2023-09-29 14:07:17
Did you know that the way we organize the refrigerator can indicate whether food is spoiling more easily, or even leaving the appliance with an unpleasant smell? Knowing what and how to store is essential to get the most out of it, making the routine more practical and, of course, healthy. Here, we learn more about the subject!
What should I keep in the fridge?
The refrigerator stores practically most of the food we consume and it is normal to have doubts about what we should or should not keep inside it. “We can store practically everything in the refrigerator, but there are suitable ways to do this. And just because it’s in the fridge doesn’t mean it can stay there forever”, he says. Renata Guirauwho is a clinical nutritionist and works with nutritional for a large fruit and vegetable chain.
If the food is more delicate, the nutritionist explains that the ideal place is always in the refrigerator: “Fruits are extremely perishable, ideally they should remain refrigerated. And don’t be alarmed if the color changes, there’s no problem, there’s just a higher concentration of sugar in the food. As for vegetables, it is necessary to analyze their characteristics to define the expiration date. Garlic and onion can be stored outside the equipment”, he concludes.
The nutritionist also remembers that the refrigerator has little air circulation, and it is common for food to end up coming into contact with each other, which can generate not only unpleasant odors, but also contamination. “That’s why it’s important not to forget to clean all of them before refrigerating”, he adds.
No case of vegetables, we can make them last longer by sanitizing and drying with paper towels, and then transferring them to glass jars with paper towels or in well-sealed airtight bags, preferably in the bottom drawer. For small or very delicate fruits, the ideal is to have glass, acrylic or plastic jars.
Egg: should it go in the fridge or not?
A big dilemma for many of us is whether or not we should store eggs in the refrigerator. “Although we found the eggs outside the refrigerator at the market, they must be kept refrigerated at all times, as this increases your useful time. And don’t wash the eggscan bring moisture into the shell, which is extremely delicate and porous, making contamination easier,” he says.
And if you’re in doubt about where to store the eggs, the nutritionist helps you: “The best way to store them is to place the eggs in a container with a lid, this way I don’t dirty my refrigerator and don’t contaminate the rest of the food. ”
How to store meat?
Meat also needs special attention. Renata says that we can leave them in the plastic market bag, but the ideal is to always transfer everything to a clean container. “It is not a problem to store food in plastic bags, the real problem is the exposure this packaging may receive. It may be contaminated or become contaminated when it comes into contact with other waste. Therefore, it is interesting that we exchange these bags for sanitized containers and, preferably, glass”, says the nutritionist.
Another super important factor in storing meat is the defrosting process. “Only defrost what you will consume. Under no circumstances should we defrost and refreeze food. Once defrosted, I need to cook it, and only then freeze it again. This process of Freezing cooked food can guarantee a new shelf life of up to 30 days or, if you prefer and want to keep it refrigerated, the deadline is up to 72 hours”, he warns.
Another important tip is to avoid defrosting products outside the refrigerator. This way, we avoid exposing food to an environment conducive to the proliferation of bacteria. You can carry out this process with the help of a microwave, for example.
Keep an eye on the expiration date
Analyzing the expiration date of products is also a way of taking care of the refrigerator. “Check all product expiration dates, so you can know what expires first and prioritize. In the case of drinks or meals not handled by you, make sure to consume this food within 24 hours“, account. Milk, once opened, usually lasts up to 3 days, but the ideal is to always check the packaging to check the consumption information.
“Avoid accumulating food that you will not eat in the refrigerator, such as fruit cut in half, sachets of condiments or even tubes of sauces stored for more than 2 months. The lack of handling of these foods can contribute to the creation and development of fungi”, concludes the nutritionist.
How to clean the refrigerator
The nutritionist points out that we should not use chemical products inside the refrigerator, and that the essential thing is water and neutral soap, focusing on the corners that accumulate food residues. “In the past, it was necessary to unplug the refrigerator to clean it. Today, you can do this without having to remove ice or shut down. Simply remove the parts and wash them with neutral soap and water. Washing plastic packaging before returning it to the refrigerator can also help keep the appliance clean.”
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