The purpose of a refrigerator is to keep your food cold and safe. But without proper maintenance and cleaning, the fridge can actually become a very dangerous place. So, what part of your fridge is the most dangerous? The answer is the salad drawer, and it isn’t even close.
The Problem
Bacteria growth in salad drawers is substantially greater than the rest of the fridge. A study done in the UK found some startling results about the severity of this problem. “Tests from 30 different salad drawers found a startling number of bacteria, with an average of 7,850 bacteria colony-forming units per square centimetre (cfu/cm2). In some cases, it found 129,000 bacteria per cfu/cm2,” researchers said.
This can be linked to a series of factors, but one is more glaring than the others. Salad drawers are often left uncleaned! When you remove food from your fridge for a cleaning, make sure you remember to remove your salad drawer and clean it separately. The moisture that the salad needs to stay fresh is also providing drinking water for harmful bacterium. It might be a good idea to clean your salad drawer more frequently than the rest of your fridge.
The Solution
If you are a frequent salad eater, you might want to keep reading. This clever little trick will help keep your salad drawer safe and bacteria-free.
- Wash down your salad leaves in a clean sink.
- Once you are satisfied with the wash, place the leaves in a salad spinner and let them dry.
- Take a kitchen towel and line the bottom and sides of your salad drawer with it. Then, take the leaves from your salad spinner and place them on top of the towel in your drawer.
- Lastly, place a paper towel on top of your salad to remove any excess moisture.
- Enjoy your fresh, clean and crisp salad!
Storing your salad this way not only makes it taste better, but it is cleaner too. You have to change out your leaves once a week, so bacteria will never have a chance to grow!
If you run into any problems with a salad drawer, or anything in your refrigerator, the experts at Speedy Refrigerator Service are just a phone call away. We offer 24/7 service to Long Island and New York City, so call us any time at 866-782-9376.