{"id":241024,"date":"2021-05-20T17:40:31","date_gmt":"2021-05-20T17:40:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kitchlit.com\/staging\/?p=241024"},"modified":"2021-06-22T17:40:53","modified_gmt":"2021-06-22T17:40:53","slug":"limit-the-growth-of-bacteria-in-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kitchlit.com\/staging\/limit-the-growth-of-bacteria-in-food\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Best Way to Limit the Growth of Bacteria in Food"},"content":{"rendered":"

Does Refrigeration Prevent Bacterial Growth in Food?<\/h2>\n

Back in the day, people had no electricity. They couldn\u2019t use phones, elevators, or washing machines, and all the other things we take for granted today.<\/p>\n

When we think about electricity, the first thing that pops into our minds is a lightbulb. Sure, bulbs are great, but are they as good as refrigerators?<\/p>\n

Without any means to refrigerate their food, people had to prepare it and eat it in just a couple of days\u2019 time. There was no \u201cI\u2019ll save that for later!\u201d back then. That\u2019s because bacteria would swarm food in no time, and people would die from a plethora of foodborne illnesses<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While today that issue is almost non-existent when compared to pre-electricity times, the issue is still there. All of us have stared at a piece of raw meat, questioning whether it\u2019s safe to eat it. The refrigeration does limit bacterial growth, but it cannot stop it completely. So, what is the best way to limit the growth of bacteria in food? Let\u2019s take a look!<\/p>\n

Fridge and Bacteria<\/h2>\n

First, let\u2019s see why the temperature of the food is important for food safety, especially perishable raw food. Well, the thing is, the fridge and bacteria go together like orange juice and toothpaste! While you can never fully prevent them, you can seriously mitigate the effects bacteria have on food.<\/p>\n

Bacteria grow and multiply best at a temperature between 40F and 140F. If the temperature reaches above 70F, bacteria grow even more rapidly. That\u2019s why fridges keep your food below 40F.<\/p>\n

While refrigeration doesn\u2019t kill bacteria completely, it ruins their pace of reproduction. When refrigerated, raw food reaches the danger zone after 4\u20135 days. But, if you leave it out, the food won\u2019t be edible the next day.<\/p>\n

To prevent this from happening, you should develop a habit of getting your cold food inside your fridge immediately. While placing hot foods immediately inside won\u2019t affect the food, it might be detrimental to your fridge in the long term. That\u2019s why you should wait for a bit until your meals cool down before putting them in the fridge. But, whatever the temperature is, you should never wait more than two hours to do it.<\/p>\n

Three Ways to Prevent the Growth of Bacteria<\/h2>\n

Is there anything else you can do to keep your food safe, aside from using a fridge like everyone else in the 21st century? Well, it turns out there is! And you don\u2019t need any additional equipment. We\u2019ve selected three ways that will help you keep your food fresh.<\/p>\n

1. Use Sealed Containers<\/h3>\n

Temperature is not your only enemy here. Oxygen also contributes to bacterial growth as bacteria can be found in the air.<\/p>\n

When it comes to handling raw foods, sealed containers are your best friends. They will make sure no bacteria comes near your food.<\/p>\n

Additionally, raw food and acidic food like lemons let out juices that can contaminate other items in the fridge. Odors from other foods can affect the taste, so a sealed container is a win-win.<\/p>\n

2. Specialized Compartments<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s a reason why our fridges have them. Simply, different foods need different conditions for optimal storage. For instance, vegetables require higher humidity. On the other hand, fruits want lower humidity. Consequently, using proper compartments within your fridge will help you immensely with handling food the right way.<\/p>\n

3. Use the Freezer<\/h3>\n

As we\u2019ve already said, when you refrigerate raw meat, it will last about 4\u20135 days. But what if you\u2019re not ready to eat food in that timeframe? That\u2019s where the freezer comes in.<\/p>\n

As you already know, the temperature is the number one reason why bacteria either multiply or don\u2019t grow at all. If you lower the temperature even further, you can keep your food fresh for months on end.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll give you a few examples of foods and how long you can store them in a freezer:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Ground meat: 3\u20134 months<\/li>\n
  • Poultry: 9 months<\/li>\n
  • Bacon: 1 month<\/li>\n
  • Fresh pork: 4\u201312 months<\/li>\n
  • Stews: 2\u20133 months<\/li>\n
  • Raw sausage: 1\u20132 months<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    As you can see, freezers seriously increase the time your groceries remain fresh. For instance, poultry can last only a day or two inside a fridge, while it will still be healthy after nine months of freezer time.<\/p>\n

    Conclusion<\/h3>\n

    The fridge is one of the greatest things we have in our homes that we take for granted. This appliance allows us to prepare our food in advance and not worry about getting sick in the meantime.<\/p>\n

    However, it\u2019s just a fridge \u2014 not a magical chest. You still need to make sure you do things properly to keep the bacteria out (we won\u2019t even mention washing your hands)!<\/p>\n

    We\u2019ve given you some pieces of advice on how to limit the growth of bacteria, and it would be foolish to neglect them. After all, food is the most important part of our lives!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Does Refrigeration Prevent Bacterial Growth in Food? Back in the day, people had no electricity. They couldn\u2019t use phones, elevators, or washing machines, and all the other things we take for granted today. When we think about electricity, the first thing that pops into our minds is a lightbulb. Sure, bulbs are great, but are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":241027,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-241024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides"],"acf":{"kl_article_intro":"Understand the storage methods discussed in this food-handling guide.","kl_takeaway_1":"Refrigeration and freezing play different roles in food storage.","kl_takeaway_2":"Containers and separate compartments are part of the approach.","kl_takeaway_3":"The guide considers storage habits alongside the conditions bacteria need."},"yoast_head":"\nDoes Refrigeration Prevent Bacterial Growth in Food | Prevent Foodborne Illness<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Does Refrigeration Prevent Bacterial Growth in Food | Prevent Foodborne Illness\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Does Refrigeration Prevent Bacterial Growth in Food? 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