Can hot food be put in the refrigerator?

Refrigerators are very popular nowadays. They provide us with great convenience in preserving food and avoid the problem of food spoilage. When using a refrigerator, you need to be aware of some precautions. For example, if the leftover food is still hot, you cannot put it in the refrigerator immediately. You have to wait until the food cools down naturally before putting it in the refrigerator. On the one hand, placing it in the refrigerator like this makes it more likely to breed bacteria, and on the other hand, it also consumes more electricity.

Can hot dishes be refrigerated?

No matter what kind of food it is, the longer it is left at room temperature, the more bacterial microorganisms will multiply and the more unsafe it will become.

Studies have shown that at room temperature, bacteria that may cause foodborne diseases (such as Salmonella, E. coli, botulism, etc.) will double every 20 minutes.

Therefore, foods that need to be refrigerated should not be stored at room temperature for more than 2 hours, and should not be stored for more than 1 hour when the outdoor temperature is above 32°C in summer.

The right way to store hot food

1. Hot dishes should be sealed with plastic wrap or covered lunch boxes as soon as possible and then refrigerated. It can prevent frost on the condenser tube caused by evaporation of water vapor, prevent bacteria in the air from falling into the dishes, and also prevent odor contamination.

2. If the food is too hot, cool it down quickly with ice water and then put it in the refrigerator. This allows the temperature of the food to quickly drop from a high temperature where bacteria cannot survive to a low temperature, thereby reducing bacterial growth. Don't wait for it to cool down, as this may breed bacteria.

3. If the dish is too large, it cannot be cooled down quickly and the temperature may take a long time to drop. Therefore, it is best to divide it into several portions for storage in advance. If you feel that you cannot finish the food in one meal, you should immediately divide it into different containers, seal them and put them in the refrigerator, so that the food will have the least bacteria. If the leftovers are stored again, the food will have been left outside for several hours and has been turned over by chopsticks. It is obvious that food that is sealed immediately is much safer than leftovers.

4. Use flat and shallow containers to hold food to increase the surface area and promote rapid cooling.

5. Clean the refrigerator frequently to avoid stacking too much food which will cause the refrigerator space to be crowded and lead to insufficient refrigeration effect.

Recommendation: Meat should be heated after being taken out of the refrigerator. Some meats should also be boiled and sterilized before eating. This will be beneficial to your health.