Gross fridge? Cleaning and out

If one of your New Year's resolutions include cleaning and organization, and a great place to start is with the refrigerator. Clean the refrigerator regularly can increase operational efficiency, extend the life of the device and protects stored food. Moreover, it makes cooking less effort - you can easily elements and know exactly what you have available.

Consider these tips to get your "refrigerator makeover":

Knowing how long to store perishables. There are two types of food bacteria, one that spoils the food and one that makes you sick. You can not see, smell or taste that make you sick. The short-term, but certainly for the development of refrigerated foods they designed to keep food dangerous to eat from spoiling or to. Guidelines for the refrigerated storage are just the quality - frozen foods remain safe indefinitely. For detailed information on food storage guidelines, visit the Resource Library Education Food and Drug Administration to www.FDA.gov or contact. The Cooperative Extension office for information

Make it a weekly habit of throwing perishable foods should not be eaten. General guidelines for food preservation: Home residues that older or four days, sausages (open or sausage) are poultry and meat that are older than two days, three days and more raw.

Interior cleaning tips. Use paper towels, warm water and mild detergent, such as dishwashing liquid, the inner walls of the refrigerator shelves and clean. Ensure storage bins, drawers and space you have to store meats and cheeses. Use paper towels to pat dry surfaces. Strong cleaning can impart flavor to food or ice cubes, or cause damage to the interior design of your refrigerator - follow the manufacturer's instructions of the refrigerator. It may be useful to remove content and a clean section at a time - you use a refrigerator to keep food during cleaning and reshelf items such as cleaning each section.

If you disinfect after cleaning, you can use a surface disinfectant kitchen (many contain bleaching agents) use found in the local grocery stores - you need to follow the directions on the label. To make your own disinfectant, add teaspoon of bleach with no flavor of one liter of water. Bleach solutions are less effective over time, dispose of unused portions daily. Note that solutions of lemon juice and water are not strong enough for effective disinfection.

Cleaning Tips outdoor

Door seals - Make sure that the good refrigerator. Use thoroughly with mild detergent and warm water, then rinse a sponge or a soft washing and dry cloth. Do not use cleaning waxes, bleach, strong detergents or petroleum based cleaners on the joints. They can cause seals yellow and crumble.

Page 2 of 2 - condenser coils - Clean several times a year with a brush or vacuum cleaner to remove dirt, lint, pet hair and other debris. Grille: keep this area free of dust and lint to the air flow into the condenser to allow.

Use a thermometer unit. May not be effective enough to keep food cold Integrated temperature controller. Keep a thermometer in the unit in both the refrigerator and freezer at all times. The refrigerator should be 40 degrees or less, and the freezer at 0 degrees or less. Replace the hard drive as needed, to maintain a safe temperature temperature control.

Learn perfect offer. Ask to not fill the food in the refrigerator or freezer. The separation allows cold air to circulate around the food. The top shelf of the refrigerator is ideal for fruit and vegetables. The intermediate bottom is suitable for cheese and sausage. Use the lower rack for raw meat, fish, poultry, eggs (kept in the carton), milk and leftovers. Raw meat should be stored to prevent on a plate or tray on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator to juices made into contact with other foods. Door storage is ideal for spices, sauces and acidic juices. Planters are ideal for fruits and vegetables.

Reduce food odors. An open box of baking soda in the refrigerator will reduce food odors and prevent taste transfer between foods. A second box in the freezer keeps ice cubes and ice and fresh tasting rancid by absorbing odors freezer. It is also useful to keep packaged foods, so that everything stays fresh longer and the flavors do not mix.

Linda Minges is a registered dietitian at the NC Cooperative Extension (gaston.ces.ncsu.edu) and can be reached for more information on nutrition and food safety in linda_minges@ncsu.edu.

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