FOOD STORAGE GUIDE

Wrap or store food in the refrigerator in airtight and moisture-proof material unless otherwise noted. This prevents food odor and taste transfer throughout the refrigerator. For dated products, check date code to ensure freshness.

Items

How to

 

 

Butter or

Keep opened butter in a covered

margarine

dish or closed compartment.

 

When storing an extra supply,

 

wrap in freezer packaging and

 

freeze.

 

 

Cheese

Store in the original wrapping

 

until you are ready to use it. Once

 

opened, rewrap tightly in plastic

 

wrap or aluminum foil.

 

 

Milk

Wipe milk cartons. For best

 

storage, place milk on interior

 

shelf, not on door shelf.

 

 

Eggs

Store in original carton on interior

 

shelf, not on door shelf.

 

 

Fruit

Do not wash or hull the fruit

 

until it is ready to be used. Sort

 

and keep fruit in its original

 

container, in a crisper, or store in a

 

completely closed paper bag on a

 

refrigerator shelf.

 

 

Leafy

Remove store wrapping and trim

vegetables

or tear off bruised and discolored

 

areas. Wash in cold water and

 

drain. Place in plastic bag or

 

plastic container and store in

 

crisper.

 

 

Vegetables

Place in plastic bags or plastic

with skins

container and store in crisper.

(carrots,

 

peppers)

 

 

 

Fish

Store fresh fish and shellfish in

 

the freezer section if they are not

 

being consumed the same day of

 

purchase. It is recommended to

 

consume fresh fish and shellfish the

 

same day purchased.

 

 

Leftovers

Cover leftovers with plastic wrap,

 

aluminum foil, or plastic containers

 

with tight lids.

 

 

USING YOUR REFRIGERATOR

STORING FROZEN FOOD

NOTE: Check a freezer guide or a reliable cookbook for further information about preparing food for freezing or food storage times.

Freezing

Your freezer will not quick-freeze a large quantity of food. Do not put more unfrozen food into the freezer than will freeze within 24 hours (no more than 2 to 3 lbs. of food per cubic foot of freezer space). Leave enough space in the freezer for air to circulate around packages. Be careful to leave enough room at the front so the door can close tightly.

Storage times will vary according to the quality and type of food, the type of packaging or wrap used (how airtight and moisture-proof) and the storage temperature. Ice crystals inside a sealed package are normal. This simply means that moisture in the food and air inside the package have condensed, creating ice crystals.

NOTE: Allow hot foods to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then package and freeze. Cooling hot foods before freezing saves energy.

Packaging

Successful freezing depends on correct packaging. When you close and seal the package, it must not allow air or moisture in or out. If it does, you could have food odor and taste transfer throughout the refrigerator and could also dry out frozen food.

Packaging recommendations:

Rigid plastic containers with tight-fitting lids

Straight-sided canning/freezing jars

Heavy-duty aluminum foil

Plastic-coated paper

Non-permeable plastic wraps

Specified freezer-grade self-sealing plastic bags

Follow package or container instructions for proper freezing methods.

Do not use

Bread wrappers

Non-polyethylene plastic containers

Containers without tight lids

Wax paper or wax-coated freezer wrap

Thin, semi-permeable wrap

CAUTION: Do not keep beverage cans or plastic food containers in the freezer compartment. They may break or burst if they freeze.

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Kenmore kenmore manual Food Storage Guide, Storing Frozen Food