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Storing Food & Saving Energy
Meat
• Wrap raw meat and poultry securely so leakage and contamination of other
foods or surfaces does not occur.
• Use the meat keeper drawer for short term storage. Any meat to be kept
longer than two days should be frozen.
Frozen Food Storage
• Keep the freezer compartment at -18° C or lower (see the earlier section for
more information about temperature settings).
• A freezer operates most efficiently when it is at least 2/3 full.
Packaging Foods for Freezing
• To minimize food dehydration and quality deterioration, use aluminum foil,
freezer wrap, freezer bags or airtight containers. Force as much air out of the
packages as possible and seal them tightly. Trapped air can cause food to
dry out, change color, and develop an off-flavor (freezer burn).
• Wrap fresh meats and poultry with suitable freezer wrap prior to freezing.
• Do not refreeze meat that has completely thawed.
Loading the Freezer
• Avoid adding too much warm food to the freezer at one time. This overloads
the freezer, slows freezing, and can raise the temperature of frozen foods.
• Leave a space between packages, so cold air can circulate freely, allowing
food to freeze as quickly as possible.
• Avoid storing hard-to-freeze foods, such as ice cream and orange juice, on
the freezer door shelves.
IDEAS FOR SAVING ENERGY
Installation
• Locate the refrigerator in the coolest part of the room, out of direct sunlight,
and away from heating ducts or registers. Do not place the refrigerator next
to heat-producing appliances such as a range, oven, or dishwasher. If this is
not possible, a section of cabinetry or an added layer of insulation between
the two appliances will help the refrigerator operate more efficiently.
• Level the refrigerator so that the doors close tightly.
Food Storage
• Avoid overcrowding the refrigerator or blocking cold air vents. Doing so
causes the refrigerator to run longer and use more energy.
• Cover foods and wipe containers dry before placing them in the refrigerator.
This cuts down on moisture build-up inside the unit.
• Organize the refrigerator to reduce door openings. Remove as many items as
needed at one time and close the door as soon as possible.
