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That is why you should never store meat on the top of the refrigerator

2020-08-13T07:55:17.060Z


Meat has always been a very popular food. But raw it can spoil quickly. Hence, you need to store it in the refrigerator. But dangers lurk there too.


Meat has always been a very popular food. But raw it can spoil quickly. Hence, you need to store it in the refrigerator. But dangers lurk there too.

  • Do not put meat in the vegetable drawer.
  • Pay attention to the temperature in the refrigerator *.
  • Strictly separate meat from foods that are eaten raw.

Meat goes bad very quickly - especially when it's raw. Correct, consistently cool storage is therefore the most important thing. Temperatures below +7 degrees Celsius are suitable, the best is a maximum of +4 degrees Celsius. When it is warmer, bacteria feel good - including those that cause food infections such as diarrhea.

If you don't freeze meat, store it in the refrigerator . But where is the best place to keep it there - and which place is not at all suitable? Basically, meat belongs in the coldest possible place . In older refrigerators, this is the glass plate above the vegetable compartment; most modern models have their own compartment for perishable food at this point.

No meat in the vegetable drawer

Raw meat should never be put in the vegetable drawer - although this is at the bottom of the refrigerator, where it is a little colder. The reason: The high humidity there would make it bad very quickly. Microbes , which multiply quickly in the warm vegetable drawer, provide moisture .

Also interesting: don't give a damn about the best before date: this is how you can tell whether a food has gone bad

In general, pathogens such as E. coli bacteria, salmonella or listeria lurk much more frequently in refrigerators . You should not underestimate the danger that this poses - these bacteria are potentially deadly.

Germs survive even in cool temperatures

Many people mistakenly believe that refrigerating food kills bacteria. The lower temperature only causes bacteria to multiply more slowly and the food to last longer . At room temperatures, these might only have lasted a few hours.

Most of them do n't keep their fridges cold enough anyway . Ideally, you should use a refrigerator thermometer and aim for a constant four degrees Celsius or less . Remember to never leave the door open for a long time so that it stays cool. Our tip: Never put hot food in your refrigerator - this also temporarily increases the internal temperature .

Many refrigerators are too full

Nowadays, there are far more items in refrigerators than in the past. The earlier generations, for example, put jams or ketchups in cupboards. Due to the high content of preservatives , this was completely safe. In the meantime, food manufacturers are complying with the changed state health guidelines and consumers. They reduce the preservatives contained in their products. So wander more and more things in the fridge . The result: It will be tight - and warm.

Also read: Expert reveals: This is how long cooked noodles keep in the refrigerator

Because the full a refrigerator is, the less the unit manages to cool it down. An important basic rule is therefore: If you run out of space in your refrigerator, be sure to turn down the thermostat to compensate.

Never put meat on the top shelf

One of the main causes of food poisoning is what is known as cross contamination . Some foods have a negative effect on the other. For example, when raw chicken is contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria and is on a shelf in the refrigerator above a salad. If the meat drips onto the salad, the danger arises : while the chicken is later thoroughly cooked - which kills the bacteria - the contaminated salad is then eaten raw .

Don't underestimate this: Campylobacter bacteria make up 30 percent of all food poisoning. Symptoms are abdominal cramps, fever, and diarrhea . Campylobacter enteritis is the most common bacterial reportable disease in Germany with 60,000 - 70,000 reported cases per year.

The golden rules of refrigerator hygiene are therefore:

  • Raw meat must be stored as low as possible.
  • Strictly separate foods that are eaten raw from meat.

(cs) * Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editorial network.

Read more: A Common Mistake: This Is Why You Should Never Cook Certain Herbs.

Whistle on the best before date: This is how you can tell whether a food is spoiled

Whistle on the best before date: This is how you can tell whether a food is spoiled

Source: merkur

All life articles on 2020-08-13

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