The Australian Consumer Group has given instructions on how to stack your fridge in order for all types of food, including dairy and packaged goods, to keep them fresher longer.
CHOICE whitegoods expert Ashley Iredale claims it’s worth taking the time to order your fruit and vegetables, milk and butter, instead of ‘jamming’ them into spare spaces you see because it will ultimately lead to lower electricity bills and better tasting food.
He recommends that you allow air to circulate among the products in your fridge to make it more efficient and to save money over the long-term.
Keep the most frequently used items in front of you so that they are easy to find. He said that no one likes to look for tomato sauce and that the refrigerator door remains open longer than necessary, which can lead to more energy being used.
Refrozen leftovers should not be stored directly in the refrigerator or freezer. It will cause the food to heat up.
We need to be able to recognize the other things we should know.
Ashley Iredale from CHOICE whitegoods says that it’s worthwhile taking time to order the right fruit, vegetables, and milk.
DAIRY
For added convenience, keep your butter, cheeses, and milk in the special dairy compartment. It is usually found in the refrigerator’s door.
Your milk should be stored upright in order to prolong its shelf life.
Because butter is stored in the dairy compartment, it has a warmer temperature than the rest of your fridge. This means you can still spread it every time you open it.
According to Mr Iredale, butter fats absorb the taste and odours of nearby food, which is why the cover keeps butter tasting buttery.
This is also true for cheese. However, if it will be kept for more than 7 days, it will keep better if it’s placed inside the refrigerator.
In the meantime, eggs should always be kept in their original cartons.
Your milk should be stored upright in order to prolong its shelf life.
FRUIT AND VEG
You can find fruit and vegetables in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer.
Because it isn’t as dry as other fridges, it can keep fresh produce for longer.
However, to preserve the delicious flavor of tomatoes, they should be placed in a fruit bowl and kept away from the refrigerator.
Fruit and vegetables will flourish in the crisper drawer located at the bottom.
MEAT AND SEAFOD
Keep these products at zero degrees. This is lower than what you would find in the main fridge compartment.
You should place chillers in this location if you have one. If not, they should go to the back of your fridge away from any warm doors.
The raw chicken can be kept in the refrigerator for several days. However, if you intend to cook it within the next week, then freeze it.
You can keep chicken leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days if they are stored in an airtight container.
Keep these products at zero degrees. This is lower than what you would find in the main fridge compartment.
BROWN
To avoid moisture loss, keep bread well-wrapped and out of reach from the refrigerator.
He stated that apart from water loss, bread can become hard and stale due to starch from wheat crystallizing (or reforming) faster in colder temperatures.
You can freeze bread to prevent it from crystallizing.