Find out.
By Susan McQuillan, R.D., from Lifetimetv.com
From Lifetimetv.com
http://women.msn.com/376271.armx
Sure, most of us mean to wipe up every spill in the fridge the minute it happens, and we all know we should tightly seal food before stowing it, and toss out edibles when they're past their prime. But we're not always so conscientious, which is why we end up with dried drips of Thanksgiving gravy on shelves and half-empty containers of spaghetti sauce competing with Chinese takeout for space. Still, while tackling this mess may seem daunting, it's worth the effort. Just follow these tips for a clean, bacteria-free fridge in under an hour:
Step 1: Pull and pitch. Pull the plug and remove all food from the fridge. While you work, pack perishables in an insulated cooler or a container lined with ice packs. Discard any foods that are past their prime, along with open jars of mayonnaise, mustard or other condiments that have been chilling for more than a couple of months.
Your guide to pitching food before it makes you sick. It's a healthy habit to develop: going through your fridge once a week and transferring old eats to the garbage can. All foods carry bacteria that can rapidly multiply under the right conditions; refrigeration simply slows down that process. Bacteria is what spoils food, causing unappetizing odors and tastes. But that's not the only problem: Certain kinds of bacteria -- especially the kinds that originate in meat and dairy products (such as Listeria and E. coli) -- can make you sick to your stomach. To be safe, check expiration dates on all packaged foods and abide by the old cliche: When in doubt, throw it out.
Step 2: Suds it up. Starting at the top, clean the outside of the refrigerator with hot, soapy water or a cleanser made specifically for appliances. Next, tackle the interior -- including walls, shelves, floor and bins -- with hot, soapy water or a solution of baking soda and water. Wash all removable shelves and bins, letting them soak in the sink to remove tough stains. Rinse and dry everything thoroughly. To make cleanup easier next time, line shelves and bins with small plastic trays or a double thickness of paper towels to catch drips.
Head off stinky fridge odors with this recipe. Combine 2 T. baking soda with 1 qt. warm water for washing the inside of the refrigerator, or use 1 c. vinegar combined with 1 gal. warm water. For best results (and to make sure that you're not spreading germs instead of eradicating them), use a new sponge or one that you've put through the dishwasher. In general, it makes sense to toss sponges after about 300 uses, or four weeks. Chlorine bleach is best if used within two years; baking soda is good for three years from the date on the box; and ammonia lasts indefinitely.
Step 3: Wipe and store. Before returning food to the refrigerator, wipe the sticky film from the jelly jar, the crusty ring from the ketchup, and all other assorted messes from containers. Tuck a newly opened box of baking soda on the back of a shelf to ward off odors.
To keep your treats as fresh and yummy as possible, follow these simple rules.
Keep it cool. Be sure your fridge hovers between 35 and 40 degrees F. All areas of the refrigerator should register below 40 degrees so that all food can be safely stored in any compartment. If your refrigerator is old or you have any doubts about the temperature and want to check it, you can buy a cold-storage thermometer (available at hardware stores). Be sure to test different sections of the refrigerator to be certain that cold air is circulating throughout.
Be prompt and preventive. Put perishables away as soon as you get them home. Wrap or rewrap meats, poultry and seafood, if necessary, to prevent leakage onto other foods, which can cause cross-contamination.
Use those bins. Replace the bottles of beer in the crisper with what's really supposed to be there: fruits, veggies, meats and cheese. For optimum freshness, vegetables need high humidity, while fruits need low humidity. And meat bins are designed to allow in additional cold air to keep the meat fresh without freezing.
Don't store in the door. Don't stash highly perishable foods such as meats, dairy products or eggs inside the fridge door, since the door temperature fluctuates more than the temperature in other areas.
Clean inside and out.To keep your refrigerator running efficiently, vacuum the front grill and motor to remove dust and dirt. Inside the fridge, wipe up leaks and spills immediately with hot, soapy water or a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water to prevent contamination of other foods.