What’s Lurking in Your ‘Fridge?

By Michele Blandino

Science experiment or last week’s left over spaghetti?

There aren’t too many people who can honestly say that there haven’t been items of unknown origin and/or substance residing in their refrigerator at one time or other. Let’s face it, it’s easy to lose track of things over time, especially when it is something that is hiding behind a huge jar of pickles. As harmless as they may seem, these items can have a bad effect on your health as well as that of your family.

Clearing up the Myths

Contrary to popular belief, the mere fact that a particular food is refrigerated is not enough to ensure it remains bacteria-free. While there are some things you can do to prolong the lifespan of refrigerated foods, it is also important that you follow some basic guidelines for food storage. The first rule is to keep the refrigerator’s setting at 40 degrees Fahrenheit; while your refrigerator’s internal thermostat should provide all the assurance you will need, you may want to occasionally use an auxiliary thermometer to ensure it is working properly.

Left-over Life Spans

So, how long is it safe to keep that leftover pizza in your ‘fridge? According to information provided on the Clemson University food safety website, pizza and cooked meats can be safely kept up to four days. The foods with the shortest life span include fresh poultry, fish and ground meat and gravy and meat-based broths, all of which should be stored for a maximum of two days. Looking for something that lasts a little longer? Foods such as deli meats and fresh steaks, chops or roasts can be safely stored for up to five days.

Safe Handling

In order to keep bacteria from forming, items purchased at the supermarket as well as leftovers from your meals should be refrigerated within two hours. And despite what our parents may have taught us, frozen foods should never be defrosted at room temperature, rather, they should be placed in the refrigerator, or defrosted in the microwave or by running cold water over them. Likewise, foods that are marinating should be placed in the refrigerator.

When preparing leftovers to eat, be sure they are heated thoroughly. If you are using a microwave oven to heat your food, be sure to stir the food halfway through the heating process to ensure there are no “cold spots” remaining which may harbor bacteria. Similarly soups, gravies and sauces should be brought to a full boil.

Regular Cleaning

In addition to keeping track of how long foods remain in your refrigerator, a regular cleaning with a solution consisting of equal parts of water and vinegar should help in keeping harmful bacteria at bay.