Is there any truth that its bad to put leftovers in the fridge while there still warm?

Question

Do you really have to let things cool first before putting them in the fridge?

Answer 1

NO, NO, NO, absolutely not. That is one of the biggest food safety myths. Food safety experts advise consumers to refrigerate foods quickly because cold temperatures keep most harmful bacteria from growing and multiplying. So, public health officials recommend setting the refrigerator at 40*F and the freezer unit a 0*F and occasionally checking these temperatures with an appliance thermometer. Then, Americans can fight food poisoning by following these steps:

Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared food and leftovers within two hours.
Never defrost (or marinate) food on the kitchen counter. Use the refrigerator, cold running water or the microwave.
Divide large amounts of leftovers into small, shallow containers for quick cooling in the refrigerator.
With poultry and other stuffed meats, remove the stuffing and refrigerate it in a separate container.
Don’t pack the refrigerator. Cool air must circulate to keep food safe.

Answer 2

I let them cool somewhat, but not completely. I'd never put anything in straight from the oven though. I usually wait until after dinner when I'm cleaning up before I put stuff in.

I don't know that it'll hurt the food itself that's being put in there, but the problem with putting hot food in a fridge is that it heats up the inside of the fridge (if it's a large dish or dishes) and causes the internal temp. of the fridge to rise above the safe temperature range.

I've yet to have any problems from doing this.

Answer 3

th best place to cool something in is in the fridge heres the cach you dont want to cover it right away,and you want to bring the food temp down out of the danger zone (41-140) in 4 hours, the best way to do this is to put what ever you coolin in a pan where the food is no higher than 2 inches deep, bigger the space the faster it cools.

Answer 4

you can put them in the frig still warm but be sure to loosely cover them so the steam can escape. It is when the steam can't escape the trouble starts. When the steam can't escape the cooling process takes much longer thus leaving the food in the temperature danger zone to long with the possability of growing undesireable bacteria, thus greatly increasing your chances of a food bourne illness.

Answer 5

yes, when you put this warm food in the refrigerator, the food is warm and the fridge is cold, so, the fridge needs to release more energy to cold that up. If you are trying to save some energy this is not a good IDEA to do.

Hopefully this helps you, Ok.

Answer 6

I dont think so. I use too cool my food by putting them in the fridge .Nothing happens.

Answer 7

No it does no longer replace there flavor yet when does make it flow undesirable swifter. food does no longer "ruin" yet could in no way be placed into the refrigerator even as nonetheless warm because micro organism contained in the food can multiply without delay and could make you ill. it truly is continuously perfect to position food in a lined field and enable it cool down before putting contained in the frig.

Answer 8

Yes..

The heat of the food warms the fridge.

Also the food spends too long in the "danger zone" of temperature

Answer 9

Yes, or else they "sweat" and get all soggy. If they're cool they con't give off heat in the form of condensation.

Answer 10

Yes, wheny ou put them in and they are still warm it causes condesation and makes it a lot easier for bacteria and germs to build up.