22
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.
Frozen Food Storage
• Keep the freezer compartment at 0° F or lower.
• 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
• Prior to grocery shopping, activate “quick freeze”
so that on your return you can ensure your newly
purchased food designated for the freezer will be
preserved as quickly as possible.
• Activating “quick freeze” also will help your freezer
more efficiently maintain the selected temperature after
placing new purchases with pre-existing frozen foods.
• Avoid adding too much warm food to the freezer at
one time. This overloads the freezer, slows the rate of
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.
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.
