In my previous blog “Kitchen Guide-Food Storage Part 1” I provided a list of the best places to store food so they stay fresher, taste better, and deliver more health benefits. Obviously, the refrigerator is an important tool when it comes to food storage. But, as I have learned (the hard way) in order to prolong the shelf life of certain foods, it takes more than just opening the fridge and randomly throwing products in. By putting food items in the “proper” place, you not only extend their shelf life, you also maximize the value of your refrigerator.
Top Shelves
Use these shelves to store the snacks and other food items that you use most often. By placing them at eye level you won’t waste time and electricity searching around for them—that includes butter. My mother uses butter every morning and for years kept it in the butter bin on the fridge door. Food experts say that’s a big no-no; the door is simply too warm for butter. Instead, they recommend keeping your stick in a covered butter dish on the top or middle shelf. If you don’t keep your cheese in a deli drawer then you want to keep it tightly sealed in foil or plastic wrap and store it on a top shelf (the location where it will receive the optimal temperature).
The Bottom Shelf
According to food experts this is where you want to store all your meats. Not only is it the coldest spot in your fridge, the low placement will also prevent any bacteria-laden juices from dripping onto other foods. The bottom shelf is also the ideal place to keep eggs fresher longer. Again, avoid storing them on the fridge door (regardless of whether your refrigerator comes with a built-in storage area for them). Instead, keep them in their original carton and keep the carton shut to avoid odor absorption from other foods. In addition, while milk containers may fit snugly in the side door, resist the temptation to store them there. Milk is especially sensitive to temperature changes, so put it on the shelf as close to the bottom as it will fit.
Veggie Bin or Crisper
The crisper keeps water vapor in, so ideally you want to use this area to store items such as leafy vegetables, broccoli, celery, or any veggies with large surface areas that tend to lose moisture quickly.
Fruit Bin
According to food experts, apples stored at room temperature deteriorate 10 times faster than when they’re refrigerated. The best spot to store them is in the fruit bin–away from anything else. Apples give off a natural gas called ethylene that can wilt, spot, or rot other food.
The Door
Because condiments are high in natural preservatives, they’re okay in the door. In addition, the fridge door is also the ideal spot for orange juice—provided it is pasteurized. The pasteurization and citric acid hinders bacteria growth, so the door is a prime storage area for it. Also, food experts say, recorked white wine will stay fresh in the fridge door for three to five days. (For unopened wine, lay the bottle down so the cork remains moist.)