Storing Food & Saving Energy 31
IDEAS FOR STORING FOODS
Fresh Food Storage
•Keep the fresh food compartment between 34° F and 40° F with an optimum temperature of 37° F (see page 13 for more about temperature settings).
•Avoid overcrowding the refrigerator shelves, which reduces air circulation and causes uneven cooling.
Fruits and Vegetables
•Store fruits and vegetables in crisper drawers, where trapped moisture helps preserve food quality for longer time periods.
Meat
•Wrap raw meat and poultry securely so leakage and contamination of other foods or surfaces does not occur.
•Use the meat keeper drawer for short term storage. Any meat to be kept longer than two days should be frozen.
•See page 18 for more about the meat keeper drawer.
Frozen Food Storage
•Keep the freezer compartment at 0° F or lower (see page 13 for more about temperature settings).
•A freezer operates most efficiently when it is at least 2/3 full.
Packaging Foods for Freezing
•To minimize food dehydration and quality deterioration, use aluminum foil, freezer wrap, freezer bags or airtight containers. Force as much air out of the packages as possible and seal them tightly. Trapped air can cause food to dry out, change color, and develop an
•Wrap fresh meats and poultry with suitable freezer wrap prior to freezing.
•Do not refreeze meat that has completely thawed.