Storing food properly in the fridge

Storing food properly in the fridge is important to make it last as long as possible. However, to do this, you need to choose the right compartment. In this article you will get a few tips.

Storing food in the fridge: The right compartment counts

A refrigerator has several compartments for food for a reason: each compartment has a different temperature. It is coldest at the bottom of the fridge. The higher the compartments are, the higher the temperature.

• Upper compartment: The temperature here is about 9 degrees and is the “warmest” place in the refrigerator. Therefore, food that cannot spoil so quickly should be stored here. These include jam, mustard, pickled gherkins, olives or peppers. Leftovers from lunch can also be stored here ideally for the next day.
• Middle compartment: At a temperature of 5 degrees, all dairy products such as cheese, yoghurt, sour cream or cream are ideally stored here. You should also put milk and quark here.
• Bottom compartment: At about 2 degrees, this is the coldest place in the fridge. This is where you should put perishables and food from the fresh food counter. This includes fresh meat, fish or sausage. Make sure you wrap the food well or cover it appropriately.
• Vegetable compartment: Here the temperature is 8 degrees. This compartment is suitable for storing vegetables such as lettuce, courgettes and peppers.
• Refrigerator door: At a temperature of 9 degrees, you can store drinks and UHT milk here. Otherwise, you can also store food in this compartment that belongs in the top compartment.
• Freezer compartment: The temperature here is between 18 and 20 degrees. This compartment is for frozen foods such as ice cream, pizza, fish or bread rolls. If you want to freeze fresh meat, put it in the freezer compartment as well.

Food in the refrigerator: these do not belong in it

Some foods you shouldn’t store in the fridge in the first place to keep them as long as possible.

• These include especially cold-sensitive tropical fruits. This applies to bananas or lemons, for example.
• Bread and honey are also foods that you should not store in the refrigerator, but keep at room temperature.
• Potatoes, onions and garlic also do not belong in the fridge. A cool dark place like a cellar is ideal here.