Avoid Saving These 5 Foods At The Refrigerator Door

Illustration of storing eggs at the refrigerator door (Photo: Freepik/EyeEm)

JAKARTA - After shopping from supermarkets, compiling food ingredients in the refrigerator may look like an easy thing to do. But in fact, the placement of food in the refrigerator should not be arbitrary. From the middle shelf, drawer, to refrigerator door, each section has its own function to maintain the freshness and safety of food.

Here are 5 foods that should not be stored at the refrigerator door, complete with the reasons and alternatives for more precise storage areas, as reported by the Eating Well page.

1. Milk

While it looks practical to put a gallon of milk on the refrigerator door, it's actually the worst place to store milk. Temperatures on the refrigerator door tend to be warmer because they are often open and closed, thereby accelerating bacterial growth and accelerating stale milk.

"Save the milk at the back of the refrigerator, where the coldest temperature," suggested the US Dairy.

2. Eggs

Many modern refrigerators provide special round-shaped shelves at the door to store eggs. But apparently, that's not the ideal place. According to the American Egg Board, eggs should be stored on the refrigerator rack, not on the door, because the temperature there is more stable. In addition, eggs should stay in their original cartons. The cardboard helps maintain moisture and protect eggs from odors or other food flavors.

3. Crude Meat and Chicken

Raw meat and chicken contain fluids that can contaminate other foods if not stored properly. Storing it at the refrigerator door is very risky because the temperature is unstable and the liquid can drip down.

Food safety experts suggest the best place to store raw meat and chicken is on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, wrapped tightly or stored in a closed container.

4. Fruit and Vegetables

Refrigerator doors are easy to reach. So sometimes we put wine, carrots, or other healthy snacks. But actually, fruit and vegetables should be stored in a special drawer that is designed to maintain optimal humidity.

The special paper provides the best storage environment for fruit and vegetables, according to USDA (US Department of Agriculture)

Usually there is a humidity setting. Fruits require low humidity, while vegetables need high humidity.

5. Cheese

Just like fruit and vegetables, cheese also has a special place in the refrigerator. Not on the door, but in a thin drawer. Usually the thin drawer is in the middle or bottom, depending on the refrigerator design.

"An additional cold period is directed into this drawer to keep the cheese cool without freezing it." explained USDA.

The things that make it ideal for cheese and processed meat such as ham or sausage