Owners Manual

29
STORING FOOD AND SAVING ENERGY
Ideas for storing foods
Refrigerator storage
• Keep the refrigerator compartment
between 34°F and 40°F with an
optimum temperature of 37°F.
• Avoid overcrowding the refrigerator
shelves, which reduces air circulation
and causes uneven cooling.
• Avoid placing food in front of air ports.
(See CONTROLS AND SETTINGS
for illustration.)
Fruits and vegetables
• Store fruits and vegetables in crispers,
where trapped moisture helps preserve
food quality for longer time periods.
• Wash items and remove excess water.
• Wrap any items that have strong odors
or high moisture content.
Meat
• Wrap raw meat and poultry separately
and securely to prevent leaks and
contamination of other foods or surfaces.
• Use the deli drawer to store meat/
poultry for short-term storage. Freeze
any meat to be kept longer than 2 days.
Frozen food storage
• Keep the freezer compartment at 0°F
or lower.
• The freezer operates most efficiently
when it is at least ⅔ full.
Packaging foods for freezing
• To minimize food dehydration and
quality deterioration, use aluminum foil,
freezer wrap, freezer bags, or airtight
containers. Force as much air out of the
packages as possible and seal them
tightly. Trapped air can cause food to
dry out, change color, and develop an
off flavor (freezer burn).
• Wrap fresh meats and poultry with
suitable freezer wrap prior to freezing.
• Do not refreeze meat that has
completely thawed.
Loading the freezer
• Prior to grocery shopping, activate
Freeze Boost so on your return you
can ensure your newly purchased
food designated for the freezer will be
preserved as quickly as possible.
• Activating Freeze Boost also will
help your freezer more efficiently
maintain the selected temperature after
placing new purchases with pre-existing
frozen foods.
• Avoid adding too much warm food to
the freezer at one time. This overloads
the freezer, slows the rate of freezing,
and can raise the temperature of frozen
foods.
• Leave a space between packages, so
cold air can circulate freely, allowing
food to freeze as quickly as possible.
Ideas for saving energy
Installation
• Locate the refrigerator in the
coolest part of the room, out of direct
sunlight, and away from heating ducts
or registers.
• Do not place the refrigerator next to
heat-producing appliances such as a
range, oven, or dishwasher. If this is not
possible, a section of cabinetry or an
added layer of insulation between the
2 appliances will help the refrigerator
operate more efficiently.
• Level the refrigerator so the doors
close tightly.
Temperature settings
• Refer to CONTROLS AND SETTINGS for
procedures on temperature settings.
Food storage
• Avoid overcrowding the refrigerator
or blocking cold air vents. Doing so
causes the refrigerator to run longer
and use more energy.
• Cover foods and wipe containers dry
before placing them in the refrigerator.
This cuts down on moisture build-up
inside the unit.
• Organize the refrigerator to reduce
door openings. Remove as many items
as needed at one time and close the
door as soon as possible.
• Do not place a hot container directly
on a cold shelf. Remember, such an
extreme temperature change may
damage the glass.