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| Organising the fridge |
| Have you got problems with limp lettuce? Mouldy mayo? Ice that tastes of garlic? Well then it's time to get it together and organise your fridge! |
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An organised refrigerator is one in which all items are fresh, easily accessible and stored in a hygienic manner. Rebecca gives us a few tips on how to get your fridge in good order and tells us how to keep it running at optimal efficiency for the lowest energy cost.
To begin with, it helps to understand how a refrigerator works. Basically, refrigerators don't make food cold; they remove heat and moisture from an enclosed space, just like an air conditioner.
Because all that air and moisture is being sucked out of a refrigerator's contents, you can't leave food or beverages uncovered. Eggs put in the little egg holders in the door will deteriorate more rapidly than they would if left in their cartons, because they lose moisture through their porous shells. That's also why watery foods like lettuce, celery, and other greens should go into the crisper wrapped in plastic bags, so moisture is trapped.
Most refrigerators have two compartments, one for freezing and one for chilling. Although they appear to be separate, in most models they share the same air, which is transferred from one to the other by a gate-like device called a baffle. A single system chills all the air for the appliance and moves it from section to section, beginning in the freezer. That's why an uncovered dish of pasta redolent with garlic will eventually give your ice the same flavour.
SETTING THE CORRECT TEMPERATURE:
Your refrigerator should be set around 3°C in the main compartment; 5°C in the crisper and -18°C in the freezer.
If you want things in the main compartment of the fridge to be colder, increase the individual setting in that compartment only, not in your freezer. Cold air originates in the freezer. A very high setting will only cause the machine to close the baffle between the two sections so that the cold air stays in the freezer, leaving your ice cream rock hard and your drinks a little too warm.
OPERATING YOUR FRIDGE AT PEAK EFFICIENCY:
For your refrigerator to operate at peak efficiency for the lowest cost, keep it three-quarters full rather than almost empty. That way, when the door is opened and warm air rushes in, there are more cold items to maintain a stable temperature.
On the other hand, If it is too tightly packed air won't be able to circulate, especially if the food is pushed against the back wall.
KEEPING THE INSIDE OF THE FRIDGE CLEAN:
The first step in keeping your refrigerator clean is to wipe up spills immediately with a warm soapy cloth. This will minimise the chances of odours permeating resulting in a smelly fridge.
Make it a habit to throw out old food once a week. Even old ice should go so that you're not using any that has picked up food flavours or odours.
Every few months, wash the inside of the refrigerator with either warm soapy water or a solution of two tablespoons of baking soda in a cup of water. Also wash the pan that collects water produced by the automatic defrost.
Regularly wash glass shelves and crisper drawers in the sink. When glass shelves are removed for cleaning, allow them to come to room temperature first so that the hot water won't crack them.
The condenser coils (usually at the back of the fridge) should be vacuumed or brushed a few times a year. This is important as it prevents the system from overheating. If the condenser isn't cleaned, it will become caked with dust and hair, and that prevents heat from being dispelled into the room. Heating up the system can shorten the life of your refrigerator. BE SURE TO UNPLUG THE REFRIGERATOR FIRST.
CLEANING THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRIDGE:
The paint finish on the outside of a refrigerator is actually a baked enamel, similar to that of a car. The best way to remove tough grime off the exterior of the fridge is with a soft cloth and a mild automotive polish. After the grime is removed wash with warm soapy water and dry off with a chamois.
NB: Never use an acetate based product such as methylated spirits to clean the inside or outside of the fridge as these products can eat through the plastic parts on the fridge.
GETTING RID OF ODOURS:
Although it's a good idea to throw out food before it's mouldy, and wipe up spills when they occur, nobody's perfect, and sometimes the refrigerator starts to smell a little. First, find the offending food, and throw it out. Then, wipe the inside of the fridge over with a soft cloth soaked in vanilla essence and cold water.
AVOIDING FOOD SPOILAGE: "The refrigerator is meant to hold food, not relics."
One of the best ways to avoid food spoilage is to buy food in smaller quantities. With today's busy lifestyles, doing one large shopping trip for the week doesn't always make sense, shopping for small amounts more frequently ensures that food gets used rather than forgotten.
Keep your most frequently used items near the front of the shelves, while specialty items, such as olives, can be placed further back.
Cover everything. If foods are left uncovered, they will take on the flavours or odours that surround them.
Eggs should be kept in the container they were sold in for a few reasons. The eggs compartment built into the refrigerator door will not keep the eggs at the steady, cold temperature that they need to stay fresh, and the container itself will prevent eggs from absorbing the odours of other foods.
It's a good idea to keep dairy products, meats, and anything else that might leak on top of a baking tray to catch any drips.
Fruit can be stored simply in bowls or on trays, while fresh vegetables should be washed, dried, and stored in the crisper in airtight plastic bags. The crisper traps in moisture, which helps to prevent everything from drying out.
Divide the space on your refrigerator shelves into sections, and group similar items together: beverages, condiments, diary products, and so on. Rotate perishable foods so the older items get eaten first, and check dates regularly, disposing of anything that has expired.
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