Refrigerator Care and Cleaning: Top TipsNote: For more information and special deals related to the topics on this page, place your cursor over the double-underlined words. All information supplied by Kontera.com. 1 Cold and ColderSome parts of your fridge are colder than others. The meat compartment at the bottom is designed to store meat - so put meat there.Not only is this the coldest area, but if the package leaks, it won't contaminate other foods. The door is the warmest part of the fridge. This is the best place for nonperishables (sodas), not perishables (eggs). To keep food from spoiling in the fridge, the temperature needs to be between 34- and 40-degrees Fahrenheit. You can't depend on the little gauge (1-5) in the fridge. You need to buy a fridge thermometer. Ditto for the freezer, which should be kept at 0 to 5 degrees F. 2 Cleaning Your FridgeTip for daily use:-- Wipe up any spills in your refrigerator immediately to keep bacteria from growing. -- Wash first with warm, soapy water, then disinfect with a solution of 1 teaspoon bleach in one quart water. 3 Top Tips for Your Food1 Don't put hot food in the chilly fridge. Bring it to room temperature before refrigerating it. Hot food can cause fridge temps to drop.2 On the other hand, don't leave food out too long, either. Refrigerate prepared food within two hours of cooking (one hour in the summer). 3 Don't overload the refrigerator. Parties are a dangerous time for your fridge food health because you can cram a whole lot of stuff in it and then you're continually opening the door. Turn the temperature down during these occasions. 4 Cover foods tightly. This keeps an air-tight seal that will keep foods fresher longer, as well as keep out any bacteria in the air. 5 Leave meats in their original packaging to prevent spreading bacteria. 6 Don't store breads, cookies or most cakes in the fridge; they will become stale. 7 Tell the family not to stand gazing slack-jawed into the open fridge while they decide what to eat. There goes the fridge temp again... 8 If you lose power, don't open the fridge or freezer. If the doors are kept closed, food can keep up to eight hours in the fridge; 48 hours in the freezer. A Home for Everything in the Kitchen
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