Pack your fridge properly
FRUIT
Keep your fruit in the low-humidity drawer. Fruit keeps best when not exposed to too much moisture and should not be stored in tight sealed bags. Most fridges have a ‘lowhumidity’ or ‘crisper’ drawer, to store grapes and apples in.
▪ Apples will stay crisper longer (for up to two weeks) if they are stored at 4°C.
▪ Oranges should be kept in the fridge. A ripe orange loses its vitamin C more slowly if chilled.
▪ Berries and melons should be kept out of the fridge until ripe. They can then be chilled for a short period, but will go mouldy quickly.
▪ Ripen bananas outside the fridge, then maintain their freshness for up to two weeks by chilling them
▪ Ideally, tomatoes should not be chilled, as it adversely affects their flavour. n Grapes should be refrigerated. Only wash them before eating.
VEGETABLES
Most veg lasts longer in a moist environment, so some fridges have a ‘higher humidity’ drawer, usually next to the crisper.
▪ To maintain their freshness longer, store your whole vegetables in this drawer, either loose or in open bags.
▪ Salad or cut vegetables go off more quickly, so store them on the middle or top shelf. You’ll also see them more often here, so won’t forget about them. n Vegetables stay fresh longer if left unwashed. Water will only increase the growth of bacteria.
RAW MEAT
You need to be very careful about how you store your uncooked meat products.
▪ Meat should be stored in the coldest part of the refrigerator, usually at the bottom and at the back of the compartment, though some fridges have a meat drawer.
▪ Keep your meat separate from other items in your fridge, ensuring that no fluids are spilling onto any other foodstuffs. n Clean the raw meat section more regularly than other places.
EGGS AND MILK
▪ Most caravanners store eggs and milk in the fridge door. However, this is the warmest part of the fridge, so they’ll go off more quickly.
▪ Cream, soft cheeses, yogurt and most other dairy products should also be kept on the cold shelf.
COOKED MEATS AND CHEESES
Deli meats and soft cheeses should go in a colder area.
▪ Many fridges have a shallow drawer below the top or middle shelf, ideal for storing these foods, plus bacon, hotdogs and other cooked meats. Clean this drawer when you clean your raw-meat section.
CONDIMENTS, BUTTER AND DRINKS
▪ Condiments often contain salt, vinegar and preservatives, so can be stored in the warmest fridge area.
▪ Drinks tend not to go off quickly, so are fine in the door, too.
▪ Butter doesn't need to be as cold as milk when you store it. n Olive oil can be kept in a cool, dark cupboard for up to a year without deteriorating.
LEFTOVERS AND READYTO-EAT FOODS
▪ Keep leftovers and ready-to-eat foods on top/middle shelves.
▪ Items that don't need to be especially chilled include: pizza, sauces and cooked baby food. n The top or middle is also fine for medicines, a water jug and other consumables that won’t spoil easily.