11 Jun How To Find The Ideal Fridge Temperature For Meat
Storing meat comes with some specific guidelines regarding ideal temperatures and safety. If you’re considering a new fridge for your meat storage, you should know what to look for and what to avoid.
Keep reading to understand what you need in a new meat storage fridge.
Why is Meat Storage so Important?
Salmonella and E. coli are bacteria that can cause food poisoning resulting from, among other things, eating bad beef, chicken or pork. As a matter of fact, there is a one in 40 chance of contracting food poisoning from chicken over the course of their lifetime!
If you process, store or sell meat, you have an obligation to do so at certain set standards. This ensures meat sold to the public will be safe and hygienic. Part of that involves having the right fridge to store meat in the proper conditions. So what should you look for?
What to Look For
Bacteria grow best in temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Frozen meat should be kept as close to zero degrees as possible, and refrigerated meat should be kept at temperatures very close to freezing, around 34 degrees.
Some refrigerating units have specific drawers or shelves designed specifically for meat. They keep meat not only at the ideal temperature, but within a certain humidity range as well.
If the refrigerator you store your meat in is opened and closed frequently, finding one that opens from the top, like a glass display case, will avoid temperature fluctuations. Cold settles. This means front opening refrigerators dump out the front every time they’re opened. In contrast, top or side openers allow the cold to be contained at the bottom of the case.
What to Avoid
Since meat storage and meat safety are so closely linked, a fridge is not the place to skimp in your budget. While shopping for your new meat storing fridge unit, keep these safety requirements in mind. This is especially important when thinking about daily use scenarios.
For instance, if a leak or spill occurs, is the fridge designed in a way that will make it easy to clean for a minimum of time with the door open? Consider how much cold is lost when the door is opened. Also, think about how long it takes the fridge to recoup that loss. How often will you be going in and out of the fridge during the course of the day?
Knowing what the daily use will look like will help you choose the fridge that will function best for your particular needs and not just look pretty.
Finding The Right Fridge For You
Besides wanting to provide the best product for your customers, you also have your reputation to think about. Making sure you have a meat storage solution guarantees both will remain in good standing.
Think it’s time you replaced an old fridge? If you have questions or concerns about your current meat storage situation, give us a call and let us help you make sure you have the right fridge for your needs.
