17
Storing Food and Saving Energy
Ideas for Storing Foods
Fresh Food Storage
• Keep the fresh food compartment between 34° F and
40° F with an optimum temperature of 37° F.
• Avoid overcrowding the refrigerator shelves, which
reduces air circulation and causes uneven cooling.
Fruits and Vegetables
• Store fruits and vegetables in crisper drawers, where
trapped moisture helps preserve food quality for
longer time periods.
• Wash items and remove excess water.
• Wrap any items that have strong odors or high
moisture content.
Meat
• Wrap raw meat and poultry separately and securely
to prevent leaks and contamination of other foods or
surfaces.
• Use the deli drawer to store meat/poultry for short-
term storage. Any meat to be kept longer than two (2)
days should be frozen.
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 (2) appliances will
help the refrigerator operate more efficiently.
• Level the refrigerator so that the doors close tightly.
Temperature Settings
• Refer to the “Controls” section for procedures on
temperature settings.
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.
• Do not place a hot container directly on a cold shelf.
Remember, such an extreme temperature change may
damage the glass.
