The Cold, Hard Facts on Fridges

A few tips to help keep your food fresh for longer — store them in containers or re-sealable bags and place them in the freezer. When refrigerated, cooked food stays fresh for a slightly longer period than uncooked food.

Freezer burn is a condition in which frozen food is damaged by dehydration and oxidation due to air exposure. To avoid this, ensure food is kept in a re-sealable bag. Food that is being stored for extended periods of time should be placed in an airtight container to minimise freezer burn.

It is always recommended to buy and consume meat close to its date of preparation for optimal freshness and quality. However, if you are planning to freeze meat for more than two to three weeks, ensure it is placed in a sturdy re-sealable bag and sealed properly.

In particular, frozen meat has to be stored quickly in the fridge before it thaws. If it becomes defrosted, it should be consumed as soon as possible and should not be refrozen.

A full fridge will keep temperature for an extended period of time in the event of a power outage. If your freezer is usually only half occupied, group frozen packages together. They act like packages of ice and putting them close to each other helps slow down the melting process.

If you are going on a vacation, the temperature in the fridge can be adjusted higher to between 6–8°C by selecting the 'Holiday' mode. As the refrigerator doors are kept closed, the compressor does not have to work as hard to maintain the optimal internal cooling temperature, helping you save on electricity bills.

Although freezing food extends its shelf life by months, you should always make it a note to stocktake your items and not become a hoarder. For frozen items purchased in supermarkets, check the expiration date on the packaging to make sure you do not keep them for too long. Make it a habit to consume items that have been stored for some time to get the best taste out of your food.