How to Store Food and Maintain Your Fridge

1. Best Place for Your Fridge

Keep the fridge as far away from your gas stove as possible. It needs to "breathe" to release the heat it sucks out of your food.

  • Ventilation: Maintain at least a 1 cm gap on the sides and a 2-3 cm gap at the back to allow for natural convection cooling.

2. Safe Food Storage Guidelines

To prevent bacterial growth, follow these rules from the US FDA and UK Food Safety guidelines:

  • Temperature: Keep the main compartment at 5°C or below.
  • Leftovers: Store in covered containers and consume within 2-3 days.
  • Never Hot: Let food cool to room temperature before putting it in the fridge.
  • Wrapping: Always wrap food or use sealed containers to prevent "freeze-drying," where ice turns directly into vapor and settles as frost on the coils.

💡 The Fresh Bread Hack

Want fresh-tasting warm bread every morning? Store your sliced bread in the freezer. When ready to eat, microwave the frozen slices for 15 seconds. They will absorb a tiny bit of moisture from the air and come out soft and fresh!

3. Maintenance to Lower Your Bill

  • Clean the Coils: Dust and cobwebs on the condenser coils (at the back or bottom) reduce heat transfer. Clean them every 4 months with a vacuum or blower.

  • Check the Gasket: A leaking door seal lets cold air escape, forcing the compressor to work harder.

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