Image via WikipediaAlmost all of the households have their own refrigerator, so I take the time in sharing with you this Cool Refrigerator Infos and Tips taken from the "Living Made Simple" of the Health and Home 2006 issue.
The invention of refrigerator has made our life convenient. As a result, cold water is just a door away. Fresh produce outlives its shelf life. Frozen food, later microwaved or reheated, saves us time and effort.
How we take care of our ref determines its life length. Here are infos on food storing as well as maintainance tips to keep that convenience box running in good condition for a long, long time.
REF CARE
- Unplug ref before cleaning.
- Clean outside surfaces with warm, soapy water every few months.
- Wipe inside surfaces with 1 tablespoon baking soda dissolved in 1/4 gallon of water. Rinse well and wipe dry. Food odor will also disappear.
- Put ref far from heat sources like gas ranges, air conditioners, or sunny windows.
- Keep condenser coils clean from dust and dirt with a vacuum or a damp cloth. Air passing through these coils is what keeps the ref cool. The cleaner the coils, the less electricity the ref incurs.
- For door gasket mildews, wipe gaskets with solution of 1/4-cup chlorine bleach to 1/4-gallon water.
- Don't overload ref or cold air won't be able to circulate freely.
- Pour undiluted vinegar to water dispenser drip well to clean it from mineral deposits.
- Transport unit standing up.
ODOR FREE REF
- Leave open container of baking soda, coffee grounds, or activated charcoal inside ref. These materials help absorb odors.
- Clean drain pan, if any, at least two to three times a year. This pan catches moisture when ref defrosts, thus, repulsive stuff is sure to be growing there.
- Cover or wrap foods so they will stay as is and odors won't transfer from one food to the other.
STORING FRESH PRODUCE
- Beans. Don't wash until ready to use; loose bag; up to five days
- Broccoli. Loose plastic bag; up to a week
- Cabbage. Loose bag; several weeks (peel off outer leaves for use)
- Carrots. Plastic bag with holes; more than a week
- Cauliflower. Don't wash until ready for use; up to a week
- Celery. Loose bag; up to several weeks
- Cucumber. Loose bag or in crisper; up to a week
- Eggplant. Loose bag or in crisper; up to a week
- Lettuce. Wash and spin-dry and keep leaves whole until ready for use; three to five days
- Peppers. Don't wash until ready to use; loose bag; up to a week
- Tomatoes. Some recommend not refrigerating them to preserve flavor, but they will keep longer.
Lining the crisper with newspaper will also help to keep vegetables and fruits fresh and crisp. The newspaper absorbs excess moisture that usually causes green leaves to look wilted.
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