Storing Food In Your Refrigerator - Fisher & Paykel RS90A User Manual

STORING fOOD IN yOUR REfRIGERATOR

Your refrigerator is designed to help prolong the storage life of fresh and cooked foods.
Each compartment's specialised zones along with a constant cold temperature delays
the onset of food spoilage – particularly the metabolic growth of bacteria, moulds and
yeasts causing chemical and physical changes.
General fresh food care
The quality of food before being placed in the refrigerator is critical to successful
storage. This determines how long foods stay fresh for, and how long they can be
kept refrigerated.
For best results:
Only select foods of high quality and freshness.
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Only purchase foods you plan to use within the recommended storage time. If extra is
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purchased, plan to freeze the foods.
Before storing foods, ensure they are wrapped in suitable packing material.
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– This will prevent food from dehydrating, deteriorating in colour or losing flavour
and will help maintain freshness. It will also prevent odour transfer.
– Fruit and vegetables do not require wrapping and are recommended to be stored
in the vegetable bins of the refrigerator.
Ensure perishable foods are stored in the refrigerator immediately after purchase;
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this will prolong their shelf life. Storing at room temperature increases the rate of
deterioration.
Avoid placing food directly in front of air outlets; this may freeze foods and decrease the
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efficiency of cold air in the refrigerator to maintain safe food storage.
Keep door openings to a minimum and do not open unnecessarily.
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Ensure hot foods and drinks are cooled sufficiently before placing them in the refrigerator.
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Hot foods may cause other foods to warm to unsafe temperatures. If in contact with
plastic components of your refrigerator, hot containers may cause damage. Additionally
hot foods may cause an in increase in energy consumption.
Ensure raw and cooked foods are stored in separate air tight containers to prevent cross
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contamination. We recommend storing raw foods on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
Keep the refrigerator clean by frequently wiping the inside walls and shelves (refer to
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'Cleaning care' section).
Pay attention to the quality of foods in your refrigerator.
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– Discard foods that show signs of spoilage (by visual inspection and odour).
– Pay particular attention to protein rich foods (meats, fish and poultry) as some
deteriorate faster than others.
– Use foods within the recommended storage dates.
Dairy foods and eggs
We recommend high-in-fat dairy products eg butter, cheeses are stored in the covered
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door shelves of the refrigerator as these foods are easily tainted by strong odorous foods.
We recommend eggs stored in the covered door shelves of the refrigerator or in their
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carton as the porous egg structure is susceptible to absorbing odours.
– When using eggs in baked goods it is ideal to use room temperature eggs. Be sure
to remove the required eggs 2 hours beforehand.
Ensure pre-packed dairy products stamped with recommended 'use by/best before/best
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by' dates are consumed within the recommended storage time.
Ensure dairy products are stored in their original packaging until ready to consume.
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Once opened, package any remaining in suitable packing material eg cling film to avoid
the transfer of odours.
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