6. Storing and Freezing
Storing fresh foods
Packaging fresh foods properly, using the correct temperature and taking into account food hygiene will enhance the quality of fresh foods stored within this appliance.
Use plastic bags, aluminium foil or other food wraps to cover fresh foods not in packaging to prevent flavour transfer and prevent contamination.
Make sure that foods, which have been cooked and require chilling, are at room temperature before placing them into the appliance. Make sure that these foods are stored in suitable containers.
Before storing items in multi packs (i.e. yoghurt) remove any excess packaging.
Make sure that foodstuffs are stored systematically (raw meats with raw meats, dairy with dairy) to avoid flavour transfer and cross contamination. Raw meats should be stored towards the bottom of the appliance to prevent the possibility of it dripping onto uncooked food. Other foods should be stored above raw meat.
Never store anything, which is flammable, volatile or explosive inside the appliance.
Beverages with high alcohol content should be stored vertically in tightly sealed bottles.
Foods should not touch the rear wall of the appliance.
Delicate foods should be stored in the coolest part of the appliance.
Try not to open the door too often.
Set the thermostat to make sure that foods remain suitably cold, try to avoid freezing within the fridge. Using a thermometer will help you to judge how cool the appliance is. Place it into a glass of water and leave it inside the appliance for several hours to get a reliable reading.
Some foods contain natural oils and acids (e.g. citric acid) which can damage plastics if spilled – make sure these foods are suitably contained.
Unpleasant odours inside the fridge are a sign that something has spilled and cleaning is required. Using warm water with bicarbonate of soda will clean the interior of the appliance and remove most spillages. (See cleaning your appliance).
Always remember to remove perishable foods from this appliance before taking prolonged trips of holidays.
Freezing fresh foods
As with storing fresh foods, suitable packaging, correct temperature and food hygiene will enhance the quality of the food you are freezing.
Make sure that all foods for freezing are of a high quality, and suitable for freezing.
Use suitable packaging (plastic bags etc.) to store food in, and make sure that it is air tight or well sealed. Leaking packaging will dehydrate the products and lead to loss of beneficial vitamins.
Mark packages with the kind of food contained and the date of storage.
Food needs to be frozen quickly, so it is best to freeze small portions whenever possible and ensure that they are as cold as possible before storage. The recommended maximum weight for each portion is 2.5kg.
Keep food which is fresh away from food which is already frozen, if you need to freeze fresh food every day, make sure that it is in small portions to prevent this.
Do not exceed the maximum load for freezing – which is given as 10kg / 24H - see data badge for details.
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