Food which should not be
stored in a refrigerator
Not all food is suitable for storing in the
refrigerator. These include:
– Fruit and vegetables which are
sensitive to cold, such as bananas,
avocado pears, papaya, passion
fruit, aubergines, peppers, tomatoes
and cucumbers
– Fruit which is not yet ripe
– Potatoes
– Some hard cheeses, e.g. Parmesan
Storing food correctly
Store food covered or packaged. This
will prevent food smells or tastes from
affecting other foods, and prevent food
from drying out and also any
cross-contamination of bacteria. The
growth of bacteria, such as salmonella,
can be avoided by setting the correct
temperature and maintaining good
standards of hygiene.
Fruit and vegetables
Fruit and vegetables can be stored
loose in the vegetable containers.
However, you should bear in mind that
some types of vegetables give off a
natural gas which speeds up the rate at
which food perishes. Some fruit and
vegetables react strongly to this gas
and should not be stored together.
Examples of fruit which produce a
large amount of this natural gas are:
Apples, apricots, pears, nectarines,
peaches, plums, avocado pears and
figs.
Examples of fruit and vegetables
which react strongly to the natural
gases given off by other types of fruit
and vegetables are:
Kiwis, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels
sprouts, mangos, honeydew melons,
apples, apricots, cucumbers, tomatoes,
pears, nectarines and peaches.
Using the refrigerator efficiently
18
