Do you have the impression that food spoils faster in your fridge? You may have overlooked one important feature that the “secret button” offers. Why you shouldn’t overlook it?
The refrigerator is an integral part of every household, and by using it correctly, we can extend the shelf life and quality of food. If it seems to you that stored food lasts less time than it should, you may be overlooking a smart feature hidden in this appliance.
How to set the temperature in the refrigerator? Check out the interesting YouTube video on the DIY Pinto channel:
Source: Youtube
Secret button
The key to a longer shelf life of the food you store in the refrigerator is the appropriate temperature. As soon as it is not at optimal values, the stored food is subject to prematurely unwanted mold and rot, and then it is no longer advisable to consume it. And the “secret” button on the refrigerator is used to set it.
What is the ideal temperature?
The optimum temperature in the refrigerator should be between 2°C and 5°C. It slows down the dangerous multiplication of bacteria and food retains its quality and nutritional value much longer. If the temperature is too low, it causes some foods to lose their taste and freshness. On the contrary, higher than the recommended temperature is to blame for faster reproduction of bacteria and spoilage. And how to properly store individual types of food?
Vegetables and fruits
Store fruits and vegetables in the lower drawers of the refrigerator, where the humidity is higher to help keep them fresh.
Meat and seafood
Store this type of food on the bottom shelf where the temperature is lowest to minimize the risk of unwanted bacteria growth. It is best to put them in closed boxes or containers in advance.
Dairy products
Milk, cheese and yogurt should have their place in a separate compartment, in the middle part of the refrigerator, where the temperature is constant. Some types of hard cheese can be stored outside the refrigerator.
Uneaten cooked food
Uneaten lunch or dinner must first be allowed to cool properly and then stored in an airtight container. Then store them in the top shelf of the fridge. And what doesn’t belong in the fridge?
Potatoes, onions, garlic
You should store these foods in a cool, dry place, but certainly not in the refrigerator. They would lose their flavor and start sprouting.
Bananas and exotic fruits
Exotic fruits need heat to ripen, and in the refrigerator this process would be delayed. So don’t store mangoes, pineapples, papayas, citrus fruits and avocados in the fridge. In addition, bananas acquire a floury texture in the refrigerator and brown faster.
Overripe fruit
It is better to consume overripe fruit right away. Some species such as apples, pears, apricots and peaches produce ethylene, which is a gas that accelerates the ripening of other fruits. That is why it is better to always store them separately even outside the refrigerator.
Fresh herbs
If you want your cut herbs to last as long as possible, store them in a jar of water, but always out of the fridge, where they tend to rot and turn brown.
With
A place in the refrigerator is not suitable for honey either, as it hardens and crystallizes at low temperatures. Although this does not have a negative effect on its health benefits or taste, it loses its pleasant consistency.
Oils
Similarly, oils do not belong in the refrigerator, they thicken and become cloudy. The ideal place for their storage is a cool and dark place.
Resources: www.mirror.co.uk, www.express.co.uk, www.dailyrecord.co.uk
