During the Lunar New Year, families tend to stock up on a lot of food and store it in the refrigerator. However, if it’s not organized properly, it can quickly turn into a messy situation.
So, this Lunar New Year, let’s learn how to arrange our food in the fridge to keep it tidy and well-organized.
Arranging food in the refrigerator should not be done haphazardly. In fact, the internal temperature of the fridge automatically distributes across all areas, ensuring proper food preservation as long as items are placed correctly.
First, it’s crucial to set the appropriate temperature for your refrigerator, especially in hot weather. Then, you need to know where to place eggs, raw meat and fish, fruits, vegetables, milk, and butter, among other things. Here are some helpful guidelines for properly organizing your food items.
1. Categorize Your Food
The first step is to sort and categorize your food items into separate sections. Divide your food into four parts:
– Allocate one part for the freezer, which usually includes raw meat, fish, and canned goods.
– For the refrigerator compartment, create three sections: one for vegetables, one for eggs and items that don’t require low temperatures, and another for the remaining food items.
2. Arrange Food in the Fridge
Freezer:
Even though the freezer is small, with clever organization, you can still store a significant amount of food. During the Lunar New Year, it’s common for Vietnamese families to stock up on meat and canned goods to treat guests. When arranging the meat, portion it into smaller pieces and place them in separate plastic bags. This makes it easier to stack and store in the freezer.
Door Shelves:
These shelves are the least cooled area of the fridge, so only store long-lasting condiments and sauces here. The bottom shelf of the door can hold heavier items.
Bottom Compartment:
In this compartment, the first rule is to place taller items at the back. For cooked food or ingredients like butter, partially used tomatoes, etc., wrap them carefully in plastic wrap, then arrange them by type. Place cooked food in the upper compartment and uncooked food in the lower one.
Crisper Drawer:
This drawer is the ideal place to keep your vegetables fresh for an extended period, as it has a moderate temperature suitable for vegetable preservation. However, for partially used vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers, it’s best to keep them separately in the door shelves, so you remember to use them first when you open the fridge.
3. Additional Tips for Arranging Food in the Fridge
– Store food in specialized food storage containers to prevent odor transfer and make it easier to label and organize.
– Sort food by expiration date, placing items that expire soonest at the front of the fridge, so you don’t forget and waste food.
– Avoid blocking the air vents or the suction port of the refrigerator with food items.
– Don’t pack food too tightly together, as this can cause spills when removing items.
During the festive season, the refrigerator is often packed with food, so it’s essential to pay attention to how items are arranged to maintain a tidy, organized, and easily accessible fridge.
According to Nhịp Sống Việt
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