Food storage secrets - Ekaterina. Reasons why you shouldn't put hot soup in the fridge

Firstly, we have had a real trouble at home for the last couple of months. I cook something (most often it goes to soup), leave it on the stove to cool and safely forget about it. Lyosha used to put everything in the refrigerator before going to bed, but now he forgets about it. As a result, there is no food, a lot of wasted time, tears of resentment. And then I read:

"As a child, in our family there was a rule that you can’t put hot things in the refrigerator and that the refrigerator will break (everything is the same, which is why I don’t put everything in the refrigerator right away). That if the soup pot has not cooled down yet, then in the refrigerator it not a place. Now my mother already knows that this is not the case, and nothing will happen to the refrigerator. Or maybe it was just that refrigerators were different then? I don’t know what’s the matter. In general, you can put hotter in modern ones. "

In the comments, however, many disagree with this:
1. With this handling, products deteriorate faster due to sudden temperature changes. Even if we put not hot, but warm.
2. There is also such an impressive technical explanation:
"At the expense of the refrigerator, the question is twofold: it is clear that it will not break, BUT modern refrigerators equipped with systems maintain certain temperatures and work in the following way: continuous metering inside the chamber and cooling if this temperature rises. Now you put a pot of hot soup in the refrigerator: the refrigerator, having caught the temperature increase inside the chamber, intensively begins to balance it, i.e. cool. Which leads to temporary hypothermia of other products (vegetables for example) and to an increased consumption of freon. Naturally, the consumption of electricity also increases. It's like a warm floor: during primary heating, electricity consumption is peak, while maintaining the temperature of an already heated floor, it is much less. So if we are environment and savings, then we save freon and electricity and cool hot pots on the stove.

According to Wikipedia, freon goes in a closed cycle in the refrigerator, so what kind of consumption is in question - it's not very clear.

Does anyone have examples from practice - have you tried putting food in the refrigerator without waiting for it to cool? Share your experience. In winter, for example, I can take hot soup to the balcony right away, is it also undesirable to do this?

Secondly, I learned that there are people who do not store eggs in the refrigerator. That they should be put in the refrigerator only for long-term storage (more than 15 days), and it can be stored without a refrigerator. Something I doubt, someone tried?

Thirdly, as it turned out, a classic about bread: store it in the refrigerator or immediately in the freezer. Is someone doing this? Given the fact that I want to buy myself a sandwich maker, I really liked this option. Now I would like to find a place in the freezer also for bread. So, I quote about bread:

“When I first came to Australia 2 years ago, I saw that my friend Lena, with whom I lived then, was buying sliced ​​toast bread in the store, for a promotion (1 pack = $ 3, 2 packs = $ 5). She always took 2, even though she lives alone. Even then I thought - where is so much bread, it will become moldy in 3 days. But she came home and immediately put it in the refrigerator. And so it was kept fresh for 2 weeks. Anyway, it’s in the toaster Then, here it will warm up. Yesterday my sister told me even cooler. Bread in the freezer! My consciousness at that moment was generally shaken. And the truth is that the bread in the freezer is perfectly stored, you take it out - immediately into the toaster and it is super toasted there. And if, for example i want to make from fresh bread a sandwich for my son in a lunch box, then I smear it with butter directly frozen and put something on top, until the time for lunch comes up, the bread will melt and become fresh, moreover, it will keep cool what you put on the bread."

But the fourth, I already stole from the comments. Also very interesting and useful thing:

“I’m selling another Russian-Australian innovation: you take some small basket and pour virgin olive oil into it, and put it in the freezer (you can also tinker with spices). And in the evening you spread it on toast or wherever you want. And forget about spreads and even butter. Very soft bananas (and not only them) are also in a bag and in the freezer - then you can add them either to the cake or to smoothies.

Oh, at least freezer buy :)

Why can't you put hot food in the fridge? This is already a painful question, but not everyone will be able to answer it. It is so established that after preparing a dish, each housewife tries to cool it to room temperature and only after that she puts it in the refrigerator, because her elders taught her so. But at present, not everyone can afford to spend so much time. As a rule, after waking up in the morning, having prepared food, a person goes to work, from which he will return only in the evening. Naturally, food, if left on the stove, will turn sour. How to be in such a situation? Most people are unlikely to be able to answer this question. Everyone is trying to get out as best they can. However, the inconvenience is obvious, so some people put hot food in the refrigerator. What can happen to the appliance or the products stored in it? Will there be Negative consequences? To answer these questions, you need to understand how a refrigerator works.

Given the very name of the device, refrigerators must cool the entire contents of the inner chamber. Because of this, the owners of this technique are perplexed why manufacturers prohibit putting hot dishes in it. If you look at the instructions, then this requirement is one of the main ones. In the event of a device failure due to violation of the operating rules, warranty service will be denied. Therefore, when considering whether it is possible to put hot food in the refrigerator, it is worth weighing all the risks. Repairing a household appliance in the event of a breakdown will be expensive. And if the device completely fails without the possibility of recovery, then you will have to fork out for a new one, which will also affect family budget. Based on this, it is better to understand all the reasons why the manufacturer forbids putting hot things in the refrigerator, and only then draw conclusions.

What happens if you put hot food in the refrigerator?

In these devices, cooling is carried out by the movement of the refrigerant through special tubes located on the back of the case. In most cases, the systems are automated, therefore, depending on the temperature in the refrigerator, the electric motor either starts or turns off. A special sensor is responsible for this process, which transmits a signal. After the engine receives it, it turns off and the fluid movement stops. The set temperature is held for a certain time, after which the process is repeated. Thanks to this technology, the refrigerator motor is on for a short time. So we figured out how the refrigerator works.

You can check what happens to the device if you put something hot in it. For fast results, place the dish directly next to the sensor. After a short period of time, you can notice that the temperature inside the device has increased, and the motor began to work with a vengeance. Based on these results, it is already clear why it is impossible to put hot things in the refrigerator. The device will simply work for wear and tear, which will eventually lead to serious damage or complete failure.

If you put a pan with hot contents in the chamber, you can notice the rapid formation of an ice crust. Getting rid of it is easy - just defrost the refrigerator. However, it must be remembered that with frequent repetition of this procedure, the life of the device is reduced. There are certain standards according to which refrigeration units with a drip system are defrosted no more than once every 6 months, and for modern units equipped with the “no frost” option, this period is doubled.

There is another reason why you should not put hot food in the refrigerator. The resulting vapors are able to settle not only inside the chamber, but also in the cooling system itself. The presence of an ice “fur coat” in it will not allow the electric motor to turn off, and this part will long work not calculated.

Special cooling systems

But not all refrigerators are so whimsical. Currently, equipment is being produced that tolerates sharp temperature fluctuations without problems. In order to make sure that such a device is in your home, you need to study the instructions for the refrigerator. It should indicate that the device is equipped with a West Frost or No Frost system. The innovative technology allows you to spot-cool products, that is, it interacts only with those whose temperature is higher than the permissible one.

You should also pay attention to the option of superfreeze. There is a separate compartment in the chamber, which prevents the spread of warm vapors throughout the refrigerator, which means that it does not harm either the appliance itself or other products.

Temperature difference: what can be affected?

The shelf life of food will depend on the temperature in the refrigerator. Unfortunately, if you put a hot dish in the chamber, not only the device, but also everything that is nearby may suffer. Dairy products are especially sensitive to temperature changes. And the dish itself can change not in better side if it is immediately put in the cold. A sudden change in temperature affects both appearance, as well as the taste. It is for this reason that it is still recommended to cool dishes naturally.

How to quickly cool food?

We figured out why you can not put hot in the refrigerator. Now the question becomes how to quickly cool cooked food. This is especially true in the summer, when the window is more than forty degrees. There are several tricks that will be useful to any hostess:

• For quick cooling, you can use ice and water. A pot of food is placed in a bowl of a larger diameter. It is recruited cold water. Then ice is put on.
• You can wet any cloth and wrap the dishes in which the hot dish is located. After that put in the sun. Under the rays, moisture from the fabric will evaporate, reducing the temperature of the contents.

Summing up

Why can't you put hot food in the fridge? Having considered the principle of its operation and having studied all the nuances, we understand that violating the rules of operation is quite expensive, since this is what significantly reduces the life of the device. Of course, we are not talking about those refrigeration units in which it is allowed to put dishes with a high temperature.

The little son came to his father, and the little one asked ... “Why can’t you put hot things in the refrigerator? My mom forbade me to put jelly! And I want it to cool down quickly! It will freeze faster in the refrigerator, dad!”

The father, as a rule, weightily says: “Because it will break!”. But, this explanation does not satisfy the child and he simply decides that next time he will cook jelly when there are no extra eyes at home. To explain to the child what will happen to the refrigerator, it would not hurt to know for sure why this is happening. In this review, you will find out why it is impossible and what will happen if you put hot food in the refrigerator.

What happens to the refrigerator if you put hot food in it?

Perhaps every adult is aware that hot food cannot be put in the refrigerator. But the kids don't know! And now and then they strive to put hot food into it. If adults have time to notice - well, if - no, then in the cell there is a notorious cup with freshly boiled jelly, for example ...

And, if this is a one-time event, then global consequences, of course, will not happen. But if this happens on a regular basis, then save up for a new unit!

Here is a list of problems that such negligence leads to:

• The operation of the refrigerator motor for wear and its quick failure
• Condensation that produces a musty odor
• The formation of an ice crust that prevents the operation of the condenser
• Excessive electricity consumption

As you can see, the last point is just nonsense compared to the first three. Below we will explain to you in detail why such consequences are obtained, since it is one thing to simply know, and another to understand.

Why exactly this happens and the device of the refrigeration unit

In this block, we will not consider cutting-edge systems in which hot in the chamber is acceptable. Such refrigerators exist in nature, but due to high price, not many people can afford this convenient thing.

So, how does a regular refrigerator work?

• Compressor - and in Russian, a motor that sets in motion in a circle a special liquid that cools the products. That is, the well-known freon.
• Freon is a special refrigerant that, moving in a circle, draws heat from the products inside
• The condenser is the part of the refrigerator at the back that removes heat to the outside.
• Evaporator - rear, inner wall refrigeration unit designed to direct heat directly to the condenser. Yes, yes, exactly where a crust of ice forms if you forget to slam the door or put it hot.

Surely, you have already become a little clearer why exactly the overload occurs. Freon, he is simply not able to cool products not at room temperature in the period of time that was allotted to him according to the idea of ​​​​engineers.

As you know, the refrigerator does not work around the clock. It works for short periods of time and the motor starts only when the temperature in the chamber exceeds established norm Let's say 2-5 degrees.

Then the motor comes into working condition, drives the freon in a circle, it, in turn, draws heat on itself, gives it to the evaporator, the evaporator leads it to the condenser and the compressor, with a clear conscience, turns off. This whole process takes about 10-15 minutes, no more.

But what happens if a hot product enters the chamber? The temperature inside the chamber rises exorbitantly, freon begins to run back and forth, but the temperature still holds. He runs and runs, but the temperature does not even think of dropping ... And he is forced to run in circles for many hours instead of the prescribed 10 minutes! What motor can handle it?

And as a result, the life of the motor is reduced very quickly. In addition, from hard work, on back wall refrigerator, that is, the evaporator, an ice crust forms. And the ice crust, if you remember, keeps warm like a thermos! That is, it does not lead it to the condenser, but keeps it inside the chamber. And from this the motor overheats and the winding starts to burn ...

Can you imagine the scope of the tragedy and what your refrigerator is forced to endure? So, hopefully, now the question “Can I put hot food in the refrigerator?” you will not have.

Naturally, in refrigerators made in the USSR. This is first of all. But, there are not so many of them left, mostly people have already managed to acquire more modern designs.

But, modern refrigerators are divided into those in which it is possible to put hot, and in which it is impossible to categorically. The most common option modern refrigerators – « drip system". That is, this is when condensate flows down the back wall of the evaporator. So, it is forbidden to put hot things in them!

Also, there are refrigerators in which you can put it, but only in one, specially separated chamber. The rest of the space will respond to elevated temperature exactly the same as the good old Soviet refrigerator.

Which refrigerators can put hot food

In those that are made in a cunning way that does not release heat to the outside. These systems are called:

• Westfrost
• no frost

If you don’t have anything like that written on your refrigerator, then don’t even be tempted to put hot soup for just 5 minutes! If it is written, then put the warm soup in the refrigerator, but also, without fanaticism. It's one thing to put a small bowl of soup on it, and another thing to put a piping hot pot on it.

Little tricks for fast food cooling

In summer this is especially true. In the heat, cooked food, while cooling, has time to turn sour three times. To prevent this from happening, after cooking, place the pan in a basin with cold water. As the water warms up, replace it with a new portion.

But, soup is not so interesting for your children ... How, after all, to quickly cool a glass of jelly? Since there is no handle on the glass and it is not so convenient to put it in a large container, the very The best way cooling to room temperature, this is immersion in hot liquid ... frozen teaspoons!

Keep 5-6 frozen spoons in stock, and notify the child about this, first explaining to him in a popular way: “Why you can’t put it hot in the refrigerator.”

If the refrigerator is not equipped with special cooling functions, then hot soup does not belong there.

Inexperienced housewives put hot things in the refrigerator, which leads to breakdowns and malfunctions of equipment. They disrupt the operation of the refrigerator for another reason: there is no time to cool the food. It is better not to allow this, then the unit will last a long time, it will not break, and the food will not deteriorate. Let's take a closer look at why you shouldn't put hot and warm food in the refrigerator.

What happens if you put hot food in the refrigerator?

To store food in the refrigerator, you need to cool it to a certain temperature. It is most dangerous to place hot things in the chamber. Manufacturers adapt devices to such food, but you can not get carried away. The operation of cooling systems should be studied.

drip

It is arranged primitively: during the process, the back wall lowers the temperature due to the refrigerant (circulating liquid). The temperature drops, condensation accumulates on the walls. It cools, then becomes frost. As soon as the compressor turns off, everything melts. The mass flows down with moisture. Falls into a hole. Foods are cooled unevenly.

If you put hot liquid or food into the unit with this system, excess condensate will accumulate on the walls. He will freeze, but will not have time to melt. The motor overheats and breaks down.

no frost

On the inside rear surface ice is missing. Fans disperse cold streams through the chambers. They cool even hot soup. But don't overdo it: would need more electricity. Heavy load on the motor.

Why can't you put warm food in the refrigerator?

Warm dishes harm not only the engine. Other reasons:

dishes from temperature changes quickly become unusable. This applies to Teflon coatings, ceramic products. Even warm food can hurt. The dishes are heated, sometimes deformed. It absolutely cannot be placed in the refrigerator. Even if the food is warm;

In the refrigerator, the internal shelves are plastic. hot dishes, warm dishes cause cracks, damage. Plastic from this bursts, becomes unusable;

other products suffer. Modern inexpensive models close. If the kitchen is small, they buy just such refrigerators. Vegetables, dairy products, fruits are stored nearby. It is better to put an uncooled warm dish separately. Then it won't hurt other products;

open plates with soup, porridge, other hot food contribute to the formation of condensation.

Desired temperature

It is advised to place food at room temperature in the refrigerator. But it is difficult to define it. There is not always enough time for this. There are simple rules.

in summer or warm spring the dishes are wrapped with a damp towel, a rag. Then put on the balcony, window sill, open space. Food cools down quickly. After that, it is placed in the refrigerator.

A basin or large dish will do. If there is none, a sink will fit (in this case, the drain hole is plugged with a cork). Pour cool water into a container. But it should not be too cold, otherwise the dishes will be damaged. A container with hot soup is placed in this container, gradually adding water. If there is ice, put that in as well.

The modern rhythm of life does not leave people time to cool food. Equipment manufacturers have taken this into account. Many models of refrigerators have a built-in hot cooling chamber. As soon as the dishes of the desired temperature are inside, the sensor works. The fans come on and blow cold air. Condensation accumulates, but is quickly removed. Other compartments and parts are not affected. Meals are not kept here all the time. Once they have cooled, they can be removed into a standard chamber.

The refrigerator will not fail immediately if you put too hot inside. But you don't have to use it. Dishes are cooled to room temperature.

Can you put hot food in the fridge? Video recommendations:

Whether it is possible to put hot dishes or liquids in the refrigerator directly depends on the freezing technology used by a particular household appliance. However, cooling in the refrigerator of pots that have just been removed from the stove, or water for drinking, is highly discouraged by experts in any case. At worst, this can result in product failure and expensive repairs.

It would seem that the refrigerator just serves to cool food, what harm can hot dishes do to it? In fact, household refrigeration appliances are ideal for long-term storage perishable food, the temperature of which before being placed inside is approximately equal to room temperature, they are of little use for all other tasks.

Today, there are two freezing technologies - standard drip or "weeping", when the temperature in the chamber is lowered through the cooler - the liquid circulates in the back wall of the refrigerator, taking heat from the chamber, and the more modern and young "No Frost". We will talk about the latter in more detail below, for now we will focus on its drip counterpart.

Why can't you put hot food in a drip refrigerator?

It is not for nothing that this technology is called “weeping”. When the refrigerant circulates on the back wall of the refrigerator, condensation forms, which freezes and turns into a layer of frost. The compressor works cyclically, at the moment it is turned off, the frost melts and drops into special containers.

The main threat to the refrigerator is a thick layer of ice on the back wall.

The vulnerability of such a system lies in the fact that when a hot pan is placed in the chamber, the load on the compressor is extremely increased. Trying to cool the air in the refrigerator, the compressor is forced to work with great intensity - if under normal conditions the motor is turned on for about 10% of the time, then cooling hot food, it can operate without stopping for several hours. Of course, the wear of the compressor increases, the service life of the refrigerator decreases.

Another acute problem with drip cooling is that the evaporation from food is very intense, especially if hot soup or meat is cooled in open dishes. The volume of frost on the rear wall becomes excessive, it freezes. And, as you know, water in the solid state of ice is an excellent thermal insulation. It may well occur overheating of the engine, the combustion of its winding. The probability of such an outcome is especially high for domestic refrigerators that do not have protection against frost.

And another important problem is the increase in energy consumption. Until the temperature in the chamber drops to the optimum 2-3 ° C, the “voracity” of the refrigerator will be several times higher than normal, problems may arise with the operation of other household appliances.

"No Frost" technology and hot dishes

Unlike drip technology, "No Frost" technology is well protected from ice formation. Cooling is not due to the circulation of the refrigerant in the rear wall, but due to cold air flows. They spread through the chambers with the help of fans, so that the temperature drops incomparably faster, almost instantly. In fact, the compressor simply does not have time to overheat, and the transformation of condensate into ice is excluded.

The "No Frost" technology is well suited for cooling hot.

Is it possible to put hot food in the refrigerator with the "No Frost" system- It's up to the owners to decide. But they must understand that the risk of breakage still exists. In addition, increased electricity consumption, cooling hot food, will also give out a modern household appliance with the “No Frost” system.

Little tricks

When choosing a refrigerator, you can pre-select a model in which the cooling of hot food is an independent function. More often, a separate small chamber is allocated for these purposes, and the process does not cause harm to the motor.

In recipes for preparing many dishes, for example, homemade jelly, it is directly indicated that the product is cooled in the refrigerator for several hours before use. However, there are no exceptions to the rule - put any hot in refrigerator compartment Or no freezer. Be sure to cool the dish to room temperature.

Food must be cooled to room temperature before being placed in the refrigerator.

Exist simple ways Cool pots of freshly cooked food quickly to a safe temperature. Most practical option in the warm season - wrapping in a damp cloth. As you know, the transformation of 1 kg of liquid into vapor releases 2000 kJ, while the simple cooling of water by 50 ° C - a little more than 100 kJ. We dip the fabric in warm water, tightly wrap the dishes with it, put it in the open air for literally 15 minutes, after which you can put it in the refrigerator.

Is it possible to put hot dishes in the refrigerator, only the owner himself determines. If the cooling goes according to the “No Frost” technology, then there will most likely be no fatal breakdowns.