Your refrigerator is great for storage, but 9 items you should be aware:

Your fridge is more than just a big container for keeping food cold. Although it is a cold place to store everything from butter sticks to home-cooked leftovers, not all parts of the fridge are created equal. According to Rachel Gargano, MS, RD, CSSD, CBS, "the fridge is one of the most important food safety storage areas that we frequently use incorrectly as a society." “There is such nuance in how we place items in the fridge, and most people aren’t aware of the methods that will help keep food the safest.

 The crisper is designed to keep produce crisp, and the shelves in the fridge should also be organized with function in mind. A fridge is divided into distinct sections with distinct functions: the refrigerator door and its designated shelving is convenient but fluctuates in temperature due to all the openings. The top shelf of the refrigerator is warmer than the lower ones because heat rises. According to Gargano, "this shelf should be reserved for foods that are ready-to-eat, pre-cooked, or do not need to be reheated at high temperatures." Read on for the items that you should never store on the bottom shelf of your fridge, because they’re more suited for a spot up top. 

      

1.)  Leftovers

 According to Jennifer Nicole Bianchini, RDN, "anything that has already been cooked, such as leftovers, should be kept on the top shelf because nothing can leak from above." Additionally, "you will be less likely to forget to eat your prepared meals and leftovers," as the top shelf is typically the most visible location. 

2.)  Boiled Eggs 

Hard boiled egges should NOT be stored with raw eggs, as the shells can cross-contaminate the cooked eggs and shouldn’t  together with eggs.  Eggs, both peeled and unpeeled, are a convenient snack that can be grabbed and eaten right away and keep for up to a week on the top shelf of the refrigerator rather than the bottom. 

3.)  Cooked Grains

 If you batch cook grains for meal prep, or just have a side of rice or pasta leftover, place it on the top shelf instead of the bottom.  According to Bianchini, "foods that are already cooked or meal prepped have a higher risk of becoming contaminated," so placing them on the top shelf of the refrigerator safeguards them from "raw juices or bacteria that can leak from items such as raw meats." 

4.)  Cooked Meats 

 According to Gargano, "full cooked meats, such as bacon or sausage, can be stored on the top." Lower down, keep the uncooked meats. Raw meats and poultry should be kept cold and away from other foods, on the bottom shelf.  We don't want the juices from raw meat to seep into foods we won't be cooking. 

5.)  Herbs

Bianchini suggests arranging fresh herbs in a small glass or jar with water in the shape of a bouquet. These will keep well in the refrigerator on the top shelf. Simply change the water every two days and trim the herb stems if necessary.

 6.)  Baked Goods

“Baked goods that need refrigeration, like pies or tortillas, belong on the top shelf,” Gargano says.  Again, this prevents any cross-contamination, and these treats don’t need to be as cold as other items.

 7.)  Berries

 Berriesshouldn’t be in the coldest area of the fridge!  Ideally, they’ll be on the middle or top shelf, in a breathable container with a paper towel or thin cloth to catch any extra moisture at the bottom. 

 8.)  Processed Foods 

Processed foods that have been processed or prepared Salad kits, snack packs, supermarket sushi, and other ready-to-eat prepared foods belong on the top shelf along with the leftovers. 

 9.)  Condiments 

 Nut and seed butters, tahini, vinegars, and other condiments that won't fit on the fridge door can be stored on the top shelf, especially if you like to store them in the cold but don't necessarily need refrigeration. These items can include nut and seed butters, tahini, vinegars, and more Any condiments that don’t fit on the fridge door can be on the top shelf of the fridge, particularly items that don’t necessarily require refrigeration but you prefer to store them in the cold places.

Tips: 

 1.) Before performing any serious rearranging of storage for the season always clean out the refrigerators and wipe down the metal rackes and large storage containers at the bottom of the refrigerator. 

2.) Check the magnets inside the regrigerator door to make certain it can seal tightly.

3.)  Clean out the freezer of any "freezer burned" foods because over time even freezer burned food can spoiled. Plus make sure the freezer vent has nothing in the way of ventilation to keep the freezer and refrigerator operational.  

4.) Refrigerators run on freon and if your freezer's freon fuel might be going out, refill it if possible? Check where you can purchase freon. Otherwise, if the freezer portion of the applicance goes out, the regrigeration won't work and a new refrigerator is needed.