How to store food in your fridge the right way

Fridge door with magnets

Not the most difficult of tasks but an important one nonetheless. When putting our shopping away in the fridge we tend to just place it on a shelf wherever there is free space. However, to keep foods fresh and to stop the risk of contamination, there is a method to which particular foods should be placed onto which shelves. Learn more about the organisation of fridge food!

Upper shelves

Fridge upper shelf
Ready-to-eat foods should be kept on these shelves as they have the most consistent temperature. This includes foods like leftovers, pre-cooked meats, herbs (apart from basil), dairy, other packaged foods and drinks. Herbs should be placed in a glass or jar half filled with water, with the herb stems in the water and the tops covered loosely with a plastic bag. For extra storage space take a look at our range of fridge racks and shelves.

Bottom shelf

Fridge bottom shelf

The lower part of the fridge is colder, so the bottom shelf is the best place to put raw meat, poultry and fish. This will stop contamination of any harmful bacteria spreading onto other foods and also stop the meat produce from touching other foods. To prevent leaking, keep meat produce tightly sealed and in containers or on a plate.

Crisper drawers

Fridge crisper drawers

Fridges either have one crisper drawer or two. This is where fruits and vegetables should be stored and you should try to separate them, this is because fruits can emit a gas that speeds up rotting in vegetables.  To help keep food fresh, take a look at the anti-mould fridge mat and other products in our fridge odour absorbers section.

The door

Fridge door

The door is the warmest part of the fridge and where you should put your least perishable items. Condiments like mayonnaise and mustard and drinks like orange juice should be kept here. There may be a compartment for butter in the door but it should go on an upper shelf with other dairy, similarly eggs should be kept in the box on the middle shelf away from strong smelling foods.

Other useful fridge tips:

  • Don’t overfill your fridge, in order for air to circulate your fridge needs space to keep cool.
  • Keep your fridge maintained by keeping it clean to stop the spread of bacteria and get rid of expired foods.
  • Never put warm food straight into the fridge, always allow it to cool.
  • Keep an open box of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) in the fridge to remove odours and replace every 3 months.
  • Don’t place foods so they are touching the back of the fridge, it is colder there so they could freeze and spoil.
  • You should aim to keep the top of the fridge clear and if short of space either use it for cookbooks or non-food items. Bread and wine should never be kept on the top as the heat from the fridge will cause them to spoil quicker.

 

As well as keeping your fridge maintained, your dishwasher (if you have one) also needs to be kept in good working order. Read more in our 7 tips to maintain your dishwasher.

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