The perfect fridge

[Pepper Pig]

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/a ... ect-fridge

I keep tomatoes and cucumber in the salad drawer. I’ve got nowhere outside the fridge.

[earthmaiden]

I read that piece earlier. They'd die if they saw mine. Although I am careful about raw things being at the bottom etc. it is a total mish mash of where I can get things to fit otherwise and a deep clean means dismantling the kitchen first . I am still alive and don't often poison guests.

Oh yes, I don't have space in the kitchen for some of the things which could be kept outside the fridge either. People I have known with big 'American style' fridges seem to fill them with cr*^p very quickly (numerous sauces etc) and so still run out of space so I don't feel so bad!

[Ratatouille]

I have 2 huge fridges - have to in this climate. But I never store eggs. tomatoes or melon and, unless it is really hot strawberries in them. Tomatoes and melons just loose their taste. Watermelon is different outside until it is cut and in quuarters after that. my favourite snack in this heat is a wedge of ice cold watermelon.

There is always a bottle of fizz in the cellar fridge - you just never know when it might be needed

[Busybee]

I fall some way short of perfection

I am mindful of where things go re uncooked meats etc, but will confess to chucking far too much stuff in there. I have fairly limited storage space in this kitchen so all fruit and veg goes in there. Plus I’m a distance from shops so buy in bulk, our fridges (2) go from being stuffed to the gills to shockingly bare over a ten/fourteen day cycle........I never think to alter the temperature

BB

[scullion]

i was under the impression that the latest suggestion was to keep eggs in the fridge but bring them to room temperature to use.
there is a need for the inside of our fridge to be overhauled. it won't be today.

[StokeySue]

Yes, he creates a new <expletive deleted> myth about egg storage, to wit that if you buy them refrigerated you keep them refrigerated and if you buy them at room temperature you keep them the same
In the UK eggs should not be sold refrigerated, the official recommendation is clear: ambient temperature in the supply chain to prevent condensation, refrigeration in the box when at final destination to minimise bacterial growth

I take issue with his first point, he obviously doesn’t understand the meaning of the term thermostat - it means something that maintains a constant temperature. The temperature inside should adjust itself as necessary without you resetting it, modern fridges are well insulated and the condenser and thermostat should be able to cope

His ideal fridge seems to be surprisingly lacking in the bins and drawers modern fridges usually have for various food.

The thing that drives me mad is seeing people put stuff, especially leftovers, into the fridge uncovered and leaving it to desiccate.

I keep almost all fresh food in the fridge - cooking for one I seldom use the whole of anything in one go, and have a small, hot, and occasionally mousey kitchen (though I think I’ve currently got them under control)

[Suelle]

I agree with Stokey Sue - there shouldn't be any need to adjust a thermostat. A fridge isn't like a room, where you might occasionally want to vary the level of heating.

I keep a lot of things in the fridge against current advice. Living on my own means my first concern is that things keep as long as possible. When I remember, I bring things up to room temperature before eating them, especially fruit.

[earthmaiden]

I wonder why fridges have a settings dial if they are not required?

[StokeySue]

I wonder why fridges have a settings dial if they are not required?

Not all fridges are kept at the same temperature for the same purpose
A fridge used only for wine would be kept a bit warmer, you might want cooler or warmer for specific uses

Also thermostats really aren’t that accurate (which they should be, it’s shocking), you do need scope to adjust. Why they are marked with numbers from 1-7 instead of temperatures I don’t know.

[Suelle]

I wonder why fridges have a settings dial if they are not required?

I think fridges aren't as easy to regulate as ovens - the cooling process involved seems more dependant on ambient temperatures than heating - so a fridge might need to be on a different thermostat setting if it's in a warm kitchen, than if it's in a cool cellar, but once you've found the setting which gives the correct internal temperature, you shouldn't then need to adjust it.

[earthmaiden]

That's what I thought Suelle. Fridges I've had in the past had switches for when the room was above or below 18 degrees. As my non-summer kitchen ambient temperature hovers around that mark it was annoying. I sometimes turn it up if it is very hot weather or if the fridge is very full. As Sue says, I've no idea what temperature the settings represent but keep it on 4 as that seems about right.

[StokeySue]

I’m not sure why domestic fridges are so imprecise, the ones used for storing lab samples and pharmaceuticals are pretty accurate and not that expensive compared to a moderately “posh” domestic fridge, but there is no trickle down of the technology

I suppose you might need to adjust the thermostat a bit as the components wear

Next time I buy a fridge I will make sure of 2 things
1 That the shelves are easily repositionable to give flexible storage
2 That the door seals are replaceable - most of them aren’t now, and it can halve the life of the appliance

[earthmaiden]

Last time my door seal was starting to wear I mentioned it to a local electrician (he ran an independent shop which sold such sundries). He took the seal off and put it back on with the worn side on the hinge side of the door. It is still going strong! I don't know what modern ones are like.

[StokeySue]

Last time my door seal was starting to wear I mentioned it to a local electrician (he ran an independent shop which sold such sundries). He took the seal off and put it back on with the worn side on the hinge side of the door. It is still going strong! I don't know what modern ones are like.

That's exactly the point - the new ones are usually are fixed in such a way they can't be removed and replaced, either reversed or with a new one
On my current (Hotpoint) they are permanent fixtures, but every fridge I've had previously I have replaced the door seals myself - took 15 minutes of swearing and a Phillips screwdriver
I think I replaced both fridge and freezer seals twice on my lovely old Kelvinator from the Electricity Board. RIP

[Amber]

We have two fridges. One for tonics (very important!), juice, butter, cheese, yoghurt, sauces etc, the other for wine (lots of!), beer, meat, eggs (but not tomatoes), veg, and salads. I’m sure there must be a reason for this mish-mash of organisation...but I’ve no idea what it isl .

[Bubbles]

I know you’re not meant to keep potatoes in the fridge but I always have and they keep for ages to no detrimental effect that I can detect.

[Suelle]

I know you’re not meant to keep potatoes in the fridge but I always have and they keep for ages to no detrimental effect that I can detect.

I keep new potatoes and salad potatoes in the fridge, and agree with you - they last for ages and I can't detect any difference. I think keeping them for a long time is meant to convert starch to sugar while in storage, so might affect the flavour a bit.

[StokeySue]

A third for keeping new potatoes in the fridge

[Pepper Pig]

Fourthed here.

[Suelle]

We're just a bunch of rebels here, aren't we!

[aero280]

Our new fridge freezer seems fine, but only been in use for 2 weeks. The advantage for me is that the fridge is at eye level and I can see what's in it. Our old fridge was low down and had a couple of short shelves which sat at the back under the bigger shelf. Anything on those shelves was impossible for me to see without kneeling down. My wife put a lot of small things on them and complained that I never used them!

[Bubbles]

We're just a bunch of rebels here, aren't we!

We're just a bunch of rebels here, aren't we!

[karadekoolaid]

No tomatoes, no eggs, no chutney, no jam in my fridge.
Potatoes in the bottom drawer
Ripened fruit, leafy veg (wrapped in bags), herbs ( in bags) - all go in the fridge.
Cooked food is duly tupperwared and into the cold it goes. Tins are emptied first.
Cheese in the cheese tray - along with ham, sausages, salami, etc.
Everything is covered - nothing left open.
Beer on the top shelf

[PatsyMFagan]

I really must go to specsavers as I keep reading this as the perfect fudge !