How Safe is Your Refrigerator?
Dear Timi,
I recently read that many foodborne illnesses arise from improper refrigeration at home. How can I be certain that my refrigerator operates the way it should other than by trusting the manufacturer?
Dear Reader,
There can be many reasons for spoilage of refrigerated food. If your refrigerator is not in good working condition, you may have to start your investigation there. Before you do that, however, I recommend that you check whether the internal temperature of your refrigerator is set correctly. It should be 40 degrees or less in the main (non-freezing) compartment. Keep in mind that the temperature may vary between the top and the bottom shelf and also the door. The door is usually the warmest area. So, make sure you donβt store items there that can spoil easily, such as eggs and dairy products.
Another important factor for prevention of food spoilage is cleanliness. Donβt allow spoiled and moldy food to stay in the refrigerator. Wash all shelves and walls regularly (every one to two weeks), especially the meat drawers and vegetable bins. A number of bacteria can develop there over time, including the most common but quite dangerous foodborne pathogens E. coli and Salmonella.
