Especially when the fridge is full, it makes sense to store food outside in winter.
However, there are pitfalls to watch out for.
Munich - In winter there is a well-known trick that can be used to save a little energy.
You use the sometimes annoying winter weather to your advantage and don't store your food in your fridge, but outside in the fresh air.
The advantage is that you have more space in your real fridge.
You also have the opportunity to clean your fridge properly.
Many may already know this trick with individual products, often drinks.
However, the amount of food stored outside can certainly be increased.
Storing fruit and vegetables outside: you have to pay attention to this
However, it is worth paying close attention to which foods you store in the fresh air and knowing which ones should be left alone.
Starting with vegetables: There are many vegetables that can be stored outside at "six to ten degrees", writes
CHIP365
.
At the same time, however, it must not be too cold for the food.
Likewise, aubergines, tomatoes, potatoes and pumpkins should generally not be stored outside, as they are sensitive to cold.
The same applies to storing fruit in the cold.
What matters is the type of fruit.
Berries, stone fruits and apples can certainly overwinter outside.
The same is not true for more exotic fruits, such as mangoes or bananas.
Store dairy products and meat outside: This temperature must not be exceeded
Dairy products can also be kept outside.
Ideally, they are stored at three to eight degrees.
However, care must be taken to seal milk and cheese as well as yoghurt well.
Cold cuts and meat must not be stored at more than four degrees.
So if it gets very fresh, you can keep your meat outside without any problems.
There is also no need to worry about products such as juices, milk, butter, jam and the like.
The main thing is that the weather conditions are not too extreme and the products that are to be stored outside are packaged accordingly.
Storing food outside: there are these challenges
A lot of the idea of banishing your groceries from the fridge outside sounds plausible at first.
However, there are things to watch out for.
First of all, there are regular temperature fluctuations.
This means that food can be defrosted and defrosted quickly.
This can lead to increased germ and bacterial growth, writes
CHIP365
.
This may mean that you have to constantly monitor the temperature so that nothing spoils.
In addition, it cannot be ruled out that uninvited guests help themselves to one thing: animals.
For this reason, too, the food must always be well packaged.
(LP)