Do you habitually stuff everything you buy from the supermarket into the fridge, thinking you've placed it in a safe deposit box ready to eat whenever you want? Storing food in the refrigerator is a science. Where to place different foods, how to arrange them, and how long they can be stored all require attention. Below, the editor will share a refrigerator storage distribution chart with you to see if you've been storing your food correctly.
Refrigerator Compartment
Pasteurized Milk: Refrigerator Door Shelf
It is recommended to finish it within 48 hours. If opened, it's best to finish it on the same day.
Salad Dressing, Ketchup, Jam, Sesame Paste: Refrigerator Door Shelf
Make sure to seal the cap tightly after opening, and it's best to finish within 3 months.
Juice: Refrigerator Door Shelf
After opening, it must be refrigerated and finished within 48 hours.
Yogurt: Upper Shelf Near the Door
Avoid temperatures that are too low. To maximize the activity of probiotics, it's best to finish within 10 days.
Cooked Meats: Upper Shelf
Unopened vacuum-packed meats should be consumed before the expiration date. Once the packaging is opened, they must be eaten within 3-5 days, wrapped in a fresh-sealing bag. It's best to heat them before eating to kill bacteria.
Leftovers: Upper Shelf Near the Back Wall
Let the food cool down, wrap it in plastic wrap, and then put it in the refrigerator. It can be stored for 1-2 days. Be sure to heat it thoroughly before eating, for example, by bringing it to a boil for 3 minutes.
Fruits, Leafy Vegetables: Lower Shelf Near the Door or the Crisper Drawer
To keep fruits and vegetables fresh and crisp, it's best to wrap them in kraft paper to prevent moisture loss, but do not store for more than 3 days. To prevent cross-contamination, it is recommended to clean off any surface dirt first.
Dried Seafoods like Dried Shrimp and Shrimp: Lower Shelf
Be sure to seal them in a fresh-sealing bag before putting them in the fridge. They are very prone to absorbing moisture and spoiling at room temperature, and can easily form carcinogenic nitrosamines.
Butter, Cheese: Lower Shelf
Be sure to seal them tightly, and do not store for more than a month.
Eggs: Lower Shelf
Do not place them directly on the egg rack in the refrigerator because the eggshells are dirty and can easily cause cross-contamination. It's best to put them in a fresh-sealing bag before placing them in the refrigerator. Do not store for more than 2 weeks.
Bean Products: Lower Shelf Near the Back Wall
Bean products are more prone to rapid microbial growth than meat products. It's best to place them in the deepest part of the lower shelf, near the inner wall, as this is the coldest area. It's also best to use a fresh-sealing container before placing them in the fridge.
Special Reminder:
Reheating vegetarian dishes can cause significant loss of nutrients; it's recommended to eat them in one sitting. Cold dishes should also be heated before eating after being stored in the fridge.
Refrigerator Storage Methods to Keep You Away from Obesity
Experts from Cornell University in the U.S. suggest placing healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, and milk on the outer shelves of the refrigerator, at eye level. Because when you stand in front of the fridge looking for a snack or dinner, you are most likely to grab what you see first. Place high-fat, high-calorie foods like cream cakes, drinks, and ice cream on the inner shelves or in the lower part of the refrigerator, away from your line of sight, which can help reduce the risk of obesity, high blood sugar, and other diseases.
Note: These Foods Are Not Suitable for the Refrigerator
Tropical fruits like mangoes and bananas will actually spoil faster if put in the fridge, for example, developing black spots. Generally, they can be stored at room temperature, but be sure to place them in a cool, ventilated area.
Putting honey in the refrigerator will cause it to crystallize and separate glucose. Although this does not affect its nutritional value and it hasn't spoiled, it will affect the texture.
Dry products like tea powder, milk powder, and coffee, if not sealed tightly, will allow moisture and other odors from the fridge to seep in, not only ruining the flavor but also making them prone to mold.
Chocolate will develop a white film on its surface after being in the refrigerator. This is actually fat crystallization, which makes the chocolate's texture rough.
Cucumbers and bell peppers. The optimal storage temperature for cucumbers is 10°C-12°C; putting them in the refrigerator will cause them to turn black and become soft.
Ham can be stored in a cool, ventilated place. Putting it in the refrigerator can cause it to develop a "rancid" smell.
Freezer Compartment
Steamed Buns, Rolls, Bread
Storing them in the refrigerator compartment will affect their texture, making them dry and hard. If you need to store them for more than 3 days, it's best to put them in a fresh-sealing bag and place them in the freezer. When you want to eat them, take them out and defrost in the microwave for 1-2 minutes to maximize their fresh and soft texture.
Raw Fish and Raw Meat
Divide them into portions that can be finished in one meal using fresh-sealing bags. Do not refreeze after thawing. To keep the meat fresh and juicy, you can cut it into 3 cm thick slices and freeze them flat. It's best to finish within 3 months.
Frozen Foods
If they have been thawed, do not put them back in the freezer.
Special Reminder:
When thawing, it's best to transfer them to a fresh-sealing container in the lower part of the refrigerator compartment the day before. Do not thaw at room temperature, and certainly do not soak them in cold or hot water, as this can easily promote bacterial growth.
Rules for Using the Refrigerator
Do not frequently open and close the refrigerator, as this can easily introduce bacteria.
Do not overfill the refrigerator; leave some space for the cold air to circulate.
Store food in fresh-sealing bags or containers, keeping raw and cooked foods separate. Place cooked foods on upper shelves and raw foods on lower shelves to prevent cross-contamination.
Set the refrigerator compartment to 6°C and the freezer to -16°C for both preservation and energy efficiency.
The Most Natural Refrigerator Deodorizer
Lemon or orange peels, recommended to be changed every two days.
Used tea leaves, recommended to be changed daily.
Coffee grounds, recommended to be changed every four days.