What’s in your fridge?

What’s in your fridge?

Posted on June 27th, 2010 by Jessica Alfreds

Finally summer is officially here, and for me that means that even though its hot in my kitchen, all I want to do is cook! The Greenmarkets are bursting with ripe, local produce…the time to get in touch with your inner Chef is now!!

One thing that a serious home cook needs is a clean and organized refridgerator. When I open that fridge door, I should immediately be inspired by possibilities. I want to see vibrant colors and the beauty of fresh produce. Here is a little snap shot of my fridge today…..

To keep my fridge looking (and smelling) good, a few times each month I take everything out and wipe down the shelves and drawers with some warm lemon-water (and if you have a dishwasher, you can throw the removable drawers in for a spin). I would also recommend those great stick-up odor removers, which work very well if you replace them about every 6 weeks.

Its really important to keep a thermometer in your fridge and maintain a temp of 35-39 degrees. Anything higher encourages the growth of bacteria, and anything lower is too cold for fruit and produce to stay fresh without freezing. Keep in mind that the back of your fridge will always be the coldest, so its the optimal place for milk, beverages, and condiments.

In order to reduce waste and keep my ingredients as fresh as possible, I shop for no more than 2 days at a time. This also helps me avoid over-stuffing my fridge. The photo above is just about as full as a refrigerator should ever be. The goal is to have a good amount of empty space so that the cold air can circulate well and not overwork the fridge’s motor. If your fridge is stacked up to the top without at least a few inches of open space, your food is probably spoiling faster than it should be, and you’ll need to buy a new fridge a lot sooner.

Enjoy the summer bounty and take pride in your fridge!

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Jessica Alfreds

Jessica Alfreds is a Chef, Caterer, and Event Planner based in New York City. She is currently working on her first cookbook, teaching herself how to sew, and attempting to live a purposeful life. Jessica is a 3rd generation New Yorker and currently resides in the East Village. Visit jessicaalfreds.com.