Clean Your Fridge Once or Twice a Year? Read This!
Can you believe that most Americans clean their refrigerators only once or twice a year? Well, that doesn’t mean that companies like Whirlpool Corp. aren’t working double-time to create technology to help. Whirlpool spent months inventing a shelf with microscopic etching. This microscopic etching can hold an entire can of spilled soda!
The company’s new fridge creates surface tension. This surface tension makes liquids bubble up around the shelf perimeter instead of just spilling over.
Many of the appliance makers like Whirlpool, Viking Range Corp. and Sub-Zero Inc. are developing technologies to tackle messy refrigerator issues. They offer new features like improved shelves, bacteria-killing devices and better lighting. General Electric Co. is rolling out new refrigerators with 10 lighting sources instead of the standard three. This means that food you may forget in a corner to spoil is easier to see. The stainless steel GE models sell for around $1,800.
However, no matter how you look at it fridge manufacturers face an uphill battle. Most Americans don’t even think about cleaning their refrigerators until something makes them take action like a terrible odor or a spill. Most people don’t spend much time organizing their fridges when they come home with bags of new groceries either. According to a Whirlpool survey conducted recently, 33% of consumers said they don’t spend time cleaning their fridges before grocery shopping. When they want to make room for items, 27% reported that they just shove everything in the fridge without worrying about organization.
So, Whirlpool took action. The company believes that increasing the amount of storage space of their fridges helps. Their new shelves are 25% larger than previous models. Plus, they have the microscopic etching we mentioned earlier.
The older refrigerators had a plastic rim to help contain spills. Unfortunately, the rims get incredibly dirty. However, the new Whirlpool models with etching are quite affordable. Etching is available in models starting at $1,200.
Having more room doesn’t mean that clutter will go away. Most people don’t store things properly either. To get an idea of how people store things in their fridges the Sub-Zero company bought a week’s worth of groceries and asked 12
clients to put them away in a fridge.
Their Madison Wisconsin research facility personnel found nothing but chaos! People placed soda cans and meat in the crisper drawers. They put milk on the door shelves [considered by experts to be the worst place to store dairy because it's the warmest part of the fridge].
When it came to the cheese compartment most people didn’t have a clue! The point is that most people don’t know how to pack a refrigerator.
The company’s conclusion was that education is important. They started including an instructional card in their latest models. These cards show the various regions of the fridge from cool to coldest. They also included tips on how long foods should be stored. The cards also indicated foods that should be allowed to ripen on the counter before being placed in the fridge [e.g. avocados and pears].
In the next article, we’ll discuss refrigerator bacteria.
If you’re looking for a replacement refrigerator parts or a spare refrigerator part you should buy them from a reputable online merchant like LaptopsForLess.com. We have a huge selection of refrigerator oven parts in stock, at very reasonable prices [often a fraction of the cost at a bricks and mortar store]. Brands stocked include: Bosch, Fisher Paykel, Frigidaire, General Electric, Icon, LG, Maytag, Panasonic, Roper, Samsung, Sanyo, Whirlpool and more…
Refrigerators a Breeding Ground for Bacteria and Mold?
A refrigerator can be a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Most refrigerators should be set to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature inhibits some bacteria types, but there are also plenty of bacteria types that thrive in lower temperatures. Under the right kind of circumstances including: temperature, air, moisture, and nutrients bacteria can grow super quick in your fridge. Once mold and bacteria begins to grow in one food, it can migrate to other foods.
Is your fridge a breeding ground? Ask yourself these questions:
• Do I clean the refrigerator every one to two weeks?
• Do I make sure there is no food or drips on the containers I place in the refrigerator?
• Do I open the fridge a lot?
• How often do I clean out older leftovers from the refrigerator?
• Am I placing uncovered food in the refrigerator?
So, you may be wondering how to prevent unsanitary conditions in your refrigerator. Mold and bacteria like temperatures that are not too hot or too cold. When you allow food to sit out over extended periods of time, bacteria does grow. When you put food in the refrigerator after significant contamination it won’t do much to prevent food poisoning. It gets worse: when you leave food out in warm environments, you may even get insects or eggs in your food. Yuck!
There are pros and cons of placing hot food in the refrigerator. Hot food in the fridge makes the machine’s condenser work harder to cool the space. A better way to keep your food safe is to cool hot foods like soup pots in an ice bath or cold water before storing it in the fridge.
Make sure to clean your refrigerator frequently. This means once every two weeks. Use a mild bleach or disinfectant.
Keep on top of your refrigerator’s temperature. When the door gets opened too much the temperature drops and puts your food at risk.
Keep raw meats in the fridge no longer than 1-2 days. Make sure to keep these meats in plastic bags because they may already have contamination due to bad packaging or processing.
You should throw out any leftovers after four days maximum. Always remember that food still decays in your refrigerator. It’s just decaying at a slower rate. This goes for the freezer too. It may not kill you, but it won’t taste very good either.
If you use ice cube trays make sure to empty and refill them every few days because the ice absorbs food odors.
Some people wonder if they should cover their foods when they put it in the fridge. The answer is yes. All food should be covered because they can cross-contaminate, absorb odors, and drip condensation. Remember, air and moisture allows bacteria growth.
Keep your food in air-tight containers. Using plastic wrap and aluminum foil is okay for short-term storage, just know they can add to condensation.
If you’re looking for a replacement refrigerator parts or a spare refrigerator part you should buy them from a reputable online merchant like LaptopsForLess.com. We have a huge selection of refrigerator oven parts in stock, at very reasonable prices [often a fraction of the cost at a bricks and mortar store]. Brands stocked include: Bosch, Fisher Paykel, Frigidaire, General Electric, Icon, LG, Maytag, Panasonic, Roper, Samsung, Sanyo, Whirlpool and more…
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