Comments on: Warm? or Cold? http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343 the delicious frosting on your internet Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:55:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: GeekBoy http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37100 GeekBoy Sat, 05 Jan 2008 13:53:23 +0000 http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37100 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. 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.

]]> By: eileen http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37092 eileen Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:40:48 +0000 http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37092 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. 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.

]]> By: charlotte http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37090 charlotte Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:36:17 +0000 http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37090 this is a question for Mike. I will report back. this is a question for Mike. I will report back.

]]> By: Maggie http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37076 Maggie Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:42:39 +0000 http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37076 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. 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.

]]> By: Heather http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37065 Heather Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:47:54 +0000 http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37065 You are quite welcome, thank you for the link love. As always, it is highly appreciated. :) You are quite welcome, thank you for the link love. As always, it is highly appreciated. #

]]> By: ali http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37061 ali Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:34:53 +0000 http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37061 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.) 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.

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(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.)

]]> By: Susan http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37058 Susan Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:24:31 +0000 http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37058 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. 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.

]]> By: freakgirl http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37051 freakgirl Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:49:28 +0000 http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37051 Thank you, Heather! I think the shallow containers thing is worth noting...we try to do that most of the time anyway. Thank you, Heather! I think the shallow containers thing is worth noting…we try to do that most of the time anyway.

]]> By: Heather http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37049 Heather Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:47:31 +0000 http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37049 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. 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.

]]> By: sandra http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37048 sandra Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:42:58 +0000 http://freakgirl.com/blog/warm-or-cold/10343#comment-37048 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. 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.

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