The cost of living crisis has impacted Brits across the country, with food bills soaring. While freezing is a great way to preserve ingredients, not everything can be frozen. A kitchen expert has revealed a simple yet effective technique for keeping food fresher for longer in your refrigerator.
By optimizing the way you store food in your fridge, you can significantly extend its lifespan and reduce food waste. This not only benefits the environment but also helps stretch your grocery budget.
Jennifer Shaw, an expert from Plumbworld, emphasizes the importance of organization: “Having a system when it comes to unloading your shopping is very effective. Being organized means you know where to find things and are less likely to have food you’ve forgotten about languishing at the back of your fridge.”
Shaw also advises against overfilling the fridge. “Stacking stuff on top of each other will prevent air circulating between your goods and cold air getting everywhere it needs to. This means your fridge has to work harder and your food will go off quicker.”
The placement of your food within the fridge is also crucial. For example, most people store milk in the fridge door, but Shaw recommends against this: “This area is warmer than the rest of the fridge, which could be the reason your milk isn’t lasting very long. Try storing it in the main part of the fridge instead. You should be able to move the shelves around to accommodate it.”
Similarly, eggs are best kept in the main part of the fridge, not in the dedicated racks. Sauces and drinks bottles, however, can be stored in the door.
Fridges are designed with varying temperature zones to cater to different food needs. “Meat and fish, for example, need to be kept colder. This will mostly be at the rear of the fridge, where there is less impact from opening and closing the door. But it might be worth using a thermometer to check this out.”
The dedicated drawer at the bottom of the fridge is intended for fruits and vegetables. “They should be stored in their dedicated compartments because this part of the fridge isn’t as dry as the rest, meaning it should keep everything fresher for longer.”
By following these simple storage tips, you can make your food last longer, reduce waste, and save money on your grocery bills.
