Refrigerator Storage -- Avoid making your refrigerator a petri dish!

Foods cost money. Increasing fuel prices also drives up the cost of food. It makes good sense to take care of the food you spend your hard earned money on.

Information on knowing how to store food correctly will prolong the life of your food. It also reduces the risk of E-coli and salmonella, which keeps you and your family safe and healthy.

You become a five star restaurant with proper refrigerator food storage:

• Safe food to eat
• Most of the nutrients remain
• Your health is improved by eating healthy food
• Texture and flavor are retained
• Save money by not wasting food

Don’t let your refrigerator become a petri dish!

Clean the refrigerator regularly. Throw away any spoiled foods immediately. Decay can be spread to other foods.

Wipe the inside of the refrigerator with warm soapy water and rinse. Don’t use glass cleaners or harsh chemicals.

Check the food in your refrigerator just prior to going grocery shopping. This allows you to free up space and get your foods in the refrigerator quickly when you come home.

Bacteria causes up to 67% of food poisoning cases in the U.S.

The three most common types of bacteria responsible:

Staphylococcus

E-coli

Salmonella

Normally these don’t cause a problem. However, in the right environment, they can multiply and become dangerous. Dishes containing meat, cooked vegetables and eggs are particularly risky.

Bacteria breed best when:

• Temperature is between 40° to 140° F.
• Food remains in this temperature range for three to four hours or more
• Food has a low acid content
• Moisture is right for growth

For more information on food and kitchen safety, go to Food Safety Tips and Kitchen Safety Tips.

Most foods do best from 34°F to 40°F. Above 40°F foods tends to spoil rapidly. Check temperature with a refrigerator thermometer. If you don’t have one, try using an outdoor thermometer.

It’s best to use foods quickly.

For specific information on length of time to keep particular foods in your refrigerator, see links below for charts on:

• dairy storage
• fruits and vegetables
• meat, fish and poultry
• other foods
• freezer items

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