2023-06-01 16:03:13
Why is it important to keep food cold?
Vegetables in the fridge – Source: spm
If it is so important to properly refrigerate your food, it is mainly to preserve its freshness and flavor, but also to prevent potential bacterial growth. But the dosage of degrees should never be neglected: a rise in the temperature of the fridge for example above 40°F (4°C) can alter certain foods such as dairy products, eggs, meat or any other foodstuff. which may naturally contain foodborne germs. In fact, that’s why it’s often recommended to refrigerate leftovers within two hours. Also, it’s always important to understand why your fridge isn’t cooling food enough. And, conversely, if it’s too cold, almost mimicking freezer temperatures, it’s just as harmful, as your food may freeze.
Good question. So, already, to start, always opt for the temperature recommended in the manual of your refrigerator. Especially if the device is still new. It takes about 24 hours before considering a change. And to be sure that the temperature is ideal inside, there are certain factors to check. Here are a few :
Read also: What is the hole inside the fridge for?
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Your juice and milk carton are fresh
If your drinks are cold enough, as you usually like them, then you’re fine. If not, maybe they weren’t installed in the correct place. It’s best to keep your drinks on a lower shelf or towards the back of the fridge to keep them nice and cold. Obviously, it is always necessary to sort out the fridge and learn how to better organize it to keep your food always fresh. Some beverages, such as wine, can benefit from long-term storage in a special fridge which will help retain the aroma of your bottles.
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There’s no ice on your food
Do you notice that certain products are starting to freeze? So, clearly, the temperature is too low, it must be remedied. Maybe your refrigerator has become so emptied that cold air is sinking to the bottom. However, if the appliance is sufficiently full, the air is immediately absorbed by the food products, which prevents the formation of frost.
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Your fresh products do not spoil before their time
Remember that a higher temperature can accelerate the deterioration of your food. Therefore, it is essential to always check the thermostat to ensure that the temperature is well regulated inside to preserve the freshness of the products. When the fridge is sufficiently cool, conservation is optimal. Be careful, also to monitor the humidity level, because an excess can lead to fungus and mold. Finally, make sure none of the air vents are blocked.
Tip: The big problem often remains in temperature fluctuations. They themselves arise from the opening and closing of the fridge door. So, try to limit the back and forth as much as possible and make sure that it only lasts a few seconds, avoid leaving the door wide open while you cook.
What is the ideal temperature for the fridge and freezer?
This is where we are talking about the right temperature setting. However, many people stall a little at this level! Do you still have doubts about this? Be aware that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends keeping your fridge at 4°C (or lower) and your freezer between -17°C and -24°C. However, the ideal fridge temperature can be lower, between 1.7° and 3.3°C. The important thing is not to go above the 4°C threshold, because it is from there that the bacteria begin to multiply rapidly. The food may then spoil faster than expected and you could expose yourself to stomach problems, due to certain nasty bacteria, such as Salmonella and E. coli.
Did you know that some freezers have an option for instant freezing? It drops temperatures for 24 hours to prevent freezer burn from temperature variation. Alternatively, of course, you can also choose to manually lower the temperature for a few hours, just remember to turn it back on afterwards. The idea is above all to avoid accumulating too much ice inside: defrosting will then have to be done more frequently. And then, too cold a temperature in the freezer leads to loss of moisture and flavor of food. Not to mention that this device is very greedy in electricity… the bill will only be higher at the end of the month!
What advice should you follow to improve the energy efficiency of your fridge and freezer?
You have followed all the instructions, you have made your settings, but you still find that the temperature inside the fridge is still a little too hot for your taste? So, in this case, there are certain measures to take to help maintain an ideal temperature.
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Clean the condenser coils
It is the condenser coils that allow the heat to escape. So, of course, if they’re full of dust, pet hair, and other dirt debris, it’s no wonder your refrigerator starts to overheat or the compressor breaks down. The solution is simple: just clean the coils with a bristle brush and a vacuum cleaner. On most models, these coils are located at the back, so that the device does not stick to the wall. If it’s fairly new, your fridge probably has a grill that you have to remove first to access the coils.
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Keep food covered
To keep your food fresh as long as possible, it is best to cover it. Thus, they will not be affected by temperature variations. Especially perishables and leftover food.
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Manage stock well at the door and storage bins
Eggs stored in the fridge door – Source: spm
The storage areas in the door are obviously very practical. But the disadvantage in this part of the device is that it is the most exposed to temperature fluctuations. Avoid placing your perishable goods there. For example, eggs will be best stored on a shelf. And, of course, to preserve the freshness of fruits and vegetables, there is no better than the storage bins provided precisely for this purpose.
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Never place hot food inside
It goes without saying, but alas, many people still make this mistake! The simple fact of placing your gratin still hot inside risks disturbing the refrigeration. Because, logically speaking, the heat released will increase the internal temperature, forcing the compressor to work harder. Snowball effect: more energy is consumed and the bill will increase unnecessarily. Get into the habit of letting your food cool to room temperature before putting it in the fridge.
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Close the door as soon as you can
It’s also one of the best ways to keep cool air from escaping often. We know that the temptation is great, but if possible, keep this door closed as much as possible. A little tip: in hot weather, remember to organize your refrigerator well so that you can quickly access the products you need and close the door more quickly.
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Check refrigerator seal
Exactly, speaking of the door, do you find that it no longer closes as well as before? Have you checked the gasket? Perhaps it is loose or worn, in which case it will need to be repaired or replaced. Because this can affect cooling and the correct temperature will no longer be maintained.
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Keep your fridge and freezer full
A full fridge is a fridge that is doing well… The same goes for the freezer! In fact, when filled at least 2⁄3 full, foods keep each other cool. However, be careful not to overcrowd it so as not to reduce air circulation, as this can hinder the flow of cold air and block the vents. Ideally, leave about 20% of the space free.
Guide to refrigerator temperatures
Refrigerator temperature setting. Source: Spm
FAQ
How to change the temperature level of the refrigerator?
Actually, it depends on your fridge. Some controls are on the interior sides of the unit, while others are more noticeable on the edge of the door or even in the top center. And that’s not all: some fridges allow you to change the temperature in degrees, while others have numbers for general temperature ranges. So you can either press the up and down arrow keys or just turn the dial to make the adjustment. Finally, the best option would be to consult the manual to have all the details and to become familiar with this cooling system.
Read also: 5 tips to eliminate bad smells from the fridge
How do you adjust a fridge/freezer combo?
Regarding the temperature of this dual-function device, the cooling zone should be set at more than 5°C. While the freezer, it is advisable to set it to less than 20°C.
Fridge thermostat: set to 1 or 5, which is the coldest number?
Getting straight to the point: setting the thermostat of your fridge to a high number will result in lowering its temperature! So, to keep your appliance cool, you just need to set its thermostat to 5 or 10. Because, by putting it on level 1, it will release a minimal amount of cold.
Read also: How to defrost a freezer quickly with the pan method?
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