Credits: Social Media
Doctor debunks common myth about putting hot food straight in the fridge
If you thought you needed to leave hot food on the counter to cool down before putting it in the fridge, you’ve been living a lie.
It’s a common misconception that hot items must be cooled to avoid raising the fridge temperature, and a doctor has debunked it once and for all.
You can put hot food straight in the fridge
Dr. Karan Raj took to TikTok to reveal that you can put hot food straight in the fridge, and it’s actually the correct thing to do.
“The sooner you get your leftovers in the fridge the better because it means your food spends less time in the danger zone,” he said.
The medical professional explained that between 4�C (40�F) and 60�C (140�F) is the “danger zone” – when bacteria can grow more rapidly.
Cooling and storing your food in the fridge as soon as possible lowers the temperature and gets you out of this range quicker.
This minimizes bacterial growth and reduces the risk of foodborne illnesses such as norovirus and salmonella.
If you thought you couldn’t reheat rice, that’s a common myth too, but there are some rules you need to follow.
Won’t it raise the fridge temperature?
Many think putting hot food in the fridge will raise the internal temperature, putting other foods inside at risk, but this is an outdated myth.
Most modern refrigerators are well-designed to handle the introduction of hot food without changing the temperature.
However, if you are storing a large quantity of hot food, you should transfer it into smaller containers so it cools quicker.
The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service says you should always refrigerate food within two hours of cooking it, or after it is removed from an appliance keeping it warm.
Throw away all perishable foods that have been left at room temperature for more than two hours, or one hour if the temperature is over 90�F, such as outdoors.
When storing leftovers, always wrap them in airtight packaging or seal them in storage containers to help keep bacteria out, retain moisture, and prevent odors.
Leftovers can typically be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days or frozen for three to four months.
