REFRIGIRATOR SUMMER PREP by Michael Djordjevich (USA)

Preparing Your Refrigerator for Fresh Summer Produce

 

Summer is the perfect time to stock your refrigerator full of fresh produce. Before you do, however, consider taking some time to prepare your fridge for the delicious summer produce it’s about to contain. Here are three easy steps that will prepare your refrigerator for storing this summer’s freshest produce.

1. Empty the crisper drawers.

To prepare your crisper drawers for fresh summer produce, remove any food currently in the drawers and dispose of or compost any less than optimum produce. Once done, set the rest of the food aside for later.

 

2. Wash out the crisper drawers.

If there’s any food residue stuck on your crisper drawers, now is the time to clean it off. To do so, use some soap, water, and a non-abrasive cloth to wipe down the drawers until they’re clean. After, use a dry cloth to remove any leftover moisture.

 

3. Adjust the humidity levels of the crisper drawers.

If your crisper drawers allow for it, adjust the humidity levels of the drawers to create optimum conditions for storing different types of produce. Such configurations often include a different humidity level in each drawer.

Once you’ve cleaned the drawers and adjusted the humidity levels, start returning the food to the appropriate drawers. Foods like leafy greens, herbs, broccoli, carrots, peppers, and strawberries store better in higher humidity drawers. Produce like apples, bananas, kiwis, melons, and pears, on the other hand, store better in lower humidity.