Why shouldn't you put hot food in the refrigerator?

To quickly complete the cleaning and cooking work, many people put all the food that needs to be preserved in the refrigerator regardless of whether it is cold or not. Although it is recommended, many people still do not understand why they should not put hot food directly into the refrigerator, while they are willing to pay more for electricity. Actually, wasting electricity is not the biggest harm.

Why shouldn't you put hot food in the refrigerator?

The purpose of freezing is basically to slow down the loss of nutrients, preserve the flavor of food, and slow down the process of bacterial contamination and spoilage. However, don't think that just putting food in the refrigerator is enough, it also needs to be stored properly.

Dr. Anju Sood, an Indian nutritionist, explains onFood & Drinkthat if you put hot food directly into the refrigerator, you not only make the refrigerator work harder, consuming more electricity, but also can lose the nutritional value of the food. That is why you should not put hot food directly into the refrigerator.

Take your time, at least wait for the food to cool to room temperature before putting it in the refrigerator for storage.

Another Indian nutritionist, Dr Rupali Dutta, of Escorts Heart Institute, Delhi, explains that cooling food before storing it in the refrigerator is the ideal solution for storing all perishable foods like milk, vegetables, meat and cooked food. Let them cool down for 2 hours after cooking.

If you want to speed things up, divide the food into smaller portions so that they cool quickly and can be refrigerated sooner, avoiding contamination. Keep the food moist by wrapping it in a container or foil. This also helps prevent the smells of different foods from mixing, preventing bacteria from entering.

“Frozen foods can be stored for up to two to three months, but check the color, smell and taste to see if it is still edible,” advises Dr. Dutta.

Some people worry that putting hot food in the refrigerator will affect its shelf life and the temperature of the food inside. With the latest refrigerators, you don't have to worry about this because the refrigerator's thermostat will automatically adjust the temperature and humidity.

However, if you have an older refrigerator, you should take some precautions, such as storing hot foods in airtight containers to avoid condensation and freezing. It is best to wait until the food has cooled before storing it.

How to cool food quickly

If you don't have time to wait and must put hot food in the fridge, try not to use deep containers as the food will take longer to cool. Use shallow containers for easier cooling.

Food should be divided into small portions and stored in smaller containers.

You can also quickly cool food with ice before putting it in the refrigerator.

With hot liquids, you need to cover the container tightly before putting it in the refrigerator to avoid evaporation, causing the refrigerator to increase its operating capacity.

Food boxes should not be placed close together, there should be space to ensure better air circulation and optimal cooling.

Do not leave food out for more than two hours, bacteria can start growing soon after.