National "Clean Out your Refrigerator" Day

Okay, so "National Clean Out your Refrigerator Day" was actually November 15th...but I forgot to post the article - and Im sure you can probably still clean out your fridge if you want in December.


Who knew there was a holiday dedicated to cleaning out your refrigerator? I personally think it’s a marvelous idea because I guarantee there is someone reading this article thinking about the unknown jars and bags in the back of their fridge they’ve been too scared to pull out for fear of what might be growing. Gross! Cleaning out your fridge should be a routine part of your monthly health maintenance checklist.

• Stocked up on my vitamins? Check.

• Monthly breast self exam? Check. (This one’s for the ladies…)

• Health Insurance Paid? Check.

• Dietitian Appointment? Check.

• Refrigerator Cleaned out? Ummm...

Expiration dates are there for a reason! Food manufacturers are looking out for your safety when they stamp that food with a sell by or use by date. They aren’t there for show. It amazes me when people say “it smells okay, so its fine.” Yes, but do you really think bacteria grow instantly? It might not smell yet because the population of bacteria that’s setting up camp may not be large enough to exude a smell. By the time something actually does smell, it means the amount of bacteria has become large enough for you to sense. Let’s take a look at storage limits for food groups so you can start chucking things in the trash!

Meats - Raw meat is safe in the fridge for about 1-2 days, and then you need to cook it or stick it in the freezer. Chicken breasts and whole cuts of meat can stay in the freezer for up to 1 year. Ground beef, chicken and turkey can stay frozen for up to 2 months. Deli meats in the fridge that are opened are only good for about 5 days, but unopened can last up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

Eggs – Eggs will last 3-5 weeks in the fridge, although their yolks will be noticeably different (more runny) after about 2 weeks.

Condiments – Condiments can last about a year in the fridge, these always have an expiration date so be sure to double check your sauces, dressings and that ketchup bottle that’s been sitting there for a while…

Cheeses – Soft cheeses like brie tend to spoil faster than the hard cheeses like cheddar and swiss. Soft cheeses will last 1-2 weeks where cheddar can probably make it about 4 weeks. It’s important to note that you cannot just cut the mold off of cheese and eat the rest! Mold has fingers, which means that mold seen on the outside means that it’s also inside the cheese. So if you see mold throw it out!

Produce – You should shop for produce every week. Make sure you don’t over-buy your fruits and veggies (even if they’re on sale!) because this will lead to spoilage and food waste. Buy just enough for the week. Remember, the grocery store isn’t going anywhere; you can always stop in to pick up some more romaine lettuce for dinner.

The CDC estimates that 76 million Americans get sick each year from foodbourne illnesses and about 5,000 people die from foodbourne illnesses. Many foodbourne illnesses can come from contaminants that have somehow made their way into the food item but there are some causes from bacterial growth inside the food itself like Botulism and Staphylococcus aureus (aka Staph infection).

You also want to make sure and wipe down and clean the refrigerator itself. The shelves, doors and drawers. Food can drip or spill and if it isn’t properly cleaned that can promote growth of bacteria and mold and could contaminate new and fresh food. Steps to clean your fridge:

1. Remove all the food items from the fridge and throw out any expired or rotten food.

2. Using a washcloth and plain white vinegar, wipe down the shelving, drawers and walls in order to kill and prevent any mildew, mold or other bacterial growth.

3. Create a mixture of ¼ c baking soda and 1 quart warm water and scrub the inside of the fridge thoroughly in order to remove the vinegar, sanitize and remove odors.

4. Wipe down any dirty jars or containers and place food items back in the fridge!

5. This should be done about every 3 months (4 times per year).


Have Fun!!!

Blessings,
Ashley