Modern fridge-freezers come with many advanced technologies designed to chill, freeze or dispense food or drink, while making sure that nothing spoils or is wasted. As important as it is to choose a fridge-freezer with the advanced features your family needs, it is also necessary to know how best to store the food in it.
Haier, the No.1 global major appliance brand, reveals there is more to it than just unpacking a big shop and haphazardly filling the shelves – certain compartments will be better suited to specific foods.
How to store food
Doors can be the warmest part of the fridge and are ideal for things that are most resistant to spoiling. Keep condiments, juices, and other foods that can stand up to temperature fluctuations here, rather than eggs and dairy. But remember that even ketchup and mayo have a shelf life, so keep an eye on best before dates. Don’t crowd your shelves too much. Cold air needs to flow here – if it can’t, you’ll get inconsistent temperatures with pockets of heat and warmth.
The upper shelves of the fridge have the most consistent temperatures. Use them for foods that don’t need cooking, including leftovers, and ready-to-eat foods, like hummus, and deli meats. The lower shelves are the best for raw meat, eggs, seafood, and other dairy products, as they need to be stored at the coldest temperatures. To stop bacteria spreading from raw meat to other areas, dedicate a particular section of the fridge as your meat section.
The vegetable or salad drawer is designed to maintain moist conditions that help preserve fruits and vegetables. But try not to mix fruit and veg together. Fruits like bananas, avocados and peaches produce ethylene gas, which can speed up the ripening process of other produce.
How to clean your fridge-freezer
Take out any removable shelves and drawers then wait until they’re room temperature before washing. Use a fragrance-free dish soap, warm water and a sponge. For troublesome spots, try a toothbrush or small scrub brush dipped in hot water, then wipe with a dry cloth.
Rinse away all traces of dishwashing liquid and make sure the drawers and shelves are completely dry before putting back in. Wipe the exterior with a cloth of warm, soapy water (don’t forget the top!). Dry with a microfiber cloth or paper towels.
If you have a stainless-steel refrigerator, a stainless steel cleaner and microfiber cloth can bring up the shine. Use a coil cleaning brush to carefully dust the condenser coils. Empty, clean and dry the drip pan, then put it back in place. Lastly, thoroughly clean the door handle; it is one of the dirtiest parts but is easily overlooked.
For more information about Haier appliances, go to haier-europe.com/en_GB/