Whether you have a huge American-style fridge freezer or a small integrated one, the temperature in your fridge varies significantly from shelf to shelf. If you're not careful about where you store them, your summer barbecue treats could suffer.
Follow our tips and advice to get the most out of your summer entertaining this year.
See the top models we've tested in our guide to thePre-party tips
Planning ahead can help you avoid making compromises that could leave your summer food unsafe. These quick tips will help.
Have a plan Make space Check the fridge temperatureAllow time for defrostingKeep an eye on use-by datesResist overshopping
What to store where
Now, let's take a look at what food should go where on your fridge shelves.
Fruit and veg drawers
It's tempting to stuff fruit and veg wherever you can find space, but the more you can keep in the crisper drawers, the better.
These drawers have a slightly different climate and humidity from the rest of the fridge, so they're definitely the best place for your tender salad leaves.
Vegetables tend to like high humidity, so if you have a humidity-controllable crisper drawer, make sure you switch it to the correct setting.
But if you're struggling for space, your ripe avocados, peppers and carrots will be fine out of the fridge.
Bottom shelf
Your barbecue meat and fish need to be stored as close to 0°C as possible (although not colder). This will help to lock in freshness and keep heat-loving bacteria at bay.
Unless you have a specially designed chiller drawer for meat and fish, the coldest part of your fridge will be the lowest shelf, directly above the fruit and vegetable drawers.
Keep as much of your meat and fish there as possible, even if it means rearranging the position of your shelves.
Middle shelves
Any meat and fish that you can't squeeze onto the lowest shelf should go on the next shelf up, as that will be the next coldest, but make sure it doesn't drip onto the food below.
Try to avoid thawing products here, but if you must, place them on a plate to contain any leaks.
The higher middle shelves are also a good place for sauces, pre-cooked foods, and condiments, such as barbecue sauce and mayonnaise.
Top shelf
The top shelf and top door rack are where your fridge will be warmest, so use that to your advantage.
It's the perfect place for dairy foods, such as cheese and butter, as they're less perishable than meat and fish. And it will take them less time to come up to room temperature if you want them to soften a bit before eating.
Cream cakes, cold puddings or trifle should also be happy up top, but you can leave any other cakes out of the fridge.
What not to store in the fridge
There are certain things you shouldn't ever put in the fridge, so if you tend to keep them in there, you can save some space by taking them out. These include:
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/how-to-organise-your-fridge-before-a-party-aIRT44o8AIPl