When can I put my hot food in the fridge or freezer?
Let Hotpoint guide you on the best times to store hot food in your fridge or freezer, helping you keep meals fresh and safe every time.
Can you put hot food in the fridge?
Yes, it is fine to put hot food into the fridge when you want to keep it fresh to be enjoyed at a different time. But remember, don’t put your leftovers in the fridge too soon, or leave them cooling on the kitchen worktop for too long, timing is key to keeping food safe and fresh. |
What happens when you put hot food into a fridge too quickly?
Putting piping-hot food straight into the fridge can raise the temperature inside, risking the freshness of everything else stored in there. It’s best to let it cool a little before storing.
When hot food meets the cool air inside your fridge, condensation forms. This moisture can settle on the back wall, turning into ice. Over time, this ice build-up can freeze and spoil nearby food, so it’s best to avoid putting piping-hot dishes straight in your fridge.
Your fridge will have to work harder to cool down after adding hot food, putting extra strain on its components and risking faster wear and tear.
What happens when you wait too long to put hot food into a fridge?
Keeping a hot meal on a kitchen worktop for long periods of time can cause bacteria to start to grow on the food.
Bacteria can spoil what should have been a tasty leftover and worse, it could cause food poisoning if eaten.
Finding the balance for storing hot food in your fridge
With the points about leaving your hot food out too long and putting it into your fridge too quickly both considered, when exactly should you store leftovers then?
You should give a meal enough time to cool so that it reaches a temperature that is close to your fridge’s current temperature, Keep in mind that you should not be leaving it out for no longer than two hours.
Can you put hot food in the freezer?
Hot food can also be placed in your freezer. Again though, you should give the meal up to two hours to cool down before storing them inside the freezer.
However be careful as when frozen items sit next to piping hot meals placed straight into the freezer, they can thaw and refreeze, risking safety and quality.
Hot food cooling too quickly in the freezer can cause large ice crystals to form, leading to freezer burn. This impacts the quality of your food and should be prevented.
For the best results, place hot food in an airtight container, wrap it in a freezer bag, and let it cool down before storing it in your freezer.
Now that you know when best to put hot food into your fridge freezer, be sure to read our guide on how to organise your fridge freezer to cut down on the amount of food you waste in your household.
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