What Items to Store in The Refrigerator Door?
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Refrigerators come with a lot of compartments and shelves, with each having its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Besides all other compartments, you may wonder what to store in the refrigerator door as it is one unique place in the whole refrigerator. Unloading groceries into the refrigerator is not an easy task. Where the items go in the fridge is important for food safety and storage, from the shelves to the drawers and the refrigerator door. Here’s what to store in the refrigerator door and what should you never keep in the refrigerator door.
What to store in refrigerator door?
The warmest area of the refrigerator is the door, which you can use for goods that are the least likely to deteriorate. Many modern refrigerators contain a door that you can open without opening the main door to reach commonly retrieved foods in a pull-out drawer. This is the ideal place to put products that are best served cold. Non-perishable products such as beverages, condiments, water, and other non-perishable items should be stored here. You can store juices and other such items that can withstand temperature changes in this area.
Condiments
The refrigerator door is ideal for storing condiments. Store anything like maple syrup, ketchup, fruit juices, wine, opened jams, and mayonnaise in the door. These components have a longer shelf life and can withstand the door’s shifting or slightly warmer temperatures.
Beverages and Soft Drinks
The refrigerator door is ideal for soft drinks, like a can of ginger ale, a box of apple juice, fruit juices, soda, sparkling water, carbonated or aerated drinks. Most soft drinks don’t need to be cool in the first place, but most people refrigerate them since they prefer consuming chilled beverages.
Salad Dressings
Salad dressing bottles, like condiments, can be kept in the refrigerator door. Opened salad dressing bottles can last in the refrigerator for up to two months, but check the date on the bottle first. If you’re storing an oil-based dressing in the fridge, don’t worry if it appears to have split. Before using, give the dressing a thorough shake to make it is ready to use.
What Should You Not Store in The Refrigerator Doors?
Perishable items, such as milk, should not be stored in the refrigerator door since the temperature is frequently fluctuating. The shelves on the refrigerator doors as well don’t keep their temperature steady and are frequently warmer than the remaining of the refrigerator.
Milk
While the door may appear to be a convenient location for storing milk, it is the worst alternative. Bacteria thrive in warm environments; therefore, putting milk in the door will expose it regularly and would only enhance the chances of deterioration. Keep milk at the back of the fridge instead.
Eggs
Although some refrigerators include an egg-shaped shelf in the door, it isn’t the ideal place to keep eggs at the optimum temperature. Keep the eggs on an indoor shelf at a steady temperature, ideally in their original carton, to reduce moisture loss and prevent them from absorbing the flavors and odors of other foods.
Cheese
In the fridge, there is a separate area for cheese that isn’t the door. Instead, the slender drawer (which may be in the center or at the bottom of your fridge, depending on its configuration) is for storing cheese. Additional chilly air is sent into the drawer to keep goods very cold without freezing, according to the USDA, which is ideal for cheese. This drawer is also ideal for storing deli meats.
Basic Guidelines for Storing Food in the Refrigerator
Overcrowding the refrigerator is one of the most common mistakes individuals make. When foods obstruct the passage of air in the fridge, it makes the refrigerator work harder and leaves certain parts warmer than others. It’s easy to ensure adequate ventilation and maintain an equal temperature in the fridge by taking a proactive approach to storing goods in the fridge in an efficient method.
Avoid putting foods against the back or edges of the fridge, and keep everything separated by about a half-inch. This allows air to circulate between the refrigerator’s compartments, reducing the risk of foods becoming rotten.
As an extra measure, you can use a food thermometer in the fridge that will guarantee to maintain the proper temperature while also acting as a check against the fridge’s digital reading.
To guarantee that the readout is correct, place it on the second shelf from the top. If the temperature starts to climb, turn down the fridge’s temperature or get a check with a professional.
How to Keep Your Refrigerator Clean?
Now that you know, what to store in the refrigerator door, it is also very important to maintain the hygiene of the entire refrigerator. Once every three months, thorough cleaning of the sides is advisable. To do so, remove all of the trays from the fridge and wash them in hot, soapy water.
It’s also a good idea to use a diluted bleach solution to eliminate germs effectively. One tablespoon of bleach to one gallon of water is a suitable ratio. As many shelves feature double-walled glass, avoid wet shelves. If water enters between the panes of glass, it can create an environment where mold and mildew can grow.
You can also place an open package of baking soda on the second or third shelf of the refrigerator to keep it smelling fresh. Write the date on the box, and replace it every one to three months.
Knowing how to organize your refrigerator door properly can ensure that your food stays as fresh as possible. It will also help you reduce the amount of food waste you produce since you know what to store in the refrigerator.
