Food which should not be
stored in a refrigerator
Not all food is suitable for refrigeration,
as some food is sensitive to cold.
Cucumbers, for example, become
glassy, aubergines bitter and potatoes
sweet. Tomatoes and oranges lose their
aroma, and the peel on citrus fruit
hardens.
Food which should not be stored in a
refrigerator includes:
– pineapple, pomegranate, bananas,
avocado, mangos, papaya, passion
fruit, citrus fruit
– fruit which is not yet ripe
– aubergines/egg plant, cucumbers,
potatoes, peppers/capsicum,
tomatoes, courgettes,
– some hard cheeses, e.g. Parmesan
When shopping for food
The freshness of food when first placed
in the appliance is an important factor
in determining how long it stays fresh,
and how long it can be kept in the
refrigerator. Time out of the refrigerator,
e.g. during transportation, should be
kept to a minimum. For example, do not
allow food to stay in a hot car for too
long. Once food has started to
deteriorate, this process cannot be
reversed. As little as two hours outside
the refrigerator can cause food to start
deteriorating.
Storing food correctly
Food should generally be stored
covered or packaged. This will prevent
food smells from affecting other foods,
food from drying out, and also any
cross-contamination of bacteria. The
growth of bacteria, such as salmonella,
can be avoided by setting the correct
temperature and maintaining good
standards of hygiene.
Fruit and vegetables
Fruit and vegetables may be stored
loose in the vegetable containers.
Please be aware that not all types of
fruit and vegetables are suitable for
storing in the same container. Aromas
and flavours can transfer from one type
of food to another (e.g. carrots absorb
the smell and flavour of onions very
easily). Some food also gives off a
natural gas (ethylene) which speeds up
the rate at which other food perishes.
– Examples of fruit and vegetables
which produce a large amount of
this natural gas are:
Apples, apricots, pears, nectarines,
peaches, plums, avocado, figs,
blueberries, melons and beans.
Using the refrigerator efficiently
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