You’d be surprised at just how quickly mold can accumulate in a refrigerator, even if you make an effort to keep it clean. However, while it might be common, mold is always unwelcome, and here are 6 tips for making sure your refrigerator doesn’t play host to any potentially dangerous contaminants and furry green or black things!
- Keep the temperature consistent
Make sure that you keep a regular and close eye on the temperature gauge in your fridge, and adjust it if and when necessary to ensure that food doesn’t spoil and encourage the growth of bacteria. Keep the thermometer clean and should it become faulty or damaged, replace it quickly.
- Clean the seals and gaskets
The seals and gaskets around a fridge door are notorious for playing host to mold, and should be cleaned with vinegar or dish soap and water at least every couple of months, or when you notice them becoming black and dirty. Use a toothbrush and a few q-tips to get right into the heart of those areas, and vacuum out crumbs when necessary, too.
- Store items in plastic bags
Keeping food fresher for longer and preventing spillages is easy by placing all items into separate refrigerator storage bags, and labeling them.
- Eliminate mold with ice packs
Did you know that ice packs on the shelves of your refrigerator can be used to help absorb any excess moisture and keep mold to a minimum. Since mold thrives in damp, moist spaces, by reducing that with the help of ice packs, you can stop mold from growing, and keep your entire fridge looking and smelling fresher, for longer.
- Be organized and use appropriate containers
Leftovers are a godsend on some days, but when they haven’t been stored appropriately in an airtight container or food storage bag, aren’t labeled, or are simply hiding in a corner of the fridge behind other foods that are used more often, they can become a nightmare when it comes to mold. Store all leftovers and open food items in containers or bags, label them not just with what they are, but when they were first opened/cooked etc, and position them so that they won’t get forgotten about. This will help you enjoy your leftovers for longer, without compromising the condition of any other items in the fridge, or making it smell or look disorganized.
- Clear out old or expired food regularly
This might be a bigger task for some households than others, but it’s really important to try and assess the contents of your fridge on a weekly basis at a minimum. Of course, correct storage and labeling makes this task a lot easier, but all expired food and beverages, and those that have been open for longer than recommended, should be disposed of to prevent them from becoming moldy and dangerous not just for consumption, but for the other items in the fridge.
Mold doesn’t belong anywhere in your home, but the last place you want it is in your refrigerator. Follow the tips above to keep your fridge hygienically clean, and the food items stored within it, safe to consume.
