The refrigerator


SOME SUGGESTIONS

To save energy:
- position your fridge in a well aired place
- away from any heat sources (direct sunlight, heaters, stoves etc.)
- avoid leaving the door opened for a long time, it is therefore suggested to place the most commonly used items in an obvious place and easy to access
- do not place any hot foods inside the fridge, wait for them to cool down
- always make sure that the aeration vents are clean and free from any obstacle in order to guarantee an efficient air flow, needed for the compressor to cool down
- avoid excessive changes between the internal and external temperatures

HOW TO ORGANISE YOUR REFRIGERATOR

EGGS: store them in the appropriate container inside the refrigerator door with the point facing downwards.
BUTTER: absorbs odours. It is best never to let the butter container open. It should be stored well sealed and in the appropriate tub.
CHEESE: seasoned cheeses often present mould on the surface of the crust. The various types of cheeses should be stored using food wrapping or placed within appropriate containers on either the second or third shelf.
VEGETABLES, FRUIT, MEAT: place the vegetables into the appropriate crisper draw after having washed them. Place the fruit within the same draw. Once covered with an appropriate food wrapping the meat may be placed on top of the vegetable crisper. If the meat is fresh, it should be cooked promptly (within 24 hours), whilst if cooked, it may last two or three days inside the refrigerator.

MEANING OF THE STARS

6 degrees: those frozen foods that are to be eaten promptly mai be preserved.
12 degrees: fresh foods cannot be frozen and frozen foods mai be preserved for up to a month.
18 degrees: frozen foods mai be preserved for up to one year but it is not recommended to freeze.
25/30 degrees: apart from preserving frozen foods for one year, it is possible to freeze.

MAINTENANCE

Periodically defrost the appliance by carefully following the instructions booklet: avoid using sharp tools to perform this operation, it will be sufficient to use the spatula supplied with the refrigerator.
In order to prevent the out flow of cold air, the gasket must always guarantee a perfect seal so that the food will be maintained at its best. The gasket must never present cuts, cracking or ungluing. When cleaning use a soft non-abrasive sponge which has been soaked in water and vinegar: this will not damage the appliance and guarantees a good level of cleaning. Alternatively, water and bicarbonate may be used. When the refrigerator is not used for a long period of time (due to a holiday or a trip), it is recommended to switch off the refrigerator and to leave the door open in order to avoid the formation of mould and bad odours.
To avoid bad odours due to certain food types (melon, onion, cheese), keep some lemon peels or bicarbonate on a small dish inside the refrigerator. For any maintenance operation of the electrical appliance, it will be necessary to disconnect it from the power outlet.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

- Some articles of food that have just been purchased may be stored in the pantry but once opened, should be stored in the refrigerator inside their original container (mustard, mayonnaise).
- In the case of left over peeled tomatoes or tuna, it is recommended to store these leftovers in a glass or porcelain jar. - Once the food has been defrosted, it cannot be refrozen but should be eaten immediately or, alternatively, placed into the refrigerator and eaten within a few days.
- Salads should be prepared shortly prior to being served. In fact, vegetables loose some of their properties even when stored in the refrigerator.
- Store each item of food using an appropriate covering: this improves preservation and reduces bad odours.
- It is recommended to prepare small packages of those foods that are to be frozen and then label each one indicating the contents and freezing date.

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