Store Food Safely

A survey of British food hygiene found that many people aren't sure how to store food correctly.

Nearly half of respondents (47%) didn't know they needed to keep their fridge at 0C to 5C to store food safely, according to a 2006 Food and Drink Federation study.

Some people (16%) stored raw meat on the top shelf of the fridge and a further 8% stored it anywhere. This means the juices from the meat could drip on to ready-to-eat foods below.

Proper storage of food reduces the risk of food poisoning. Follow these tips to ensure your food is always safe to eat:

Fridge storage

Some foods need to be kept in the fridge to help stop bacteria growing, such as foods with a 'use by' date, cooked foods and ready-to-eat foods including desserts and cooked meats.

This is how to prevent bacteria from growing:

• When you’re preparing food, keep it out of the fridge for the shortest time possible.
• If you’re having a buffet keep the food refrigerated until you’re ready to serve it.
• Cool leftovers as quickly as possible (within 90 minutes) and store them in the fridge. Eat them within two days.
• Eggs must be kept in the fridge, in their box.
• Never put open cans in the fridge as the metal of the tin may transfer more quickly to the can's contents. Transfer the tin's contents into a storage container or covered bowl.

“Make sure food has cooled down before you put it in the fridge,” says Philippa Hudson, senior lecturer in food safety at Bournemouth University.

“If the food is still hot it will raise the temperature in the fridge, which isn’t safe as it can promote bacterial growth.”

To ensure your fridge remains hygienic and in good working condition, it should be cleaned on a regular basis.

“Food debris accumulates over time and can increase the risk of cross-contamination,” says Hudson.

‘Use by’ dates

No food lasts forever, however well it is stored. Most pre-packed foods carry either a 'use by' or 'best before' date.

'Use by' dates are applied to foods that go off quite quickly. It can be dangerous to eat foods past their 'use by' date. 'Best before' date dates are for foods with a longer life. They show how long the food will be at its best quality. “Food can look and smell fine even after its ‘use by’ date,” says Hudson. “But that doesn’t mean they're safe to eat. It could be contaminated.”

Storing meat

It's especially important to store meat safely in the fridge to stop bacteria from spreading and avoid food poisoning.

Store raw meat and poultry in clean sealed containers on the bottom shelf of the fridge, so it can't touch or drip on to other food. Follow any storage instructions on the label and don't eat meat after its 'use by' date. Keep cooked meat separate from raw meat.

Freezing meat

It’s safe to freeze meat if you take the following precautions:

Freeze it before the 'use by' date. Defrost it in a microwave if you intend to cook it as soon as it's defrosted. Otherwise thaw it in the fridge so that it doesn't get too warm. Cook food until it's piping hot all the way through. “Make sure the meat is properly wrapped in the freezer or it might get freezer burn, which will make it tough and inedible,” says Hudson.

“Make sure you date and label meat that you store in the fridge, and eat it within two days of defrosting. You can’t leave food in a freezer indefinitely. Always have a good idea of what’s in your fridge and freezer.”