Food Storage & Energy Saving Ideas

FOOD STORAGE IDEAS

Fresh Food Storage

•The fresh food compartment should be kept between 34° F and 40° F with an optimum temperature of 37° F.

•Avoid overcrowding the refrigerator shelves. This reduces the circulation of air around the food and results in uneven cooling.

Fruits and Vegetables

•Storage in the crisper drawers traps moisture to help preserve the fruit and vegetable quality for longer time periods.

Meat

•Raw meat and poultry should be wrapped securely so leakage and contamination of other foods or surfaces does not occur.

Frozen Food Storage

•The freezer compartment should be kept at 0° F or lower.

•A freezer operates most efficiently when it is at least 2/3 full.

Packaging Foods for Freezing

•To minimize 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 off-flavor (freezer burn).

•Wrap fresh meats and poultry with suitable freezer wrap prior to freezing.

•Do not refreeze meat that has completely thawed.

Loading the Freezer

•Avoid adding too much warm food to the freezer at one time. This overloads the freezer, slows the rate of freezing, and can raise the temperature of frozen foods.

•Leave a space between the packages, so cold air can circulate freely, allowing food to freeze as quickly as possible.

•Avoid storing hard-to-freeze foods such as ice cream and orange juice on the freezer door shelves. These foods are best stored in the freezer interior where the temperature varies less.

ENERGY SAVING IDEAS

•Locate the refrigerator in the coolest part of the room, out of direct sunlight, and away from heating ducts or registers. Do not place the refrigerator next to heat-producing appliances such as a range, oven, or dishwasher. If this is not possible, a section of cabinetry or an added layer of insulation between the two appliances will help the refrigerator operate more efficiently.

•Level the refrigerator so that the doors close tightly.

•Refer to this Use & Care Manual for the suggested temperature control settings.

•Do not overcrowd the refrigerator or block cold air vents. Doing so causes the refrigerator to run longer and use more energy.

•Cover foods and wipe containers dry before placing them in the refrigerator. This cuts down on moisture build-up inside the unit.

•Organize the refrigerator to reduce door openings. Remove as many items as needed at one time and close the door as soon as possible.