FRIDGE MAINTENANCE TIPS AND FOOD SAFETY
One of the most important and domestic appliances in the kitchen is of course refrigerator. Hardly any of us can imagine our life without these electric units which are so commonplace nowadays.
Let’s try to discuss some essential main maintenance tips, including refrigeration and then touch upon food safety.
It doesn’t matter what type of refrigerator you own whether it is a mini-fridge, a french door refrigerator, top or bottom freezer refrigerator there are certain maintenance tips which you should follow in order not to have your nerves shot, but also avoid unnecessary expenses, as well as never forget about food safety.
So, some rules on refrigerator maintenance include the following:
1. Regularly check the door seals or gaskets
Loose or torn door seals and gaskets can cause your fridge to use up to 3 percent more energy for each degree Fahrenheit. It could mention that the compressor has to run more frequently to maintain the desired temperature. Be sure to clean the door gaskets every three months using a mild soap solution and a damp cloth.
2. Keep the coils clean
There are different recommendations on condenser coils cleaning frequency. Some manufacturers advise cleaning on a monthly basis, others recommend to do it twice a year. In any case, check the instructions/manuals of the manufacturer as many of them provide specific cleaning tips.
3. Set the right temperature and check it often
This is important for food safety (and it should be done both for the refrigerator and the freezer section) as it is a major guarantee for the efficient running of the fridge. It should be 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit for the refrigerator compartment and zero degrees Fahrenheit for the freezer section.
4. Fill it up
You need to fill your refrigerator up (even if you don’t cook so often), but don’t overpack the fridge, as this can stop cool air from circulating freely. Refrigerators need thermal mass for maintaining the low temperatures in order to keep food and drinks cold. And if it happens that your fridge is never filled think about filling it with empty bottles or something like that.
The last but not least, always keep in mind the refrigerator is the largest energy consumption and in case of proper maintenance energy consumption is reduces and the life of the most important unit of your kitchen is definitely extended.
These are the important tips to keep our refrigerators let’s say “healthy” and running. Following these easy refrigerator maintenance tasks, your refrigerator will have a long life and help reduce energy consumption.
And what about food safety?
Keeping the refrigerator in tiptop shape is especially vital in the context of food safety. This refers not only to have your fridge regularly cleaned but also how the food is stored in the fridge and freezer.
Always cover the food and store the food properly. Use containers with secure tops or cover tightly with plastic wrap or foil. This will minimize moisture in the unit.
Never ever place steaming or hot food in your fridge. This will cause temperature rise and make the appliance work harder. Always store the food after cooling it down.
It is also important where the food is placed in the refrigerator. Once again avoid putting the food uncovered. Remember that ready-to-eat foods should be on the top placed and properly contained. Never put raw meat and ready-to-eat foods on the same shelf.
Once again keep your refrigerator clean and remove odore regularly. Believe or not these are the most important tips both in terms of fridge maintenance and food safety.
Practice throwing out perishable foods that are hard to be consumed. Do it once a week. These are very simple and not so difficult tips to follow if you want to have safe and fresh food in your fridge and spare yourself from unnecessary expenses.
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