How to Keep Food in a Refrigerator Safe and Healthy

It's important to store food properly to avoid contamination and sickness. Sometimes what appears to be the flu or a stomach bug is often a foodborne illness that could have been prevented. Keep food in a refrigerator safe to keep yourself healthy.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Know that the items in your refrigerator that can make you sick are the ones that carry germs already. Fruits and vegtables, eggs, seafood, meat and dairy products are the most at risk for foodbourne illness. Untreated juices and unpasteurized items and foods containing raw eggs such as Caesar salad dressing and cookie dough are also at risk.

2. Grocery shop with caution. Check cans for dents and other packages for leaks and tears that could indicate spoilage. Check items with expiration dates, and make purchases that have the furthest out expiration date possible.

3. Get home as soon as you can after grocery shopping, and immediately place items in the refrigerator and freezer. Clean all fruits and veggies before refrigerating, and keep any meat packages away from all other foods.

4. Liberally wash hands for at least 30 seconds once groceries are put away.

5. Use bleach or another germ-killing cleaner to clean all spaces were fresh food touched before being refrigerated.

6. Check all expiration dates before eating, or cooking with foods. Pay special attention to dairy products such as eggs and milk. Check your fridge's inventory about once a week and eliminate all items falling past expiration or "use by" dates.