First of all, we've been in real trouble at home for the last couple of months. I cook something (usually soup), leave it on the stove to cool and conveniently forget about it. Lyosha used to put everything in the refrigerator before going to bed, but now he forgets about it too. As a result, there is no food, a lot of wasted time, tears and resentment. And then I read:
“As a child, our family had a rule that you couldn’t put hot things in the refrigerator and that the refrigerator would break (everything is similar, which is why I don’t put everything in the refrigerator right away). What if a pot of soup has not yet cooled down, then in the refrigerator it will not the place. Now my mother knows that this is not so, and nothing will happen to the refrigerator. Or maybe refrigerators were different then? I don’t know what’s wrong. In general, you can put hot in modern ones.”
Still, many people disagree with this in the comments:
1. When handled this way, food spoils faster due to sudden temperature changes. Even if we set it not hot, but warm.
2. There is also this impressive technical explanation:
“As for the refrigerator, the question here is twofold: it is clear that it will not break, BUT modern refrigerators equipped with systems that maintain certain temperatures work as follows: constant measurement inside the chamber and cooling if such a temperature rises. Now you put a pan of hot soup in the refrigerator: the refrigerator has caught the increase in temperature inside the chamber intensively begins to balance it, i.e., to cool it. This leads to temporary overcooling of other products (vegetables, for example) and, naturally, the consumption of electricity increases. It’s like a warm floor: during primary heating. peak electricity, while maintaining the temperature of an already heated floor - significantly less. So if we are for the environment and saving, we save freon and electricity and cool hot pots on the stove."
According to what is written on Wikipedia, freon runs in a closed cycle in the refrigerator, so what kind of consumption we are talking about is 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 directly to the balcony, so it turns out that this is also undesirable?
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), otherwise they can be stored without a refrigerator. I doubt it, has anyone tried it?
Thirdly, as it turned out, there is a classic about bread: store it in the refrigerator or immediately in the freezer. Does anyone do this? Considering that I want to buy myself a sandwich maker, I really liked this option. Now I wish I could find room in the freezer for bread too. So, I quote about bread:
“When I first came to Australia 2 years ago, I saw that my friend Lena, with whom I was living at the time, was buying sliced toast bread in the store, on sale (1 package = $3, 2 packages = $5). She always took 2, even though she lives alone. Even then I thought - why 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. then, it will warm up. Yesterday my sister gave me an even cooler idea: Put the bread in the freezer! for example, I want to make a sandwich from fresh bread for my son’s lunch box, then I just spread the frozen one with butter and put something on top, until lunch time comes, the bread will melt and become fresh, not only that, it will keep what you put in cool for bread."
But the fourth one, I already stole from the comments. Also a very interesting and useful thing:
“I’m selling another Russian-Australian innovation: you take some small basket and pour some virgin olive oil into it and put it in the freezer (you can mix it with spices). And in the evening you spread it on toast or wherever you want. And forget about spreads and even butter. E la naturel. Very soft bananas (and not only them) are also in a bag and in the freezer - then you can add them to a cake or a smoothie."
Eh, at least buy a freezer :)
The problem of placing hot food in the refrigerator is an eternal headache for housewives, but it is unlikely that any of them will be able to clearly answer the question of why it is impossible to put hot food in the refrigerator. It would seem that the great white friend is precisely intended for cooling food, so why can hot pots significantly harm it?
When thinking about whether you can put hot soup in the refrigerator, decide for yourself what is more important: a well-functioning technique or immediate results. Back in the old days, when the role of refrigerators was played by pre-prepared glaciers filled with snow and ice, it never occurred to anyone to put hot containers with food there. Of course, melted ice cannot be frozen, especially in the summer heat. So why do modern housewives consider it normal to regularly fill the refrigerator with high-temperature foods? And what happens if you put hot food in the refrigerator?
Most likely, the refrigerator itself will soon be gone. Of course, it will not evaporate along with the steam from the hot soup or stew, but at first it will work worse or stop cooling altogether, so you will have to contact a repairman. To understand the principle of the negative impact of hot air on refrigeration equipment, you should understand the general structure of the refrigerator.
The modern market offers two systems:
- The familiar one functions by circulating a special coolant along the rear wall. The condensation formed from wet products, settling on the walls, turns into frost, after which the cooling mechanism is turned off and allows the frost to melt. For drops flowing down the wall, there is a special hole in the lower part of the chamber.
Important:Placing a hot steaming product in the refrigerator leads to an increase in humidity and intensification of the formation of frost and ice on the walls of the appliance. This is why you should not put hot food in the refrigerator unless you want to urgently repair the compressor, which may become unusable due to overheating.
- More modern refrigerators operate on the “No frost” principle, which provides for the possibility of cooling warm food in the chamber due to the active operation of fans that disperse cold air. Is it possible to put warm things in the refrigerator of such a system? This is extremely undesirable, because this leads to an unwanted load on the mechanism and excessive waste of electricity, although compared to the “drip” system, the probability of unit failure is still much lower.
Why are hot foods dangerous for the refrigerator?
To summarize, to the question of whether it is possible to put hot food in the refrigerator, the only correct answer can be given: it is strictly not recommended.
Here are some reasons for this ban:
- Hot food placed in the refrigerator with other already cooled foods can spoil them. This is due to the fact that under the influence of the high temperature of the new “neighbor” the air in the chamber and all the products heat up, albeit slightly, and then cool down again. Such changes in temperature are undesirable, because it affects both the taste of the products and their shelf life.
Tip: When thinking about whether you can put hot pots in the refrigerator, you should remember all the possible disadvantages. Damage to food, dishes and equipment is too much to pay for laziness and negligence.
- Dishes in which something hot was placed in the refrigerator also suffer from this. Even a modern and ultra-durable frying pan or saucepan will not withstand such abuse, let alone porcelain and ceramics. There is an extremely high probability of not only getting a damaged product at the end, but also having to clean out the refrigerator chamber afterwards from spilled or crumbling product.
- Hot dishes are also dangerous for the internal contents of the refrigerator: shelves, partitions, etc. The plastic used in refrigeration equipment is, of course, durable, but it is not worth testing it again with hot frying pans or pots.
- And most importantly, hot food in the refrigerator is dangerous for the appliance itself. This is due to the fact that in order to cool hot items, the refrigerator is forced to work more intensively due to the formation of ice on the back wall.
Therefore, in order not to think about whether it is possible to put hot food in the freezer, it is worth making it an unshakable rule that freshly prepared foods must be cooled before placing them in the refrigerator compartment.
If the refrigerator is not equipped with special cooling functions, then there is no place for hot soup.
Inexperienced housewives put hot things in the refrigerator, which leads to breakdowns and malfunctions of the equipment. The operation of the refrigerator is also disrupted 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, will not break, and the food will not spoil. 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. The most dangerous thing is to put hot things into the chamber. Manufacturers adapt devices to such food, but you shouldn’t get carried away. The process of operation of cooling systems should be studied.
Drip
It is designed primitively: during the process, the back wall lowers the temperature due to the refrigerant (circulating liquid). The temperature drops and condensation accumulates on the walls. It cools and then becomes frost. As soon as the compressor turns off, everything melts. The mass flows down with moisture. It falls into the hole. Food does not cool equally.
If you put hot liquid or food into a unit with this system, excess condensation will accumulate on the walls. It will freeze, but will not have time to melt. The motor overheats and breaks down.
No Frost
There is no ice on the inner back surface. Fans disperse the flow of cold through the chambers. They even cool hot soup. But you shouldn't abuse it: more electricity will be required. Heavy load on the motor.
Why can't you put warm things in the refrigerator?
If you put hot food in the refrigerator, other foods may be damaged. Warm foods aren't just bad for your engine. Other reasons:
Dishes quickly become unusable due to temperature changes. This applies to Teflon coatings and ceramic products. Even warm food can be harmful. The dishes get hot and sometimes become deformed. It should absolutely not be placed in the refrigerator. Even if the food is warm;
The internal shelves in the refrigerator are plastic. Hot dishes and warm dishes cause cracks and damage. This causes the plastic to burst and become unusable;
other products suffer. Modern inexpensive models are tight. If the kitchen is small, these are the refrigerators they buy. Vegetables, dairy products, fruits are stored nearby. It is better to place a warm dish that has not cooled down separately. Then it will not harm other products;
open plates with soup, porridge, and other hot foods contribute to the formation of condensation.
Required temperature
It is recommended to place food at room temperature in the refrigerator. But it is difficult to define. There is not always enough time for this. There are simple rules.
In summer or warm spring, wrap the dishes in a damp towel or rag. Then they place it on a balcony, window sill, or open space. Food cools quickly. After this, it is placed in the refrigerator.
A basin or large dish will do. If there is none, a sink will do (in this case, the drain hole is plugged with a stopper). Pour cool water into the container. But it should not be too cold, otherwise the dishes will be damaged. A container of hot soup is placed in this container, gradually adding water. If there is ice, add that too.
The modern pace of life does not leave people time to refrigerate food. Equipment manufacturers have taken this into account. Many refrigerator models have a built-in hot water cooling chamber. As soon as the dishes at the desired temperature are inside, the sensor works. The fans start up and start supplying cold air. Condensation accumulates, but is quickly removed. Other compartments and parts are not affected. They don't keep dishes here all the time. Once they have cooled, they can be stored in a standard chamber.
The refrigerator will not immediately fail if you put it inside too hot. But there is no need to abuse this. Dishes are cooled to room temperature.
Is it possible to put hot food in the refrigerator? Video recommendations:
Most of us, before putting cooked food in the refrigerator, try to cool it to. In our dynamic times, it is not always possible to follow this rule, and often people wonder why they cannot put hot food in the refrigerator, what can happen, and how it will affect on the operation of the device, what negative consequences may arise if this requirement is not observed. This article will answer all these questions.
If you think logically, then refrigeration systems should cool food, including. Therefore, this requirement of manufacturers, who often prescribe this item in the operating instructions for the device, becomes unclear. In addition, this is not very convenient, because often food is prepared late in the evening or just before leaving for work, and there is no time to wait for the dish to cool down so that it can be put in the refrigerator. It is worth noting that if the device fails due to improper use, it is not subject to warranty repair. Therefore, when you think about the question of why you can’t put hot food in the refrigerator, and whether this will actually lead to negative consequences, imagine the cost of possible repairs due to improper operation of your household appliance.
How to cool food without a refrigerator?
In the warm season, especially in the summer heat, it is difficult to quickly cool food, but you can resort to a little trick. To do this, simply soak a piece of cloth or a towel in cold water and wrap it tightly around the food container. Then place this container in the sun to evaporate moisture from the fabric. Thanks to the laws of physics, the internal temperature of the container and its contents will begin to decrease. The main thing is not to wait until the fabric dries completely, otherwise the food will begin to heat up again, this time from the rays of the sun. If necessary, you can repeat the procedure of soaking the fabric.
Why can't you put hot food in the refrigerator, and what can happen to it?
Almost all modern refrigeration units are equipped with automatic systems in which the set temperature is maintained due to movement through the refrigerant tubes (most often, the movement of liquid is ensured by the operation of an electric motor in the compressor. When the temperature reaches the required level, a signal is sent to the motor through a sensor, and it stops working, and the movement the refrigerant stops. Thanks to such periodic operation, the refrigerator engine is active only about 10% of the time, if, wondering why hot soup cannot be put in the refrigerator, you conduct an experiment and put even a warm plate with liquid in it, and even next to the sensor, then you will see that the temperature in the chamber will increase, and the engine operation will increase several times. This can lead to overheating and increase wear. In addition, warm vapors can settle in the cooling system itself in the form of an ice coat, which, being a good heat insulator. , will force the engine to work constantly, which it is not designed for. Not only will this increase the energy consumption of the household appliance, but it will certainly lead to its breakdown and forced repairs. Therefore, when deciding for yourself the question of why you cannot put hot foods in the refrigerator, first of all you need to think about maintaining the functionality of the device. Repairing modern household appliances is not a cheap pleasure.
Of course, you can fight the formation of an ice crust in the refrigerator; to do this, you will have to completely defrost it. But this should not be abused. Frequent defrosting of the refrigerator also reduces its service life. Normally, this operation should be repeated no more than once every six months in devices with a drip system (crying wall) and once a year for “no frost” systems.
When can you put hot food in the refrigerator?
But not everything is so categorical. In certain cases, when asked why you can’t put hot food in the refrigerator, some experts allow such operation of the device. But only if it is equipped with systems such as “no frost” or “west frost”, which allows you to cool some products without heating others. In addition, the device must have a super freezing function. The fact is that for this option there is a special compartment that does not release warm air, thereby not harming the cooling system.
Is it only the device that suffers from sudden temperature changes?
Not only the refrigerator can suffer from such actions. Some dishes do not tolerate sudden changes in the environment and may lose their attractive appearance and become unpleasant to the taste. Therefore, gradual cooling is very important for food. It is better to wait a little and cool the cooked dish naturally than to subject it to such tests, besides risking the normal operation of the cooling device. Of course, if you resort to this method once, nothing will happen, the compressor will only drive the refrigerant longer. But this habit, which seems to make life easier, can develop into a systematic one. Then, at the most inopportune moment, it may turn out that the refrigerator requires urgent repairs.
Dishes can also be damaged by sudden changes in temperature. This environment often leads to cracks and splits, especially in glass and ceramic containers.
Of course, modern technologies are adapting, and manufacturers are producing heat-resistant cookware that is resistant to sudden temperature changes, but why take unnecessary risks?
Conclusion
Why can't you put hot food in the refrigerator? It's simple: if it is not equipped with a special super-freezing system with a separate compartment, a "no frost" or "west frost" system, with such operation the device will quickly fail and require expensive repairs. Therefore, when buying a new modern refrigerator, pay attention to this function, and then you will be able to quickly cool food and drinks there with confidence and without fear for it. But it is worth remembering that not all food can be cooled in this way; some dishes react sharply to sudden temperature changes and can spoil.
Many people wonder: is it possible to put hot food in the refrigerator or is it still not possible? These thoughts arise because there is often no time to wait for food to cool, and there is a need to immediately put it in the refrigerator so as not to forget later. And some use this method to cool overly hot food. But what if these actions are not so safe?
Is there a single rule or are there exceptions?
The No Frost system allows hot items to be placed in the refrigerator.There are still exceptions to the “don’t put hot food in the refrigerator” rule. Hot dishes can be placed in refrigerators equipped with protection against ice formation. Such systems are called nofrost andwestfrost. The refrigerator should also have a super freeze function. To ensure this purpose, the unit has a special compartment that prevents air heated by hot dishes from leaking into the cooling system. But it is the impact on the cooling system of the device that can damage it.
The constant temperature regime inside the refrigerator is maintained due to the circulation of freon in the tubes of the cooling system. If, for example, a hot pot of soup is placed in the refrigerator compartment, and no frost protection is installed in the refrigerator, then the heated air changes the temperature. Most units have automatic cooling systems, the operation of which depends on the temperature in the chamber. If a temperature regime that is unacceptable for storing food occurs in it, the cooling system starts up out of sequence.
Therefore, if you systematically violate the manufacturer’s recommendations (that is, operate the refrigerator in violation of the established regime), sooner or later the cooling system will overheat and break down. This will cause the refrigerator to become unusable and will have to be repaired. Repairing household appliances is usually quite expensive. Therefore, it is best to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. And if they are not provided for placing hot dishes in the refrigerator, then there is no need to do this.
Potential Harm from Hot Refrigerator Pans
Placing hot dishes in the refrigerator can be fraught with defects in individual elements of the unit Hot food placed in a refrigerator can damage not only the cooling elements.
Here is the potential harm from hot dishes to a kitchen unit:
- damage to shelves (glass or plastic) by heated elements of dishes. Therefore, even if the refrigerator is equipped with an anti-frost system, the shelf may melt or crack. In this case, if it is necessary to place hot food in the refrigerator, you need to place the dishes on a special stand;
- increased formation of frost and ice in the refrigerator, if no system is provided against this. This occurs due to the evaporation of hot liquid from a pan with an uncooled dish;
- burnout of the compressor winding when systematically placing hot foods in the refrigerator. Accordingly, the service life of the unit is reduced.
In addition to damage to the refrigerator itself, the food may also deteriorate, since for many products it is the gradual cooling that is important, and not a rapid decrease in temperature. Dairy products are especially sensitive to temperature changes. Damage may also be caused to the dishes in which the uncooled dish was placed in the refrigerator.
How to quickly cool dishes
To reduce the cooling time of a freshly prepared dish and not harm the dishes, food, or refrigerator, you can use some methods:
- cold water and ice: the pan with hot water is placed in a bowl of larger diameter, where cold water is poured and ice is placed;
- cloth dampened with water: the pan is wrapped in a damp cloth and then placed in the sun. Under the influence of sunlight, water from the fabric will evaporate and the contents of the dishes will cool.
Using these methods you can speed up the cooling of dishes with hot contents and protect the refrigerator from damage.
Video: Hot in the refrigerator - is it possible or not?
Whether or not to put hot foods in the refrigerator depends on the characteristics of the refrigerator. If the manufacturer has specifically provided for this possibility, then you can place uncooled food in the refrigerator, but in compliance with the above rules. In the absence of a system of protection against the formation of frost, it is better not to risk it and not to put hot food in the refrigerator. If possible, you should wait until the dish cools down naturally.