Refrigerator
Unless you live in or have visited a third world country, most of us have no idea what it is like to not have a refrigerator. If we want to quench our thirst we can grab an ice cold drink from it. We can shop and store our foods until we are ready to use them in the refrigerator to prevent spoil. If we end up making too much and don’t want to waste it, the refrigerator keeps it from going bad. It is a wonderful delight to be able to have this appliance.
The refrigerator needs to be kept clean. Wipe it out at least once a week with a mixture of all natural cleaner, or use vinegar and water. Clean the coils on the bottom and the back once a year. One of the number one reasons for refrigerator failure, is dirty coils. Use a long handle bristle brush or a vacuum wand and clean it out.
Although it keeps your food cold, food still does spoil. Be sure to check food for spoilage, by looking for visible mold growing on items or separated milk products.
- Always use the oldest milk and drinks first to avoid waste.
- Use leftovers up within a week, or dispose of them.
- Always check foods for discoloration or unusual odors before eating them.
- Cover foods so that odors do not taint other foods. Onions are especially hard to contain. Use an air tight plastic container or double bag it.
- Do not store cans of food in the refrigerator. Place them in plastic containers with lids.
- Place all your condiments on the door of the refrigerator so that they are easily seen.
- Do not place milk items along the bottom of the door, that is a warmer spot. Place them near the top— the coldest part of your refrigerator.
- Check your vegetables and fruit frequently, as they will go bad.
- Be sure to chop vegetables and fruit up for the foods that you need, so they do not go to waste.
Most refrigerators have a freezer to store items in. Be sure to defrost your freezer twice a year to avoid ice buildup, unless it is equipped with a frost free freezer.
Keep your food rotated in the freezer in order to use up items that get lost in the back. Store smaller items up front, so that you will see them. You can store your flours in the freezer to prevent them from going bad in the cupboard.
The stove/oven
This is another device most of us all have. There are a variety of them out there, but they all work in similar ways. Have an adult show you how to correctly use all the controls on your oven and stove. Learn how to use the timers. If it has a self cleaning option, learn that as well.
This item can get dirty really quickly. Be sure to wipe as you are cooking in order to avoid stuck on food. If you do have burnt or stuck on food, spray with some all natural cleaner or use vinegar. Let it soak for 20 minutes while you clean another area of the kitchen. By that time, it should loosen the burnt on food.
Your oven should remain clean as well. About once per month, you should do a thorough cleaning by using a commercial oven cleaner. If it has a self cleaning option, use that instead. The best way to keep it clean is by preventative maintenance. Clean up any spills after the oven has cooled. Use a spatula scraper to remove tough baked on foods.
Microwave ovens and Dishwashers
We won’t be referencing these two items in our study. If you do have them, learn how to properly care and use them.