Why not put hot food in fridge?

skintchick

I ask because I know that you shouldn't, but my lodger doesn't understand why, and therefore keeps doing it!!! :mad:

I took some out last night that she had just made, then put in tupperware and straight into teh firdge! when I said I'd taken it out cos it was hot, she said 'it wasn't that hot!' Well, yes it was.

So I need to know WHY so I can explain to her.

I think it raises the firdge temperature and can make otehr stuff go off (not to mention using more leccy) but is this right?

Please help before I go mad!

Badgergal

For one thing it will as you said raise the fridge temperature and the fridge will have to work harder to bring it down again, using more leccy. Also the steam/vapour from warm food is not good to put inside the fridge as it will become condensation. This is even worse in the freezer as the vapour freezes and you need to defrost the freezer more quickly...or at least that's what I understand.

comping_cat

Badgergal wrote:

For one thing it will as you said raise the fridge temperature and the fridge will have to work harder to bring it down again, using more leccy. Also the steam/vapour from warm food is not good to put inside the fridge as it will become condensation. This is even worse in the freezer as the vapour freezes and you need to defrost the freezer more quickly...or at least that's what I understand.

This is what i believe too, also, if you have something hot next to something that is meant to be cold in the fridge, it could effect that food!!!

joannemc3

bacteria reproduces in warm/hot temps , i think

K9cuddles

I done a GSCE in food tech (and from what I can remember.. and this is going way back!) and airport plane food is cooked and fridgerated (may be even frozen?) straight away.. (From hot) this preserves the food better (well in an attempt to make it tastier!).

TBH I got from pan to fridge! I'd prefer it not laying about on the side for a few hours to cool down giving bacteria a chance to grow!!!

But I'd agree that the temp could effect other food in the fridge/freezer.

skintchick

I've had a bit of a google (maybe shoulda done that first!) and it seems that it sould be cooled for a max of two hours and then put in the frdige.

The reason is that it will raise the fridge temp and affect the other food in there, causing bacteria to multiply while the fridge cools everything back down again.

Interestingly, people in canada put piping hot food straight in the fridge - but many of them on the board I read reported that it shattered their glass pots!!! LOL

MATH

I remember my nephew who is in catering telling me that the advice has changed yet again and you are encouraged to fridge straight away rather than leave the food hanging around at room temp for too long which is where most of the bacteria growth occurs. I stick my stuff in the fridge to cool is on a shelf that is left empty for this purpose only. Wrap and cover food and you do not get a condensation problem in the fridge itself. HTH

Swan_2

skintchick wrote:

I've had a bit of a google

I Googled too (refrigerating hot food) because I always thought you shouldn't put hot stuff in your fridge & wanted to see how right I was :rolleyes: ... & there's a lot of conflicting advice out there!

but the general consensus seems to be that modern fridges can cope with reasonable quantities of hot food, as long as you don't put hot things directly against already chilled things, & don't try to refrigerate too large a quantity of anything at once, eg 3 pints of hot stock or the like

this is my 'learn something new every day' moment for today

jcr16

i always put food in a fridge hot if it is to be kept for another day, never caused us any prob's. i mainly do this , as 1, i hate leaving food on side to cool , and 2 my cats if around like to pick at the lid until it comes off then eat the food . ( cheeky !!!!!!s )

i never realised u shouldn't put hot food in a fridge.

Wizwoo

There's some good info on:

http://www.safekids.co.uk/FoodSafetyStorage.cfm

Where it advises that hot / warm food should not be placed in the fridge. Food should be at room temperature before putting in the fridge. An easy way to do this is if you put whatever it is into a tupperware tub and place it in about an inch of cold water. Or portion it up it'll cool faster.

Hope that helps with the lodger!

skintchick

Maybe it's not such an issue after all!! I have many things I want to educate her out of as it were, so perhaps I'll leave this one!

Cultural differences...