Kenmore 25370319214 Use & Care Manual page 52

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.
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 dell 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 emcienfly when it is at least 2/3full.
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 ouh 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 "quick freeze" so that
on your return you can ensure your newly purchased food
designated for the freezer will be preserved as quickly as
possible.
° Activating "quick freeze" also will help your freezer more
emciently 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 |:nergy
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 efflcientJy.
° 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 dose 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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