Storing Food And Saving Energy - Kenmore 253.7034 Use & Care Manual

Storing Food and 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.
• Avoid overcrowding the refrigerator
shelves, which reduces air circulation
and causes uneven cooling.
• Avoid placing food in front of air ports.
(See Controls Section for illustration.)
Fruits and vegetables
• Store fruits and vegetables in crisper
drawers, where trapped moisture helps
preserve food quality for longer time
periods.
• Wash items and remove excess water.
• Wrap any items that have strong odors
or high moisture content.
Meat
• Wrap raw meat and poultry separately
and securely to prevent leaks and
contamination of other foods or surfaces.
• Use the deli drawer to store meat/poultry
for short-term storage. Any meat to be kept
longer than two days should be frozen.
Frozen food storage
• Keep the freezer compartment at 0°F or
lower.
• A freezer operates most efficiently when
it is at least ⅔ 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.
Loading the freezer
• Prior to grocery shopping, activate
"Express Chill" (some models) so that on
your return you can ensure your newly
purchased food designated for the freezer
will be preserved as quickly as possible.
• Activating "Express Chill" (some models)
also will help your freezer more efficiently
maintain the selected temperature after
placing new purchases with pre-existing
frozen foods.
• Avoid adding too much warm food to the
freezer at one time. This overloads the
freezer, slows the rate of freezing, and
can raise the temperature of frozen foods.
• Leave a space between packages, so
cold air can circulate freely, allowing
food to freeze as quickly as possible.
Ideas for saving energy
Installation
• Locate the refrigerator in the coolest
part of the room, out of direct sunlight,
and away from heating ducts or
registers.
• Do not place the refrigerator next to heat-
producing appliances such as a range, oven,
or dishwasher. If this is not possible, a section
of cabinetry or an added layer of insulation
between the two appliances will help the
refrigerator operate more efficiently.
• Level the refrigerator so that the doors
close tightly.
Temperature settings
• Refer to the "Controls" section for
procedures on temperature settings.
Food storage
• Avoid overcrowding the refrigerator or
blocking cold air vents. Doing so causes
the refrigerator to run longer and use
more energy.
• Cover foods and wipe containers dry
before placing them in the refrigerator.
This cuts down on moisture build-up
inside the unit.
• Organize the refrigerator to reduce
door openings. Remove as many items
as needed at one time and close the
door as soon as possible.
• Do not place a hot container directly
on a cold shelf. Remember, such an
extreme temperature change may
damage the glass.
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