Warm? or Cold?
Friday, January 04, 2008 at 09:07amI’ve always been of the understanding that one isn’t supposed to refrigerate leftovers until they’ve cooled off to room temperature. The geekboy has questioned this quirk of mine, but goes along with it anyway. So it was with interest that I read this on Home Ec 101, where they say that no, you do NOT wait for food to cool off before tucking it in the fridge. There are a couple differing opinions in the comments, though. So I thought I’d put it out to you guys - warm food in the fridge; yes or no?
Chips O'Toole on Friday, January 04, 2008 at 9:21 am
on TV, Gordon Ramsay said it was cooking 101, that food that is wrapped in wrap then refridgerated while warm will cool on the outside, while cooling much slower inside, which creates a bacteria issue because of the disparity of temperatures. Of course, i would want to consult MacGee as definitive.
Michael on Friday, January 04, 2008 at 9:34 am
My mom has always been a FREAK about this, insisting I leave things out to cool, which I never do. Rebel, I know.
I have no idea why a temperature gradient would be encouraging of bacterial growth.
sandra on Friday, January 04, 2008 at 9:42 am
I stick leftovers in the fridge hot, warm or cool. I have heard both versions of the rule but have never had a problem either way.
I really wasn’t much help here.
Heather on Friday, January 04, 2008 at 9:47 am
It is very important to note I suggested to place the leftovers in shallow containers and to be sure the fridge is not overcrowded. Both of these tips ensure the food cools more rapidly than in a 70 + degree room.
If you are cooling large amounts of food, use a water bath before refrigerating / freezing, but standard meals (family of say 4 - 6) it will not be an issue.
The very act of portioning the food into shallow containers will encourage cooling. The conventional wisdom of not putting hot food into the fridge stems from the days of the icebox - non circulating fridges.
I hope that helps some.
freakgirl on Friday, January 04, 2008 at 9:49 am
Thank you, Heather! I think the shallow containers thing is worth noting…we try to do that most of the time anyway.
Susan on Friday, January 04, 2008 at 10:24 am
Heather beat me to it. I was going to say I think the leave out until cool rule has more to do with the fridge than with the food. The idea being the hot food makes your fridge work harder.
ali on Friday, January 04, 2008 at 10:34 am
i think the best part of going into a post dinner food coma is that this is not an issue. i do indeed wait until the food is cooled before i put it away, but only b/c i cannot pry myself from the couch before then. the beauty of this is that i have no choice. the food will cool before it goes into the fridge. the end.
(that being said - it personally bothers me to put hot food in the fridge. i’ve done it. i don’t like it. i’ve never thought about why…i just don’t like it.)
Heather on Friday, January 04, 2008 at 10:47 am
You are quite welcome, thank you for the link love. As always, it is highly appreciated.
Maggie on Friday, January 04, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Yeah, my home comforts book says it’s better to have the food cooling off in the fridge than on the counter, so to put it right in. I’m with Heather’s shallow container advice, although I don’t generally have shallow containers. One thing I don’t like about putting hot food in the fridge is the condensation the steam makes on the plastic wrap or lid of container, dripping into the food. Otherwise, I will do either, depending on whenever it occurs to me to put the food away.
charlotte on Friday, January 04, 2008 at 7:36 pm
this is a question for Mike. I will report back.
eileen on Friday, January 04, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Since I’m a microbiologst, I feel qualified to say that no, there is no way that allowing food to cool before refrigerating it reduces bacterial growth. It doesn’t. It probably gives the bugs more of a chance to grow, if anything.
Some people dislike the steam/condensation thing, and it proabaly does take a wee bit more energy for the fridge to cool down warm food, but I’m for putting the food away while it’t still warm.
GeekBoy on Saturday, January 05, 2008 at 8:53 am
The microbiologist has spoken! And that’s good enough for me. It always seemed a counter-intuitive practice to me anyway. I’m puttin the food away from now on.