With the holidays coming, a lot of people are planning the menu for Christmas time or New Year's. It's common practice for most, and while there might be meal plans to consider, there are also left over problems after the holidays.
Food is what's great about these festive events. It's excellent to eat a lot of meals during these celebrations but you need to be meticulous about storing food.
The majority are in a constant dilemma about putting hot food inside the refrigerator. It's still a particular issue that people are not sure about, says Huffington Post.
Will it be okay to let it cool first? Will the warm food affect the fridge's temperature? Is it safe for us?
Contrary to what most think about this issue, it's YES. It is just fine to put the hot food inside. It's actually preferable. There is no harm in putting food in the fridge as it will not have any undesirable effect on your refrigerator or the other foods inside.
Health Canada emphasizes on the fact that in just a short span of two hours, bacteria can develop into food. It's better to refrigerate as soon as possible especially foods like dairy, meat, poultry and eggs.
Those who have weak immune systems like pregnant women, kids, and elderly people are highly at risk for food poisoning. One needs to be more particular in storing different types of food to protect those who have weak immune systems.
Take note of the rule: keep hot foods hot (60°C or hotter) and cold food cold (4°C or colder) to avoid the danger zones.
If you have massive amounts of food, like soup in a pot, it's likely that the center won't be chilled. It can result to bacteria growth. Because of this, it's suggested to store leftovers in containers that are shallow. These can definitely cool easily. Another tip is to make sure that the fridge has enough room or not tightly packed so the cool air can circulate better.
What are you waiting for? Get those holiday meals ready!
