During this special period, please pay attention to the correct storage of food in the refrigerator and do not make things worse!

With the arrival of winter and the epidemic, people are increasingly fond of storing food in the refrigerator. Although the refrigerator can keep food fresh, the preservation time is limited. When we consider the diversity and abundance of supplementary food, we should also consider the freshness of the food. Because only eating fresh food can promote health, and stale food will only make our health "worse".

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So, how to increase the freshness of food in the refrigerator?

1. Put it in the refrigerator immediately

When food is relatively fresh, it will have fewer microorganisms. Therefore, make sure to put the purchased ingredients into the refrigerator within 2 hours. Seal the food and put it directly into the refrigerator. Do not wait until it cools down before putting it in, as this will double the bacteria.

2. There must be a certain packaging

Foods placed in the refrigerator should be packaged or covered with fresh film to effectively prevent food from contaminating each other and avoid odor contamination. Choose appropriate tools according to the type, size and shape of the ingredients. Hot food, especially leftovers, must be stored in sealed fresh-keeping boxes. If there is no fresh-keeping box, use plastic wrap.

3. Prevent multiple thawing

Although freezing can extend the shelf life, remember not to thaw repeatedly. You should know that each time you thaw, the bacteria will "wake up" and then multiply rapidly. Experiments have shown that after thawing four times, the number of bacteria will become 15 times the original. Fish and meat that need to be frozen should be packaged according to the size of the family's one-time consumption. The correct way to thaw is to thaw at room temperature without opening the packaging bag on the day of cooking.

4. Don’t overfill your refrigerator

It is not correct to overfill the refrigerator, as it will easily cause cross-contamination of bacteria between foods and affect the refrigerator's refrigeration effect. It is best to leave a certain amount of space between foods when storing them, so that the gas in the refrigerator can circulate effectively and ensure the refrigeration effect. Generally speaking, 30% of the space should be left.

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Which foods should not be placed in the refrigerator?

1. Root vegetables

For example, potatoes, garlic, onions, etc., if placed in the refrigerator, they will easily become moldy and sprout. It is best to store them in a cool place at room temperature.

2. Tropical Fruits

For example, pitaya, banana, mango, etc. As the name suggests, tropical fruits are not suitable for low-temperature refrigeration. Refrigeration will only accelerate the deterioration of tropical fruits. They can be stored in a cool place at room temperature.

3. Starchy foods

Starchy foods such as steamed buns and bread are best stored at room temperature within one or two days. Storing them in the refrigerator will cause the starch to "age", become dry and hard, and greatly affect the taste.

4. Tea milk powder

If the tea powdered milk is not tightly sealed in the refrigerator, moisture and odors will enter, affecting the original flavor and making it easy to deteriorate. It does not need to be stored specially, just store it at room temperature.

5. Foods high in sugar

If you put foods high in sugar in the refrigerator, the sugar will precipitate out from the surface of the food due to the low temperature, affecting the taste of the stored food. Foods high in sugar are not easy to spoil because they have low water content, so they can be stored at room temperature.

The refrigerator is only used to store food for a short period of time. It can only delay the deterioration of food, but cannot prevent it from deteriorating. Therefore, it is best to eat the vegetables and meat you buy within 3 days, and the frozen meat should not be kept for more than a week. You can clean the refrigerator once a week, check the food in the refrigerator, and throw away the stale food in time.