FoodWhy storing milk in the fridge door speeds up spoilage

Why storing milk in the fridge door speeds up spoilage

Often, out of habit or routine, we place groceries in the refrigerator in the same spots we always do. However, these aren't always the best places for certain items. A prime example is storing milk on the refrigerator door. There are several reasons to avoid this practice.

Milk on the refrigerator door
Milk on the refrigerator door
Images source: © Adobe Stock | Valery Voennyy

6:26 PM EDT, October 30, 2024

Properly storing food items like milk, eggs, or meat is crucial for maintaining their quality and freshness. If not stored correctly, these products can spoil faster, potentially leading to food poisoning. Furthermore, proper storage helps extend the shelf life of groceries, reducing waste. Therefore, it's important to choose the right place in the refrigerator for each product.

Pay attention to temperature

One common mistake is keeping groceries at the wrong temperature. Some items need refrigeration or freezing, while others are best stored at room temperature. Exposure to temperatures that are too low or too high can accelerate spoilage and increase the risk of bacterial infection. Knowing and following the storage requirements for each product is essential.

Seal packages tightly

Improperly sealing packages is another issue that affects food quality. Air exposure significantly impacts food, so packages should be sealed tightly. Unsealed packages can lead to faster spoilage and a higher risk of food poisoning. Additionally, it's important to monitor expiration dates, as product quality may decline even before the printed date.

Direct to the right shelf

Storing food at the bottom of the refrigerator or freezer is often a mistake due to lower temperatures in these areas. It’s better to keep products on shelves closer to the top. It's also important to avoid storing products with different odors together since some, like fruits, emit ethylene gases that can affect other products, such as meat or dairy.

Why is storing milk on the refrigerator door a mistake?

Cartons or milk bottles should not be kept on the refrigerator door because of frequent temperature changes. Each time you open and close the refrigerator door, the milk stored there is exposed to fluctuating thermal conditions, which accelerates spoilage. Thus, milk should be stored inside the refrigerator, where the temperature remains stable.

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