What foods is mandatory to keep in the fridge
What foods is mandatory to keep in the fridge
Did you hear the news of a 20-year-old who died after eating a plate of spaghetti that had been cooked five days before and that he had not kept in the fridge? Although this is an isolated case, it does not hurt to review what foods to keep in the fridge to avoid possible cases of salmonellosis or other food poisoning. By the way, after the gallery we explain to you what was the cause of the young man's death.
Homemade Mayonnaise
Homemade Mayonnaise
Homemade mayonnaise is one of the most dangerous foods that exist because it is made with raw egg and this can contain salmonella, a bacteria that can cause poisoning that, in extreme cases, can even cause death. According to current legislation, products containing eggs must be refrigerated below 8º and will be kept for a maximum of 24 hours from their production. However, many experts recommend never consuming leftover mayonnaise as a precaution.
Fresh fish
Fresh fish
Raw fish can contain bacteria and microorganisms that grow rapidly at room temperature. As a general rule, it is considered that fresh fish, if it is in good condition, can last up to two days in the refrigerator. However, if it is not going to be consumed the same day, it is recommended to cook or freeze it. And if you are going to consume it raw or undercooked, it is considered mandatory to freeze it for at least five days to kill the anisakis, a very resistant parasite.
Raw meat
Raw meat
Meat, like fish, also contains bacteria and other pathogens that love high temperatures. Therefore, it is very important to keep it in the fridge and consume or cook it before two to five days have passed depending on the type of meat. It is recommended to cook turkey, chicken, minced meats, hamburgers and sausages after two days at the latest. And raw beef, lamb or pork for three to five days.
Open milk
Open milk
Fresh milk should always be kept in the fridge and lasts up to three days in good condition. While the tetrabrik, even if it has not expired, once opened it has to be stored in the refrigerator and lasts without spoiling for about four or five days. From that moment on, it is no longer advisable to consume it due to the proliferation of pathogens. When it starts to go bad, it becomes rancid. So you just have to take a small sip without swallowing it to see if it's still okay.
Yogurts
Yogurts
Yogurts that are bought in the refrigerated area should also be kept in the refrigerator if you do not want to suffer some kind of poisoning. To know how long they last you should be guided by the expiration date on the container, although this date is usually preferred. That is, it can still last a few more days but it is no longer in optimal condition. If you have bought it in a family container, once opened it does not last more than four days.
Butter
Butter
Although it is often said that butter can be left out of the fridge, experts recommend that it be kept in the fridge as well. Although it is true that its low water content causes it to spoil more slowly than other dairy products, it must be borne in mind that it has 80% fat and, as with all fats, it is very easy to go rancid, which is why why it is important to keep it cold. Stays in good condition for up to a month after opening.
Cold cuts
Cold cuts
As with meat, cold cuts and many of the sausages made from meat and derivatives must be kept in the refrigerator. Fresh and cooked sausages such as blood sausages, black and white sausages, cooked ham and turkey cold cuts last three or four days. On the other hand, cured sausages, such as longaniza, fuet, chorizo or Serrano or Iberian ham are recommended to be kept out of the refrigerator, in a cool, ventilated and, if possible, dark place.
Cheeses
Cheeses
In the case of cheeses, another dairy food, their preservation varies depending on the composition of each type and how they have been made. Spreads, fresh and soft cheeses should be kept in the fridge, just like other dairy products. While dry and cured can be kept out of the fridge, but, like cured sausages, in a dry, ventilated and dark place so that they do not deteriorate.
Cooked food
Cooked food
Any cooked food or leftovers should also be kept in the fridge as, although it is more stable than raw, it also begins to oxidize quickly and bacteria proliferate if kept at room temperature. As a general rule, homemade sauces and broths are considered to last well in the refrigerator for about four days; soups, stews and stews, between three or four days; cooked meats, about three days, and fish is not recommended to keep more than two.
Perishable vegetables and fruits
Perishable vegetables and fruits
Although many vegetables should not be put in the refrigerator (potatoes, dried onions, garlic …), those that should be kept are those that are cooked, those that are already cut and those with tender leaves, such as lettuce, spinach and fresh chard. In the case of fruits, the same thing happens: the most tender, such as strawberries and berries, and the cut ones should go directly to the refrigerator. When in doubt, see where they are in the place where you bought them (if they were in the refrigerated vegetable area or outside of it).
Canned open
Canned open
Most of the preserves that you keep in the pantry, should be kept in the refrigerator once opened. Both this recommendation and how many days it will last once opened must be indicated on the producer's label. But, as a general rule, it is considered that they last in good condition about four or five days. And it is recommended to transfer them to a glass jar or an airtight container if they come in a can.
Fresh eggs
Fresh eggs
Although they can be out of the fridge and on commercial surfaces they are usually in non-refrigerated places, experts recommend keeping them in the refrigerator once at home because, this way, it is guaranteed that they are kept in a protected environment and at a constant temperature. But, yes, they should not be washed as, sometimes it has been said, because the shell is porous and facilitates the entry of germs. Good eggs last three to four weeks. And the cooked ones, a week.
How to organize the fridge
How to organize the fridge
And if you don't know where to put each thing, keep reading. Under these lines, we remind you what foods it is mandatory to keep in the fridge, as well as all the keys to place them in the most appropriate place, and also how to clean the fridge with a super easy method and nothing dangerous to health.
Did you hear the news of a 20-year-old who died after eating a reheated plate of spaghetti that had been cooked five days earlier and had not been kept in the fridge? The Journal of Clinical Microbiology has recently published a study on the case explaining that the death was caused by a failure of the liver caused by Bacillus cereus ,. This bacteria proliferated in the tomato sauce of spaghetti that had been at room temperature for five days.
Although this is an extreme case, to avoid unnecessary risks, we are going to review the foods that should ALWAYS be kept in the fridge and how many days they last.
Food to keep in the fridge
- Homemade Mayonnaise. It only lasts 24 hours in the fridge.
- Fresh meat and fish. And, even if they are in the fridge, if you are not going to consume them for two or three days, freeze them.
- Milk, yogurts, butter, and dairy products. High-fat foods go stale quickly if they are not in the refrigerator.
- Delicates and sausages of meat tender and cut. Be careful with cooked cold cuts.
- Cheese spreads, fresh, tender and sliced. The tender ones have to be in the fridge; the cured, no.
- Cooked food. It should always be kept in the fridge and does not last more than 3-4 days.
- Tender and cut vegetables. Cooked and soft leafy vegetables should be kept in the refrigerator.
- Canned and open sauces. Once opened, always in the fridge.
- Eggs Although they are not refrigerated in the supermarket, at home it is better to keep them in the fridge.
How to organize the fridge correctly
The refrigerator must have differentiated spaces for the different types of food so that they do not come into contact with each other (and thus avoid cross contamination) and because they require different temperatures or storage conditions.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables in the drawers, but not potatoes, onions, garlic, or tomatoes.
- Meat and fish are the foods that require the lowest temperature, which in today's refrigerators (in which the freezer is at the bottom) usually occurs in the area that is just above the vegetable drawer.
- Dairy products, sausages, cooked cuisine or any product that requires cold conservation once opened, are placed on the shelves above those of meat and fish, and on the highest, trying to group them by type of food.
- Milk, eggs, butter, jams, sauces and drinks, which are products that do not spoil so easily, are placed on the door, which is the least cold area.
Clara trick
organize food like this
Put the most recent products in the back and the oldest in the front, in the first row, so that you remember to consume them before.
How to clean the fridge easily and safely
To keep food in good condition, it is recommended to clean the refrigerator at least once a month. To do it easily and without using toxic cleaning products, you can clean the inside of the refrigerator with a mixture of water and baking soda or white vinegar, two of the most effective home cleaning products and not harmful to health or the environment. .
Cover photo by @hellonutritarian
