UK households urged to use hidden fridge button to keep food fresher

There's another secret appliance button with a useful function that has been overlooked.

Ever bought something and stashed it in your fridge, only to forget about it and later discover it's gone mouldy? Well, there's a 'hidden' button that can help prevent this from happening.

This button, found in all fridges, is often ignored, with many not giving it a second glance. But by ensuring it's on the right setting, you can make your food last longer.

The elusive switch is the temperature button, typically located inside the fridge itself - and it's one of the best ways to ensure your food stays fresher for longer. It usually has numbers on it ranging from zero to five - but do you know what it's used for?

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This is how you set the temperature of your fridge - but the numbers don't necessarily correspond to the actual coldness in degrees Celsius. Instead, these numbers represent the fridge's power - with five being the coldest.

The Food Standards Agency recommends setting fridges at 5C or below. Anything above 8C can lead to rapid bacteria growth on your food, meaning it won't last as long. The specific recommended setting will depend on the manufacturer, which you can find in the instruction manual.

According toWhich?, the optimal temperature for your fridge is between 0C and 5C. To verify the precise temperature inside your fridge, you should place a thermometer in a glass of water on the middle shelf. Ideally, you should leave it overnight to get an accurate reading.

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It's also crucial to bear in mind that even if your thermostat is accurate, the temperature will fluctuate between shelves. The higher the shelf, the warmer it will be - which means you need to think carefully about where to put certain items.

You should store cured meats, leftovers, cream cakes or anything else that doesn't require cooking on the top shelves. The bottom shelves should be reserved for raw meat, poultry and seafood, while fruit and vegetables should be kept in separate drawers.

Have you ever heard of this button? If not, run to the kitchen and see for yourself! It's a lifesaver and will save you money and time by not having to refill your fridge and keep your groceries fresh.