Food Storage & Energy Saving Ideas
Food storage Ideas
Fresh Food Storage
•
The fresh food compartment should be kept between
34°F and 40° F with an optimum temperature of 37°
F.
•
Avoid overcrowding the refrigerator shelves. This
reduces the circulation of air around the food and
results in uneven cooling.
Fruits and Vegetables
•
Storage in the crisper drawers helps preserve the fruit
and vegetable quality for longer time periods.
Meat
•
Raw meat and poultry should be wrapped securely so
leakage and contamination of other foods or surfaces
does not occur.
Frozen Food Storage
•
The freezer compartment should be kept at 0° F or
lower.
•
A freezer operates most efficiently when it is at least
2/3 full.
Packaging Foods for Freezing
•
To minimize 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
•
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 the packages, so cold air can
circulate freely, allowing food to freeze as quickly as
possible.
•
Avoid storing hard-to-freeze foods such as ice cream
and orange juice on the freezer door shelves. These
foods are best stored in the freezer interior where the
temperature varies less.
Energy saving ideas
•
Locate the refrigerator in the
coolest part of the room, out of
direct sunlight, and away from
heating products 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.
•
Refer to this Use & Care Manual for the suggested
temperature control settings.
•
Periodic cleaning of the condenser will help the
refrigerator run more efficiently. See the Care and
Cleaning Chart.
•
Do not overcrowd the refrigerator or block 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.
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