Q: Is it good to store our cooked food in the refrigerator?

A: First of all, you have to be sure that the food you intend to store is good quality. We, oftentimes, have the impression that the fridge has some magical properties and so, if we put bad food in the fridge, it magically becomes good…or perhaps, if it was about going bad, then this process is halted. But this is not true. The fridge preserves the quality of what you have put in it and slows down the growth of germs that can cause the food to spoil. Please note the words, ‘slow down’. The process is delayed and not completely stopped, which is the reason why it’s always a great idea to eat up food in the fridge within 2-3 days. The freezer can preserve food for much longer though, so if it’s possible to freeze, please do.

Once food has been cooked and you want to refrigerate or freeze, be sure to do so within 2 hours of preparation (by which time the food would have cooled) to prevent germs from having already taken up residence 😀

Other general tips to remember when storing foods in the fridge:
•    Be sure that your fridge is maintained at less than 5°C

•    Ensure that you clean your fridge often to ensure that you’re not actively growing germs in them 😀

•    Be sure that all foods stored in the fridge or freezer have been cooled down. Storing hot foods straight in the fridge, increases the fridge temperature and encourages the growth of micro-organisms.

•    Store foods that go bad easily towards the back of the fridge where it’s cooler eg milk and other dairy foods

•    If your food is over-stocked, that’s also a problem as the cool air will not be able to circulate to keep things, nice, cool and fresh 😀

•    Once you have opened a can of food, take the food out of the can before storing in the fridge. If not, the food may get contaminated with the metal. Pour out the food into your storage containers and then place in the fridge.

•    De-frost food completely before cooking and if you’re in a hurry to use the meat immediately, defrost in the micro-wave. Then make sure, the food is cooked evenly all the way through.

•    If you have cause to store chicken or other meat in your fridge (like when marinating) , be sure that it is not in contact with any other food. Store them in the bottom part of the fridge away from other foods to ensure that fluids from them don’t drip onto other foods. And be sure not to store cooked meat together with raw meat to prevent transfer of germs.

There’s a whole lot more where that came from…but this is enough to get you thinking now, right? 😀

Have a fab weekend!

Here’s to a healthier you!