Cleaning the Fridge – Tossing Out Old Food and Leftovers

sandwich

Guide to Cleaning Your Refrigerator

Cleaning the refrigerator is rarely a planned task for parents. It’s a chore that never makes the to-do list, yet it becomes unavoidable when you reach for something simple—like butter—and discover it’s buried behind grapes in the vegetable tray. As you retrieve the butter, you notice a yogurt spill has congealed over your fruits and vegetables. One item leads to another, revealing moldy or unrecognizable food, and soon you’re emptying the fridge into a trash bag. You might even find jelly jars stuck to the door shelves, demanding a thorough clean. Before you know it, you’re scrubbing with hot water and bleach to prevent a salmonella outbreak, forgetting why you needed the butter in the first place.

The most efficient way to clean a refrigerator is to tackle it all at once. Defrosting is ideal but challenging with a busy family. Start by emptying all contents onto a table, allowing you to check expiration dates and wipe down containers before returning them. Cleaning around items still in the fridge is far more trouble than it’s worth.

Deep Cleaning and Reorganizing

Remove all detachable parts, such as drawers and shelves, and wash them in hot water with antibacterial soap, a vinegar-water solution, or a baking soda-water mix to eliminate mold residue. Ensure these components are completely dry before placing them back to prevent new mold growth. Wipe down stationary interior surfaces with hot water and a disinfectant, such as diluted bleach or antibacterial dish soap, to remove sticky residues.

Before restocking, consider lining drawers and shelves with paper towels. This makes future spills easier to clean, saving you from sticky messes. To avoid cross-contamination, refer to the FDA’s refrigeration storage guidelines below before returning food to the fridge.

Table Courtesy of the FDA – www.fda.gov/

Storage Times for Refrigerated Foods
Ground Meat, Ground Poultry, and Stew Meat
Ground beef, turkey, veal, pork, lamb1-2 days
Stew meats1-2 days
Fresh Meat (Beef, Veal, Lamb, and Pork)
Steaks, chops, roasts3-5 days
Variety meats (tongue, kidneys, liver, heart, chitterlings)1-2 days
Fresh Poultry
Chicken or turkey, whole1-2 days
Chicken or turkey, parts1-2 days
Giblets1-2 days
Bacon and Sausage
Bacon7 days
Sausage, raw from meat or poultry1-2 days
Smoked breakfast links, patties7 days
Summer sausage labeled “Keep Refrigerated”Unopened, 3 months; Opened, 3 weeks
Hard sausage (such as pepperoni)2-3 weeks
Ham, Corned Beef
Ham, canned, labeled “Keep Refrigerated”Unopened, 6-9 months; Opened, 3-5 days
Ham, fully cooked, whole7 days
Ham, fully cooked, half3-5 days
Ham, fully cooked, slices3-4 days
Corned beef in pouch with pickling juices5-7 days
Hot Dogs and Luncheon Meats
Hot dogsUnopened package, 2 weeks; Opened package, 1 week
Luncheon meatsUnopened package, 2 weeks; Opened package, 3-5 days
Deli and Vacuum-Packed Products
Store-prepared (or homemade) egg, chicken, tuna, ham, and macaroni salads3-5 days
Pre-stuffed pork, lamb chops, and chicken breasts1 day
Store-cooked dinners and entrees3-4 days
Commercial brand vacuum-packed dinners with USDA seal, unopened2 weeks
Cooked Meat, Poultry, and Fish Leftovers
Pieces and cooked casseroles3-4 days
Gravy and broth, patties, and nuggets3-4 days
Soups and stews3-4 days
Fresh Fish and Shellfish
Fresh fish and shellfish1-2 days
Eggs
Fresh, in shell3-5 weeks
Raw yolks, whites2-4 days
Hard-cooked1 week
Liquid pasteurized eggs, egg substitutesUnopened, 10 days; Opened, 3 days
Cooked egg dishes3-4 days

It may be hard to discard leftovers from four nights ago, but it’s essential to prevent foodborne illness, especially during a thorough fridge clean.

Once cleaned, your refrigerator will look brand new, though possibly empty, with its interior bulbs shining brightly. You’ll have peace of mind knowing harmful germs are gone. While experts like Martha Stewart suggest weekly fridge cleaning, most people only clean when they encounter moldy food or spills. To make future cleanings easier, consider wiping down surfaces weekly to prevent buildup, so the inevitable deep clean feels less daunting.

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.