Cooling

To organise your refrigerator efficiently you should make use of each shelf. The top one is perfect for the things you use every day such as condiments, leftovers, and ready-to-eat meals. The middle shelf is typically a bit colder, so can hold all your dairy products like cheese and yoghurts. On the bottom shelf, you should pop all your raw meat and fish. Make sure they’re kept in sealed containers so there’s no leaking as this could lead to cross-contamination with other food items.
Some fridges come with fruit and veg draws which sometimes allow you to control the humidity. These are perfect for storing all those crisp apples and juicy strawberries to help them last longer. Plus, the door storage will keep those bottles of pop nice and chilled.
If you’re looking for more ideas on how to efficiently organise your fridge, take a look at our blog..

When it comes to storing food in the fridge both glass and plastic containers have their ups and downs.
Glass is typically more durable and is less likely to absorb smells or stains. Some glass containers can even be used in the freezer and oven, making them versatile. And if you want to do your bit for the planet, they also tend to be more eco-friendly. However, glass is heavier and more likely to break, so it may not be the best option if you’ve prepped a load of meals to take to work.
Meanwhile, plastic containers are easier to carry around and, due to their smaller nature, take up less storage space. So, if you’re looking to stock up on meal prep, you can spread it into portions without taking over your fridge or freezer.

To keep your food at the ideal temperature your refrigerator should be between 3°C and 5°C. This keeps things cold enough to slow the growth of bacteria without accidentally freezing everything inside.

If you keep opening the fridge door to find your food has frozen, then it’s probably set too cold. This can be an easy fix as you just need to adjust the temperature. There should be a dial or touch controls that’ll help you sort this, but if you’re not sure how check the product manual. Just remember it can take time for the temperature to change, so give the fridge 24 hours to adjust.
If that doesn’t solve the issue, you can pop a thermometer in, leave it overnight and see what temperature your fridge is running at.

It’s generally not advised to keep things on top of your fridge. That’s because excess heat is released from there making it warmer. It could also block ventilation which the fridge needs to maintain its temperature. This means the compressor has to work harder which could impact your energy bills. Alongside this, there’s always a risk something could fall off the top of the fridge and a sudden bonk on the head is the last thing we want.

Your fridge needs a gap of around 5cm on either side and at the back. This allows proper air circulation and ventilation, especially for the coils which are typically located at the back.

While many freezers have nifty tech which is designed to reduce icy build-ups, they can still form over time. Luckily there’re a few ways to help cut this down.
When you open the door, you let in warm air which can increase the amount of frost in your freezer. So, reducing the number of times you pop in and making sure the door is securely closed can help cut it down.
Your freezer should be kept around 0°C any warmer or colder and it can lead to ice and frost building up. By monitoring the temperature, you won’t just prevent ice and frost, but keep your food in the best condition too.
If you do find frost getting in your way, then it might be time to defrost the freezer. For help on how to do this, check out our handy guide

There are plenty of meals which are perfect for batch cooking and freezing. Some common ones include stews, chilli, soups and pasta bakes. So, whether you’re looking to load up on healthier meals, or you just fancy something tasty for your work lunch, there’re loads of exciting recipes for you to try.

Whether it’s meal prep or leftovers, if you’ve defrosted a tasty meal, it should be cooked within 24 hours, any longer and it will need throwing away. The safest way to defrost something is in the fridge overnight to help reduce the risk of harmful bacteria growing in the food.

Some of the best freezer meals for new parents can include stews, soups, chilli, casseroles and stir-fry. Life as a new mum can be hectic and finding time to make meals can be tough. However, if you do manage to get creative in the kitchen, batch cooking and freezing can help in the long run. Now, on those days when you don’t get a moment to yourself, you can just pop a meal in the microwave for a quick, tasty dinner.