Although food spoilage may be inevitable, keeping it in a refrigerator increase its longevity. Low temperatures tend to slow down the growth of microorganisms such as molds, yeasts, and bacteria, which speeds up food spoilage. More so, refrigeration tends to slow down natural processes such as ripening and rotting.
However, keeping your food in a refrigerator does not guarantee you 100% safety. Cross contamination may occur when foods are wrongly stored. Consuming such foods may have adverse effect on your health.
Which foods are easily poisoned?
The following foods have high chances of allowing bacteria to grow and multiply quickly
· Raw and cooked meat
· Pasta and cooked rice
· Dairy products
· Eggs and egg products
· Prepared salads
· Sandwiches, pizzas, and rolls
· Opened canned foods
How to prevent food poisoning
You can prevent food poisoning through the following highlighted methods.
1. Correct food storage
How you store your food in the refrigerator matters a lot. It is important to embrace the following procedures that will ensure your food safety.
· You should pack raw meat, which includes seafood and poultry, in sealed bags or airtight containers and place it on the lower shelf. This prevents any juice from dripping which might contaminate other foods.
· Do not mix raw food and ready foods on one shelf.
· Allow your food to cool before refrigerating because hot food might raise the temperatures in the fridge.
· Wrap your leftovers with airtight bags. You might consider using vacuum sealers instead.
2. Maintain a clean fridge
Ensure that you store food in a clean fridge, by cleaning it after a week of two. Remove all the foods in the fridge before you start cleaning. To remove any stubborn stains, use warm water and baking soda to make a paste, apply it to the stains, and clean after an hour.
3. Set the required operating temperature
Most refrigerators have fitted thermometers, and you should set them to operate below 4 degrees Celsius . The freezer temperature should always be below -15 degrees Celsius. Hot foods tend to raise the temperatures and therefore ensure that the temperatures do not exceed 8 degrees Celsius.
4. Freeze the food safely
When you buy chilled or frozen foods, ensure that they are stored in the freezer or chilling room as soon as possible.
5. Do not refreeze foods.
Thawing food is at a high risk of habiting food poisoning bacteria and therefore it is advisable to keep defrosted food in the fridge until it is ready to cook. Alternatively use a microwave to defrost your food and avoid re-freezing food if it has thawed.
6. Check the food labels
Most packed foods have labels showing their expiry dates. You should use such foods within five days after the expiry date.
7. Examine any signs of deterioration
Some foods might look good even though they are full of dangerous microorganisms. If the foods have overstayed and you might have some doubts, do not hesitate to discard them. Most importantly, examine your food frequently and if you notice any signs of deterioration, bad smell or funny looks discard it too.
8. Shop for quality foods with no defects
Do not be lured by cheap prices when buying groceries, ensure that you buy fresh vegetables without defects. Peeling skin or scratches usually promote growth of bacteria that might cause food poisoning .In addition, check for any cracks, dents spillage, or broken seals on the cans or jars. Most importantly, check on expiry dates and the refrigerating directions.
Conclusion
To ensure the safety of your food in the refrigerator, store cooked food separately from raw foods and maintain the required temperatures. Most importantly, do not keep foods refrigerated for long unless when frozen. In case you develop some stomach upset after consuming refrigerated food, it is advisable to seek medical care.
