Five Easy Steps for Spring-Cleaning your Refrigerator and Freezer

Plus how to avoid foodborne illness and cross-contamination

News provided by

National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association

Apr 27, 2017, 11:41 ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Spring-cleaning is an annual ritual for most Americans and a great time for serious scrubbing, polishing, decluttering and reorganization. This year, be sure to add the refrigerator and freezer to your list – not only will you have a cleaner-looking kitchen, you will have an appliance that is working effectively and efficiently, and most importantly, you will have foods that are safe to eat.

The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association Shares How to Keep Your Cool Foods Fresh, Safe and Tasty:

#1 Prepare

Unplug the refrigerator to save energy (also for safety if cleaning coils). Empty ice from your freezer into a cooler where you can store food you plan to keep. Fill sink with warm soapy water for cleaning shelves and drawers. Set out dishtowels on counter tops for drying. Fill a spray bottle with a cleaning solution of 1cup water, 1tsp white vinegar and 1tsp dish soap.

#2 Purge

Empty refrigerator (then freezer) and place items on counter. Take time to sort and discard old, unwanted foods, drinks and condiments. Check expiration dates and beware of moldy and freezer-burned foods. When in doubt, toss it out! Use this Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Time Chart for reference. Put foods you want to keep in the cooler.

FROZEN & REFRIGERATED Time Charts
FROZEN FOOD		REFRIGERATED FOOD
PRODUCT	TIME	PRODUCT	TIME
Burritos/Sandwiches	2 months	Milk	7 days
Meatballs	9-12 months	Milk Alternatives	7-10 days
Chicken	6-9 months	Cheese	1 week
Shrimp	1 year	Butter	2-3 weeks
Vegetables	8-12 months	Margarine	1 month
Fruits	9-12 months	Liquid Coffee Creamer	1-2 weeks
Fish	3-4 months	Cottage/Ricotta Cheese	1 week
Entrees/Breakfast	3-4 months	Yogurt	1-2 weeks
Ice Cream/Novelties	2-3 months	Sour Cream	1-3 weeks
Pie/Cake	6-8 months	Cream Cheese	2 weeks
Bread/Rolls	2-3 months	Eggs	3-5 weeks
Bagels	2 months	Egg Substitutes	3 days
Whipped Topping	6 months	Refrigerated Juices	7-10 days
Pancakes/Waffles	2-3 months
Egg Substitutes	12 months	*Pay attention to "sell by," "use by" and "best if used by" dates on products to enjoy before they expire.
Pizza	4-6 months

Properly storing foods can help maintain their quality, taste and safety. Use this handy chart as a guide, but when in doubt, throw it out!

3. Clean

Remove drawers and shelves and clean in sink with warm soapy water; set aside to dry. Spray interior with cleaner and wipe from the top down with warm, wet sponge or towel. Thoroughly dry all and replace drawers and shelves. Wash the exterior door and handles. Replace water and icemaker and filters if needed. Clean grill on bottom front of refrigerator. Consider cleaning the condenser coils for optimum cooling efficiency (refer to manufacturer directions).

4. Check Temps

Food kept too long or at improper temperatures can become contaminated with bacteria, which can cause foodborne illness. Your refrigerator temperature should be at or below 40 degrees and your freezer 0 degrees or less to ensure food safety. You can check the temperatures with an appliance thermometer.

5. Organize

When restocking your clean refrigerator and freezer, organize according to usage and group like items together. Label and date new foods so you know when to use or throw out. Do not store perishable foods in the door as temperatures fluctuate there. Place meat, poultry or seafood in containers or sealed plastic bags and keep fruits and vegetables in separate drawers away from the meats to avoid cross-contamination.

About National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association
NFRA is a non-profit trade association representing all segments of the frozen and refrigerated foods industry. NFRA sponsors national promotions March Frozen Food Month, June Dairy Month and June/July Ice Cream & Novelties; and provides consumer information such as food safety guidelines, meal preparation tips, recipes and sweepstakes opportunities through its Easy Home Meals consumer website and social media properties.

SOURCE National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association