eat products as it is the warmest area of the fridge. This includes items such as leftovers, snack items, dips and other cooked items.
Placing the ready-to-eat food products on the top shelf avoids possible cross-contamination with other products such as meat and dairy. Essentially items in this area must be able to withstand warmer conditions.
About LG InstaView
Did you know the average household opens the fridge 66 times a day?
LG’s range of InstaView Door-in-Door fridges features an innovative glass panel that allows you to see inside without opening the door. Simply knock twice and all is revealed.
The Door-in-Door, another innovative feature, gives you quick access to the items you reach for most often like water or juice. And because you’re not opening the door completely, you not losing the cold air from within. That a lot of cold air saved, and a lot of produce kept fresh for longer.
The LG InstaView boasts cooling technologies like Door Cooling +, Linear Cooling and a Multi Air Flow vent that allows cool air to reach every corner of the fridge. As a bonus, the intelligent Hygiene Fresh air filter eliminates up to 99.9% of bacteria and reduces odours, so your food is stored in a clean environment. All these systems work together to help food stay fresh for longer, so nothing goes to waste.