Grabbing the milk to pour into your morning cup of coffee to find it’s curdled and foul smelling is not the best start to the day. And according to a white goods manufacturer, your milk going off before it should is often down to where you are storing it.
That means it’s costing money in wasted milk too. If you store your milk in the fridge door you’re not alone. It seems like the perfect place to position the bottles as they remain upright and laying them flat can lead to leaks.
But fridge manufacturer Beko said this is the worst place in the fridge to store the white stuff because it is the warmest part of the fridge.
They estimate that UK households throw away £250 worth of food per person in a year. In a family of four, that’s a whopping £1,000 in the bin, reports the Express.
Salah Sun, Head of Product Management at Beko UK, a leading manufacturer of fridge freezers and other home appliances, said: “The way we organise our fridges can make or break our efforts to reduce food waste.
“Most people don’t realise that poor fridge organisation isn’t just about aesthetics – it directly impacts food longevity and your household budget.”
He advises that we need to create designated zones in the fridge, which will make your food last for longer. Salah Sun explains: “Temperature fluctuates within your fridge, so storing items in the right zones is crucial.
“The bottom shelf, being the coldest, is perfect for raw meats, while the middle shelves maintain ideal conditions for dairy and prepared foods. The door, often used for milk, is actually the warmest area due to frequent opening.
“We recommend keeping more stable items like condiments and drinks in the door compartments, moving milk to the middle shelf where temperatures remain more constant.”
But the impact of proper fridge organisation isn’t just about reducing waste.
Salah Sun added: “When you can see and access everything easily, you’re more likely to cook at home and make healthier choices. Plus, maintaining optimal storage conditions means your fresh produce lasts longer, reducing both waste and shopping frequency.”
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