Food Safety In Modern Refrigerator Freezers

Food Safety In Modern Refrigerator Freezers

by

burhanoldschoo

Before the invention of refrigeration people struggled with keeping food fresh picking just what they needed from their gardens for each meal and salting meat to keep it fresh longer. However, due to lack of adequate cooling, cooked foods that were not eaten immediately often spoiled and had to be thrown out. Using ice blocks cut from rivers, streams and lakes helped to keep foods such as eggs and milk cool and slow down the growth of illness causing bacteria. However, even in well built ice houses it was difficult to maintain cool temperatures. As the ice melted temperatures rose above what was considered safe to prevent food from spoiling. In addition, some of the food products that were set on ice to keep cold would suffer their own version to freezer burn thus making that food unusable as well.

The concept of the modern refrigerator helped greatly in keeping food from going bad, however the earlier designs much like their ice block predecessors did not always keep a steady and safe cool environment to ward off the growth of bacteria. Not until the mid 1960’s was refrigeration able to keep temperatures that are more effective. Therefore food put in the refrigerator rarely want bad if eaten within a short time, other than if the refrigerator had a fault and stopped cooling. A refrigerator that was not cooling anymore was quite evident; however, tiny spikes in temperature were frequently not noticed. Even though technology has advanced quite a bit in designing more efficient refrigerators, changes in the refrigerator and Freezer Temperature still are a health worry.

In order to properly slow the growth of bacteria refrigerators need to maintain a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower while freezer need to remain at 0 degrees Fahrenheit to keep food properly frozen. Even as little as a degree rise in temperature can cause bacteria to multiply at twice the desired rate spoiling some foods in as little as an hour or two.

This is why it is extremely imperative to make note of your refrigerator and Freezer Temperature and be sure thy remain at safe temperatures. One way of assuring that is buying thermometers for both the refrigerator and the freezer. You can check these thermometers frequently and any spike in temperature should be closely observed.

With some of the innovations in technology, some models of refrigerators and freezers have built in thermometers that are made to monitor the temperature of your refrigerator and Freezer Temperature and let you know if there are any fluctuations in the temperatures. Some have digital displays right on the fridge door that will show you the temperature at all times.

Should the temperature in your refrigerator or freezer rise you should immediately try and get the food inside somewhere where it can be kept at the proper coolness and then consult your the troubleshooting portion of the manual or call a service representative and have your refrigerator checked out and serviced.

Modern day refrigerators are an awesome invention that helps keep food from spoiling longer than ever imagined, however you should also do your share in assuring that your fridge is maintaining a safe temperature.

Yahya Yusuf writes and educates his readers about

Freezer Temperature

. Visit his site to learn more about

Freezer Temperature

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