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STORING FOOD IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR COMPARTMENT
AND VARIABLE-TEMPERATURE DRAWER
Dairy foods and eggs
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Most pre-packed dairy foods have a recommended ‘use by/best before/best by’ date
stamped on them. Store them in the refrigerator and use within the recommended time.
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Butter can become tainted by strong smelling foods so it is best stored in a sealed
container.
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Eggs should be stored in the refrigerator. For best results, especially when baking,
remove the eggs from the refrigerator two hours before use.
Red meat
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Place fresh red meat on a plate and loosely cover with waxed paper, plastic wrap or foil.
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Store cooked and raw meat on separate plates. This will prevent any juices lost from the
raw meat from contaminating the cooked product.
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Delicatessen meats should be used within the recommended storage time.
Poultry
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Fresh whole birds should be rinsed inside and out with cold running water. Dry and
place on a plate. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or foil.
●
Poultry pieces should also be stored this way. Whole poultry should never be stuffed
until just before cooking, otherwise food poisoning may result.
●
Cool and refrigerate cooked poultry quickly. Remove stuffing from poultry and store
separately.
Fish and seafood
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Whole fish and fillets should be used on the day of purchase. Until required, refrigerate
on a plate loosely covered with plastic wrap, waxed paper or foil.
●
If storing overnight or longer, take particular care to select very fresh fish. Whole fish
should be rinsed in cold water to remove loose scales and dirt and then patted dry with
paper towels. Place whole fish or fillets in a sealed plastic bag.
●
Keep shellfish chilled at all times. Use within 1 – 2 days.
Precooked foods and leftovers
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These should be stored in suitable covered containers so that the food will not dry out.
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Keep for only 1 – 2 days.
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Reheat leftovers only once and until steaming hot.
Fruit and vegetable bins
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Although most fruit and vegetable varieties store best at low temperatures, take care
not to store the following at temperatures of less than 7°C for long periods:
Citrus fruit, melons, eggplant, pineapple, paw paw, courgettes, passionfruit, cucumber,
peppers, tomatoes.
●
Undesirable changes will occur at low temperatures such as softening of the flesh,
browning and/or accelerated decaying.
●
Do not refrigerate avocados (until they are ripe), bananas, mangoes or pepinos. If
possible store fruit and vegetables separately, ie fruit in one bin and vegetables in
the other.
