Refrigerators are very useful in our lives. We use it to store foods. We use it to freeze some of our foods that need freezing. Without refrigerators, our food would easily get spoiled.
Most of us own a refrigerator unit at home. And we basically know how it works. You plug it, turn it on, set the temperature and voila! it's working.
But are you one of those people who believe in myths? Do you know that when it comes to refrigerators there are some myths are still being practiced until these days?
In this article, let us try to debunk some of these myths or misconceptions regarding the use of refrigerators.
1. It's Okay to Leave Food Leftovers in the Fridge for Weeks
It's a typical practice for us to keep our excess food in our refrigerators. This is a good practice to lessen food waste. But let's ask ourselves, how long can these excess foods stay inside the fridge?
Some people believe that "as long as the food doesn't start to smell bad," it's practically safe to keep it inside the fridge for weeks. Let's get this busted as this isn't true. We should only keep the excess food for a maximum of four days, according to Condura. More than this could possibly lead to food poisoning.
As suggested by Mayo Clinic, make it a practice to reheat food from the refrigerator to prevent food poisoning. After three days in the refrigerator, move the food to freezer if you still intend to eat it.
2. Don't Put Hot Food Directly in the Fridge - Let it Cool First
We believe that we cannot put hot food inside the refrigerator because it might cause damage to the fridge. This isn't exactly true. What really happens is the food has a greater chance of spoiling of you let sit on your counter for too long.
What should you do instead? Rather than keeping your food on the counter for a long time, put it in containers then place it into the fridge within two hours of cooking, according to Sears.
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3. Putting Baking Soda Inside the Fridge is the Best Way to Eliminate Bad Smells
While this myth is partly true, this is not the best practice. Yes, baking soda indeed have the ability to absorb foul odors. However, the best option to eliminate the bad smell in your refrigerator is through the use of activated charcoal or activated carbon.
While baking soda may reduce smell as it reacts with some odor-causing compounds, it only reacts with certain compounds. Meanwhile, activated charcoal absorbs odor-causing compounds more effectively, according to Condura.
4. Thawing Frozen Food on the Countertop is Just Fine
Once we remove a frozen piece of meat or any frozen food from the freezer, our usual practice is to leave on the countertop to thaw it. Let's get this busted as this is not exactly safe.
According to Sears, if we let a frozen steak, for instance, sit on the countertop for too long to thaw it, bacteria will thrive on the table. We can thaw it in the fridge, or microwave, or cold water.
5. There's No Need to Organize the Contents of the Refrigerator
Contrary to the belief that we can just put the food anywhere inside the fridge, it is actually important to organize the placement of food inside as some areas of the refrigerator are cooler than others.
For instance, the rack in the door is usually exposed to warmer air every time the door of the fridge is opened. It also pays to remember that aside from the freezer, the coldest part is the backmost part of the lowest shelf.
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