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Set your fridge to 4 degrees Celsius and your products will stay fresh longer
The button in my fridge does indicate numbers, but how cold it is exactly: I have no idea. Because more people run into this, the Nutrition Center developed a refrigerator thermometer. We got to try one out.
In the past, at our house, there was always a small round thermometer hanging on one of the racks in the fridge. But although I have been living on my own for about 17 years now, it has never happened in all that time to purchase such a thermometer myself. So I’m just guessing: if products freeze, I turn the knob a bit lower. If it feels too hot, it will go a little higher.
Disease-causing bacteria
My “on the gamble” approach carries health risks. According to the Nutrition Center, it can be warmer in your fridge than you think. Because your refrigerator has been open too often or for too long, for example. A temperature of 4 degrees Celsius is ideal. Every degree above that speeds up the growth of bacteria and fungi and too many bacteria and fungi in your products can make you sick. In addition, your food stays fresh longer in a refrigerator that is cold enough.
Compact thermometer
The thermometer of the Nutrition Center has a handy model: it is compact and flat, so that it hardly takes up any space. On the front is the thermometer with a scale from 2 to 16 degrees. On the packaging you see clear instructions: you have to put the thermometer in the middle of the bottom shelf and leave it there for half a day or overnight (with the door closed!)
You can then read on the thermometer how cold your refrigerator is. Does the four color green? Then you’re fine. If it shows a higher number, it is wise to set your refrigerator lower. The following applies to a rotary knob: the higher the number, the colder. Simple, right?
Free now
Don’t have a fridge thermometer yet? Then quickly go to a Coop supermarket, because there you get one for free when you buy fresh vegetables. Or order one at the Nutrition Center (then you only pay the shipping costs of € 1.95). But, gone = gone!
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