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Food Storage
Tips
Fresh Food Storage
Frozen Food Storage
• The fresh food compartment
of a refrigerator
should
• Tire freezer compartment
of a refrigerator
should
be kept between
34°F and 40°F with an optimum
kept at 0°F or lower. To check the temperature,
pl_
temperature
of 37°R To check the temperature,
place
an appliance
thermometer
between the frozen pa.
an appliance
thermometer
in a glass of water and
ages and check after 24 hours. If the temperature
place in the center of the refrigerator.
Check after 24
above 0°F, adjust the control as described
on page
hours. If the temperature
is above 40°F adjust the
controls as explained on page 3.
• A freezer operates
more efficiently when it is at le
two-thirds
full.
• Avoid overcrowding
the refrigerator
shelves.
This
reduces the circulation
of air around
the food and
Packaging
Foods for Freezing
results in uneven cooling.
• To minimize
dehydration
and quality deteriorat
use aluminum
foil, freezer wrap, freezer bags or i
Fruits and Vegetables
tight containers.
Force as much air out of the pa
• Storage in the crisper drawers traps moisture to help
ages as possible and be sure they are tightly seal
preserve
the fruit and vegetable
quality
for longer
Trapped
air can cause the food to dry out, chal
time periods. (Refer to page 5).
color and develop an off-flavor (freezer burn).
• Sort fruits and vegetables
before storage
and use
• Overwrap
fresh meats
and
poultry
with suit_
bruised
or soft items first. Discard those showing
freezer wrap prior to freezing.
signs of decay.
• Do not refreeze meat that has completely
thawe,
• Always wrap odorous foods such as onions and cab-
bage so the odor does not transfer to other foods.
Loading
the Freezer
• While vegetables need a certain amount of moisture
• Avoid adding too much warm food to the freeze
to remain fresh, too much moisture can shorten stor-
one time. This overloads the freezer, slows the rat
age times (especially lettuce). Drain vegetables
well
freezing
and can raise the temperature
of fro
before storing,
foods.
• Leave a space between
the packages so cold air
Meat and Cheese
circulate freely, allowing food to freeze as quickl I
• Raw meat and poultry should be wrapped
securely
possible.
so leakage and contamination
of other foods or sur-
faces does not occur.
• Avoid storing hard-to-freeze
foods such as ice crq
and orange juice on the freezer door shelves. T1
• Occasionally
mold will develop
on the surface of
foods are best stored in the freezer interior where
hard cheeses (Swiss, Cheddar,
Parmesan).
Cut off at
temperature
varies less with door openings.
least an inch around and below the moldy area. Keep
your knife or instrument
out of the mold itself. The
remaining cheese will be safe and flavorful to eat. Do
NOT try to save individual
cheese slices, soft cheese,
cottage cheese, cream, sour cream or yogurt when
mold appears.
Dairy Food
• Most dairy foods such as milk, yogurt, sour cream
and cottage cheese have freshness dates on their car-
tons for appropriate
length of storage. Store these
foods in the original carton and refrigerate immedi-
ately after purchasing
and after each use.
7
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