storing fruit and veg

Menolly_2

Kitschkitty, it would be worthwhile geting a thermometer for your fridge. The Food Standards Agency recommend a fridge temp between 0C to 5C - higher than this, and you risk the growth of harmful bacteria, lower and (of course) the food can freeze. And like oven thermostats, fridge ones are not necessarily accurate, so a thermometer would enable you to "play" around with the settings until you get it spot on!
I know you said the fridge is only a year old, but does the seal round the door fit properly? If it doesn't make an effective seal, then the fridge temperature is likely to be lower than the temperature in the room and you will get condensation in the fridge.
Switch the thing off at the wall (electricity + water = bad combo:eek: ), pull it out and check that there are no dust bunnies etc on the coils at the back. Also make sure there is sufficient room behind it for decent airflow.
Is it your fridge or the landlord's? If the problem doesn't get resolved, I think I would contact the manufacturer if it is yours and the landlord if it isn't. I let out my little house furnished for 6 months prior to selling when I moved in with my OH (now my husband) and I didn't mind the tenant contacting me when the oven went on the fritz. It was a new-build house and the oven was part of the fitted kitchen, so it was under warranty anyway, but I felt it was part of my responsibilities to ensure that the appliances were in safe working order.
Hope this helps!

OrkneyStar

I keep root veg etc in a black bag in a dark cupboard, toms/salad stuff/courgettes/peppers/peeled or cooked veg are kept on top or middle shelf, not in bags, and they keep for at least 1 week (if not using by then I chop or blanche and freeze). This said I live in the cold Northern Isles so our cupboards are likely quite cold lol!

Grumpysally

It could be that you fridge is not level and is leaning forward so that it's not draining properly. I think that's what happens to mine. I've not got round to sorting it out yet.

kitschkitty

That's a good point that it might not be on a level., and it probably is a bit dusty behind so I will clean it up.

The door seal looks fine to me!

I think the freezer (which is below the fridge) is a bit frosty, so I wonder if defrosting it might also help? (Sadly I couldn't afford a frost free fridge freezer).

The hole is constantly blocked by... ice! It forms a lump on the channel as well as the water droplets on the back of the fridge freezing.

I can't adjust the fridge temperature to make it any warmer (only even colder - tried it once and froze my ham etc)!

It has glass shelves not wire ones, but I might try using the shelf for the veg, and the draw for other stuff, thanks.

I use brown paper bags for mushrooms, and all my spuds and root veg are in brown paper bags, in a shopping/storage bag in the cupboard already.

While I could freeze the veg, the problem is most of the veg is meant for my pet bunny rabbit not me!

Think I might have to get a fridge thermometer so I can record/prove it's temperature.

BTW it's this one: http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cur_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0858450884.1225837762@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccekadefikjkjdjcflgceggdhhmdgmk.0&page=Product&fm=4&sm=2&tm=0&sku=638046&category_oid=-19404

I ordered the white one last year as it was on offer @ £150 (couldn't afford to spend more on a better brand) typically I saw it online with free delivery, but wanted to order by phone, so called the next day and they said the free delivery offer had finished so I had to pay £20 to get it delivered... but they delivered one with a broken door, and as they sold out of white they replaced it with the silver one a week later!

kitschkitty

OrkneyStar wrote: »

I keep root veg etc in a black bag in a dark cupboard, toms/salad stuff/courgettes/peppers/peeled or cooked veg are kept on top or middle shelf, not in bags, and they keep for at least 1 week (if not using by then I chop or blanche and freeze). This said I live in the cold Northern Isles so our cupboards are likely quite cold lol!

I bet my kitchen is colder! It's not double glazed, has a huge window and no radiator!:rolleyes::rotfl:

Magentasue

Won't sort your fridge out, but I find these liners from Lakeland good for keeping veg dry:

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/fruit-and-vegetable-cushion/F/keyword/fridge/product/3528/pgs/63

mouseymousey99

Hello - another solution is to use newspaper. I do, its not glam - but - you can throw it out regulary (recycle). I find the paper works really well in the veggy bit.

kitschkitty

I was wondering about those from Lakeland, but couldn't find any reviews from anyone who had tried them out.

If all else fails I think I might have to save up and get one (Lakelands postage is a bit steep, and I'm always tempted by dozens of things on their site/in the catalogs they send me so have to try to curb my spending)!

Unfortunately we never have any spare newspapers as we only buy one occasionally and we always need them to use in the bunny's cage!

OrkneyStar

kitschkitty wrote: »

I bet my kitchen is colder! It's not double glazed, has a huge window and no radiator!:rolleyes::rotfl:

We are double glazed (but were not up until a year ago!) but we don't turn the storage heater on unless its really cold- our kitchen heats up as I cook but otherwise pretty nippy!

angelavdavis

I also use the green sponge liners that MagentaSue has highlighted. All other good advice on ensuring it is level, etc.

I put a plastic cup of bicarb in there - part to soak up some moisture, part to remove any smells that build up.