Is it true that you can’t put hot food in the refrigerator?

There is an opinion that hot food must be cooled before putting it in the refrigerator. We decided to check whether there are grounds for such precautions.

Articles that you can’t put hot food in the refrigerator, meet on websites many services for repairs And sale household appliances. Some texts claim that this harms the appliance itself, while others claim that it worsens the taste of the dish and also increases the overall temperature in the refrigerator, which is why both the hot product itself and its “neighbors” on the shelves can deteriorate. They write this is also entertaining portals And resources, dedicated digital technologies, users of blogging platforms are trying to understand the topic “Zen" And "Peekaboo" Often ask users of services also know about this questions And answers.

A big pot of freshly made soup or a freshly roasted whole turkey really... can increase the overall temperature in the refrigerator, and because of this, the food stored there may spoil. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is clear speaks out against immediately putting freshly prepared hot dishes into the refrigerator - both because of the possible increase in temperature and because of the condensation that forms due to the temperature difference and also contributes to the growth of bacteria. Not recommended put hot food in the refrigerator and manufacturers kitchen appliances - for the same reasons, and also due to the fact that in this case the device has to work with increased load, and therefore consume more electricity. 

At the same time, reputable medical organizations do not recommend cooling hot food at room temperature for too long - for example, leaving it overnight. Thus, experts from the US Department of Health and Human Services claimthat perishable food must be refrigerated within two hours, and if the room temperature exceeds 32 °C, then within an hour. Otherwise, it is better to throw away the dish, since at temperatures above 4 °C bacteria may begin to multiply in it. Opinion of your colleagues share and experts from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This recommendation is related to the so-called danger zone - temperature range from 4 °C to 60 °C, when bacteria feel most comfortable and can relatively quickly make food unfit for consumption. Specialists claimthat freshly prepared food should cool to 21 °C outside the refrigerator within two hours (if the ambient temperature is not higher than 32 °C, as mentioned above), and then over the next four hours to 4 °C inside it. If the first stage was not enough to cool the food, it must be reheated to 74 °C for at least 15 seconds. and then start cooling again. To speed up the cooling process, you can place the container of food in cold water or divide a large dish into several small containers, which will cool faster.

However, some experts - for example, from the US Department of Agriculture - thinkthat it is still quite safe to put small portions of hot food in the refrigerator, since they will quickly cool down and will not have time to create dangerous conditions for other products. Same opinion adhere to and experts from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

As you can see, even among scientists there is no consensus on whether it is possible to put hot dishes in the refrigerator. In November 2021, the University of North Carolina (USA) released podcast, in which two university experts discussed this issue and also did not come to a consensus. However, they both agreed that a large amount of hot food in the refrigerator at the same time, and even covered with lids that slow down the cooling process, can really create problems. 

Thus, experts have not yet come to a common denominator on the question of whether it is possible to put hot food in the refrigerator. While some say it's completely safe, just pack a large portion into several small containers for faster cooling, others say it can ruin all the food on nearby shelves. At the same time, experts agree that if you cool food before putting it in the refrigerator, then do it for no more than two hours (or an hour if the room is very hot), otherwise it will need to be heated again - or completely thrown away.

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