Why is it not recommended to put warm/hot food int the frigerator?!
Is there a reason why it's frowned upon to put food that just came out of the oven/off the stove into the fridge while still warm!?Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
Food temperatures are considered critical between 40-140 degrees F!.
If they remain in this temperature zone for more then 4 hours it is considered dangerous because bacteria grows exponentially in this zone!. If you put something in the fridge hot there is a very good chance it will stay in this critical zone for that amount of time!. When below 40 it greatly slows growth, freezing even more so!. But does not kill bacteria, causing eventual spoilage!. Heating foods above 140 kills bacteria!. That's why many recipes say to cook to at least 160, just to be extra safe!.
PeaceWww@FoodAQ@Com
If they remain in this temperature zone for more then 4 hours it is considered dangerous because bacteria grows exponentially in this zone!. If you put something in the fridge hot there is a very good chance it will stay in this critical zone for that amount of time!. When below 40 it greatly slows growth, freezing even more so!. But does not kill bacteria, causing eventual spoilage!. Heating foods above 140 kills bacteria!. That's why many recipes say to cook to at least 160, just to be extra safe!.
PeaceWww@FoodAQ@Com
The reason is that the heat in the food brings the ambient temperature of the refrigerator down!. Depending on how hot the food is, that may actually make other things more likely to spoil Say you put a dish of hot soup next to a carton of milk!. It may bring down the temperature of the milk enough that bacteria begins to grow in the milk!. Then the milk might spoil by the next day, even though the soup will be fine!. So, it's better to leave the soup out for an hour or so, until it has come down to room temperature!. Then put it in the fridge!. That way it won't ruin anything that's cold in the fridge!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Because the temperature of that warm/hot food starts to warm nearby food items in the refrigerator!. It can spoil items that contain proteins (eggs, dairy, etc) and cause those items to grow bacteria that normally wouldn't in a cold refrigerator!. Plus, those hot foods, which would probably be wrapped in plastic or foil have a greater chance of developing bacteria since the core will end up taking much, much longer to cool down!.
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It's best to let food cool off quite a bit before putting it in the fridge, if it is very big (such as a casserole,) because the heat from the food can raise the temperature of the entire refrigerator, possibly bringing others foods to an unsafe temperature!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Yes!. It warms up the interior of the fridge and causes it to run excessively in order to cool down again, increasing electrical usage!. The recommended course of action is to allow the food to almost totally cool, then place in the fridge!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
The hot food can warm up the interior of the fridge, brining other foods into an unsafe temperature range!.
The hot food can also take longer than anticipated to cool off, keeping it in an unsafe temp range!.
Unsafe = 45oF-140oFWww@FoodAQ@Com
The hot food can also take longer than anticipated to cool off, keeping it in an unsafe temp range!.
Unsafe = 45oF-140oFWww@FoodAQ@Com
There is the waste of energy and that is not a good thing but the worst part is that it can bring the fridge temp up and spoil other items!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I didn't realize it wasn't recommended!. I thought you were supposed to put food directly in the fridge rather than let it cool down!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Because it spoils!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Because then you wasted all it's good warmth!. >:Www@FoodAQ@Com