Logic seems to dictate that the more food you store in your refrigerator, the harder it will have to work to keep everything chilled. In fact, according to Samsung, the opposite is true – the temperature inside a fridge fluctuates less when the appliance is full. With this in mind, we’ve come up with some ideas to help you fill your refrigerator for maximum efficiency while managing your food budget and meals at the same time.
Buy in bulk.
Samsung recommends that you buy food in bulk, and we agree. Bulk foods are usually less expensive, and because you won’t run out of basic ingredients as often, you’ll make fewer trips to the grocery store. Of course you can’t purchase perishable food that you won’t use while it’s fresh, but you can freeze many items. Consider freezing foods such as vegetables or fruits, for example, which come in handy as side dishes, snacks, or smoothie ingredients.
Eat at home more often.
It is common knowledge that eating out is usually more expensive than preparing meals at home. If you commit to eating at home more often, you’ll also buy more ingredients that can be stored in your refrigerator or freezer.
Cook meals in advance.
Some busy home cooks find it convenient to do the bulk of their cooking one or two nights a week and to store meals for future consumption. Doing so allows you to use ingredients while they’re fresh, and then to fill up the freezer or refrigerator with meals that are ready to be quickly warmed and served.
Be aware of how long foods stay fresh in the refrigerator.
Although you want to keep your refrigerator full, you don’t want to risk wasting food or eating spoiled ingredients. According to CBS News and RealSimple.com, the following list reveals how long some common foods should remain fresh in your fridge (but please double-check the labels and expiration dates on any foods you buy, as no list is infallible and it is possible to accidentally buy food that is already expired or that is close to its expiration date):
- Baby Food: 1-3 days
- Pasta Sauce: 5 days once opened
- Mayonnaise: 2 months once opened
- Cheese: 1-4 weeks(check the label – RealSimple notes that hard cheese can last six months, while soft cheese, unopened, can last 3-4 weeks, but only 1-2 weeks once opened)
- Fresh Eggs (in shells): 3-5 weeks
- Hard-boiled Eggs: 1 week
- Leftovers: 3-4 days, depending on the food. According to CBS: “Kung Pao chicken, pepperoni pizza, or tuna salad must go in the fridge within two hours of serving to reduce your risk of food-borne illnesses, because bacteria grow more quickly at room temperature. Don’t leave leftovers hanging out in the kitchen. Put them in the fridge as soon as you’re done with them. Cold temperatures slow the rate of bacteria growth. For larger items, such as macaroni salad or large quantities of Chinese food, refrigerate in several shallow containers rather than large clumps. That way, the food will cool evenly and more quickly. You don’t want a big clump: That risks the chance of something growing in the center because it didn’t cool properly.”
- Olives and pickles: 1 month
- Bacon, cooked: 1 week
- Steaks, roasts, uncooked: 3-5 days (be careful and always examine for freshness)
- Bread dough: 3-4 days
- Fish, cooked: 3-4 days
- Mashed potatoes: 3-4 days
- Meat, cooked: 3-4 days (again, be careful)
- Poultry, cooked: 3-4 days
- Stuffing, cooked: 3-4 days
- Soups and stews: 2-4 days
- Fruit or pumpkin pies, baked: 2-3 days
- Chicken or turkey, fresh: 1-2 days
- Fish, fresh: 1-2 days
- Fruit or pumpkin pies, unbaked: 1-2 days
- Gravy, meat broth: 1-2 days
- White wine, recorked: 1-2 days
If you are ever in doubt about the freshness of food, throw it out. It is far better to be safe than to risk food-borne illness. But by planning in advance, buying in bulk and storing foods with these safety tips in mind, it should be easy to keep your refrigerator full and to help it run efficiently.
Click Here To Submit A News Tip Or Story