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Storing Food & Saving Energy

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 17 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 off-flavor (freezer burn).
• Wrap fresh meats and poultry with suitable freezer wrap prior to freezing.
• Do not refreeze meat that has completely thawed.
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