Lifestyle Desk- Often there is leftover food in homes and it is kept in the fridge to eat later. But here a question definitely arises whether hot food should be kept directly in the fridge or it should be allowed to cool down first? Some people avoid keeping hot food in the refrigerator, while others leave it outside for a long time. Caution is necessary in both the methods, because keeping food at the wrong temperature can affect its quality and food safety. Let us know what is the right way to keep food in the refrigerator.
Can hot food be kept directly in the refrigerator?
Keeping very hot and large quantities of food directly in the refrigerator is not considered the right way. Due to this, the temperature inside the fridge may increase for some time and other food items kept nearby may also be affected.
But this also does not mean that food should be left at room temperature for several hours. If cooked food is kept outside for a long time, bacteria can grow rapidly in it. Therefore, the most important thing is to cool the food quickly and safely and keep it in the refrigerator.
What is the correct way to refrigerate food?
Divide large amounts of food into smaller containers
If there is a lot of dal, vegetable, rice or gravy left, then instead of keeping it in a big and deep vessel, divide it into small, shallow containers. This will cool the food quickly and help it reach a safe temperature inside even after keeping it in the refrigerator.
don't leave out too long
Don't leave food on the kitchen counter for hours waiting for it to cool completely. Generally, keeping cooked food at room temperature for a long time is not considered good in terms of food safety. Refrigerating hot food after allowing steam to escape for a while, putting it in a small container can be a safer method.
reserve space in the fridge
Keep the food container in the refrigerator in such a way that there is some space around it and cold air can circulate easily. Filling too many hot containers at once can affect the temperature of the refrigerator.
keep food covered
Use clean, lidded containers to keep food in the refrigerator. Due to this, the moisture and quality of the food remains better and the possibility of odor of other things present in the fridge getting into the food is also reduced.
Do not leave rice or pulses in a big vessel
Keeping rice, pulses, vegetables or other cooked food in a large and deep vessel for a long time can cause the center to cool slowly. Therefore, it is better to divide the leftover food into small portions.
Should I wait until the food cools completely?
It is a common misconception that food should be kept in the refrigerator only when it has cooled completely to room temperature. It is not necessary to do this. In fact, keeping cooked food out for a long time can also be harmful. Therefore, let the food cool slightly, divide large portions into smaller containers and keep them in the refrigerator as soon as possible.
Keep these things in mind even after keeping it in the fridge
- Keeping food in the refrigerator does not make it safe forever. Use leftover food on time instead of storing it for too long. When reheating, heat the food thoroughly and avoid repeated heating and then cooling.
- If the food smells strange, its color or texture has changed or it looks spoiled, it is better to throw it away rather than taste it.
- Most importantly, avoid both placing large amounts of hot food directly into the refrigerator and leaving it out for several hours. Divide the food into small, shallow and clean containers, let the steam escape for a while and then keep it in the refrigerator. In this way the food will cool quickly and will help in keeping it safe for a long time.
- Storing food at the right temperature in the kitchen is very important not only for taste and freshness, but also to reduce the risk of food poisoning.