Since the invention of the refrigerator, it has become one of the most indispensable household appliances. It is difficult to find a family that would not appreciate this wonderful unit. The low temperature in the refrigerator chambers allows keeping food fresh for a long time, which means saving the family budget.
However, the refrigerator will be useful only if the correct operating mode is observed. Many experts in the field of development of household appliances still argue about the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer will be optimal. It is rather difficult to give an exact answer to this question, because each manufacturer sets its own norms and rules based on design features your model.
Why is the temperature in the refrigerator different?
V technical standards applied in this area, there are certain standards that are used by all manufacturers without exception. This means that the consumer is allowed to adjust the mode in both the freezer and the refrigerator compartment, but within reasonable limits. Each refrigerator has its own minimum and maximum temperature, beyond which the regulator simply does not work.
Why it happens? It turns out that everything is very logical. Each food product has its own storage temperature and the manufacturer can guarantee its freshness only if the temperature regime is not violated. Moreover, for different food products different storage temperatures are provided. For example, such:
- milk and dairy products (sour cream, kefir, cheeses, cottage cheese, etc.) - from +2 to +6 ˚С;
- eggs - from +2 to +4 ˚С;
- raw vegetables - from +4 to +6 ˚С;
- fish - from - 4 to - 8 ˚С;
- meat - +1 to + 3˚С (no more than 36 hours);
- seafood - from -18 to -24 ˚С;
- sausages - from +2 to + 5˚С.
Of course, this is not a complete list. If you are in doubt about the temperature at which a particular product should be stored, carefully study the packaging. The manufacturer is obliged to take care of you and provide the necessary information.
Refrigeration equipment manufacturers show the same concern for consumers. In order to provide the buyer with the opportunity to store food in accordance with the requirements, refrigerators have several storage areas, each of which is subject to an individual regime.
Storage areas depending on temperature
Freezer
Depending on the model of the refrigerator, t ° C in this compartment can be from -6 to -25 ° Celsius. The lowest temperature in the freezer of the refrigerator is used for blast freezing only. The optimum temperature is taken at the level of -18 ˚С. This is exactly how many degrees the overwhelming majority of manufacturers propose to install in freezers.
The temperature setting in the freezer depends on what is stored there. Determine the maximum low temperature the unit is very simple. In almost every refrigerator, snowflakes or stars are painted on the temperature control panel or elsewhere. Each of them means a range of 6 degrees. By counting the number of snowflakes, you can determine the lowest possible temperature that your refrigerator can maintain.
Freshness zone
Such a compartment is not present in every refrigerator. Its presence is an advantage of newer models. The freshness zone is special place in a common cooling chamber. The temperature is kept close to zero there. This is the optimum temperature in the refrigerator, at which the development of various microorganisms is significantly inhibited. This means that the products are stored much longer.
There are 2 types of arrangement of the "Freshness Zone":
- Leaking drawer.
- A separate isolated chamber in which a certain temperature and humidity is independently maintained. In this case, the "zone of freshness" is most often divided into two more compartments. One of them maintains a humidity of about 55%, and the other - 95%. The first is used for storing fish and the second for vegetables.
The temperature in both compartments is set at the level of 0 ... + 1˚С. At this t ° C, food products are not completely frozen and are best preserved beneficial features.
The "Freshness Zone" usually stores:
- fish, meat, meat semi-finished products (no more than a week);
- sausages;
- cheeses;
- any dairy products, except for cottage cheese;
- vegetables and fruits, except for tomatoes and bananas;
- greens.
Also, this compartment of the refrigerator can be used to quickly chill alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. And here is beer and kvass and natural juices should not be placed there. A higher storage temperature is provided for them.
Other compartments
Pay attention to the upper shelves, as well as the closest compartment to the "Freshness Zone". The temperature regime in this part of the refrigerator chamber is maintained in the range from + 2 ... + 4 ° С. On these shelves you can put eggs, pastries and cakes, semi-finished products, dairy products. Meat and fish can be left here for no more than 36 hours.
Middle shelf. Here the normal temperature fluctuates at the level of + 3 ... 6 degrees Celsius. It is best to place soups, sauces, ready meals and other products.
Bottom shelf and vegetable compartment. By standards, a properly set t ˚ in this compartment cannot exceed 8 ° C. However, in practice there is usually + 6 ° С. You can put as many products as you like here that you do not intend to store for a long time.
Types of refrigerators by control method
All household refrigeration units first of all, they differ in the way of management. Depending on the model, thermostats can be electronic or mechanical.
- Electronic. Everything is very simple. There is a special touch screen on the front panel of the refrigerating chamber. With its help, you can correctly set the desired temperature.
- Mechanical. There is a mechanical shift knob inside one or both chambers of the refrigerator. By turning it clockwise or in the opposite direction, you can set the desired mode.
If you are not sure what temperature should be in the refrigerator installed in your home, look in the product passport. It contains all the modes that are optimal for your model.
Features of temperature regimes of different models of refrigerators
Many models of modern refrigerators allow not only adjusting the operating mode of the refrigerator and freezer compartments, but also setting its own temperature for each shelf separately.
Electronically Controlled Models
Liebherr
Refrigerators of this brand have electronic control, as well as separate regulation in the freezer and refrigerator compartment. In addition, Liebherr has several special modes:
- SmartFreeze - super fast and high quality freezing. In this mode, increased air circulation is activated in the freezer compartment. This allows for short term freeze as much food as the hostess needs.
- CoolPlus - this mode allows the refrigerator to adjust to the ambient temperature. When the room temperature drops, the compressor will start working intermittently.
Mechanically Controlled Refrigerators
Atlant
Refrigerators of this brand have predominantly mechanical control. It is proposed to regulate the temperature regime here using the thermostat knob, which has 7 positions. Position "1" sets the most high fever, position "7" is the lowest. If the thermostat knob is moved to the number "0", the compressor will turn off.
Gorenje
Like Atlant refrigerators, these units most often have mechanical control. The thermostat knob has smooth switching from Max to Min. The first mode is suggested to be used in a room with an ambient temperature less than + 16 ° C. And in rooms with a temperature of more than 25 degrees, it is worth switching the regulator to a minimum. You can decide how much to put on yourself, but the middle position is considered optimal - ECO mode.
Indesit
Another brand of mechanically controlled refrigerator. The thermostat of refrigerators from this company has five positions:
- "1" - high temperature;
- "5" - the lowest temperature ° C.
Refrigerators with separate control modes
Stinol
The refrigerators of this company have two thermostats, independent of each other. Each of them has five positions from lowest to highest. The freezer also has an additional super cool mode.
Lg
Most models also have a separate temperature regulation cameras.
Samsung
In almost all units brand Samsung controls the temperature in the freezer and refrigerator compartment separately.
- V refrigerator compartment initially the temperature is + 3 ° C. If you want to change the mode, you need to press the "Fridge" button the appropriate number of times. The regulation range is from +1 to +7 degrees Celsius.
- In the freezer, the temperature regime is set in the same way, and the control range is from -14 to -25 ° C. The freezer also has a quick freeze mode. It can be activated for 72 hours after which the refrigerator will return to its original settings.
Bosch
Refrigerators of this brand are regulated in approximately the same way as Samsung. In addition, there is a "Supercooling" mode. After 6 hours of operation, the temperature is gradually set at around +2 degrees.
Using the refrigerator correctly
After you have established what is the optimal temperature in the refrigerator of your brand, it is not at all necessary to be on duty near it with a thermometer. The mode indicated in the passport is automatically supported by the refrigerator. A spontaneous change in temperature in any compartment of the refrigerator indicates its malfunction. To prevent this from happening, you need to follow the simple rules for using this household unit:
- Never put warm or hot food in the refrigerator. Be sure to wait until it cools down to room temperature.
- Close the doors of the refrigerator tightly and check the quality of the seal installed around the perimeter of the doors.
- Don't put in too many foods at the same time. The air in the chamber must circulate freely.
- Try to keep packaged food in the refrigerator. This will prevent unpleasant odors and food from drying out. It is best to use plastic or glass containers for packaging.
A certain temperature regime in the refrigerator is maintained for a reason, but in accordance with established international standards. This means that the owners do not have the possibility of arbitrary temperature control. It is, of course, possible to regulate, but only within certain limits set by the manufacturer.
Why is that? Because the shelf life of food in food factories and the temperature range in the refrigerator are interrelated. After all, this is the only way the manufacturer can guarantee compliance with the shelf life. And so that users do not exhaust themselves with constant temperature control, standard parameters are set.
Temperature zones
The refrigerator is not kept at the same temperature, as different foods can remain fresh when different conditions storage. Therefore, the temperature regime inside the unit is not uniform.
For this reason, the refrigerator is divided into certain zones:
Freezing area
Freshness zone
Other zones
The freezer has its own standard temperature: -6 to -24 degrees Celsius. To find out in which refrigerator, which operating mode is supported, you need to focus on special asterisks. Each asterisk is plus 6 degrees below zero.
You can use the following graphical assistant:
Most optimal indicator- 18 degrees below zero. This is the temperature that is maintained in most equipment models.
And what about the limit 24 degrees? This mode is used exclusively when you need to quickly freeze something.
The freshness zone became known not so long ago, and in the Soviet Union they did not even hear about it at all - they kept milk in cans, meat in the freezer, and vegetables in the boxes below and were quite happy. The temperature in this zone is kept stable - 0 degrees, sometimes it can be +1, but not higher.
What does such a temperature give? With it, the products do not freeze, but they do not disappear either, since at zero degrees the reproduction of microorganisms stops. As a result, the food retains its natural qualities (taste, juiciness and aroma), useful properties, does not wind up and does not disappear.
This zone will be very useful before preparing for the holidays. You can put meat and fish in it, and when the moment of preparation comes, just get them out and, without wasting time on defrosting, start the process of creating dishes.
Products suitable for storage in the freshness area:
Semi-finished products
Various types of cheeses
Milk and dairy products
Vegetables, fruits, herbs
Bread and bakery products
Sauces, tomato paste
Champagne, vodka
Meat, fish, minced meat and fish (they can stay here for up to 7 days)
Important! Black and red caviar, cottage cheese and tropical fruits cannot be stored in the freshness zone. Cottage cheese will quickly dry out and lose its flavor, and caviar is best stored at temperatures between 2-4 degrees. Also, this area is not suitable for storing live beer - it must be placed in the same compartments as natural juices.
All products in this area are stored in special sealed compartments that protect them from environment and microorganisms.
The question involuntarily arises: since it is so effective in storage, why is the entire refrigerator not equipped with one continuous freshness zone? But because not all products can withstand freezing and not spoil.
Other branches
After the freezer and the freshness zone that follows it, there is a shelf where the temperature is kept in the range from +2 to +4 degrees Celsius. What products is it for? - For various semi-finished products, cakes and pastries, eggs, meat, fish, sausages and milk. There is a separate shelf for eggs in the refrigerator door, just opposite the freezer.
We move below - the middle shelves, where the temperature varies from 3 to 6 degrees above zero. Freshly prepared soups and borscht, bread, vegetables, sauces and more are best preserved here.
At the very bottom, shelves and boxes were lost, in which long time vegetables and fruits, as well as pickles and root vegetables can lie. The temperature maximum for any refrigerator is maintained at +8 degrees.
How to find out what the temperature is in the refrigerator
If the kitchen is old model, then you will have to focus only on the condition of the freezer and back wall unit. If ice is present in moderate amounts, and there are drops on the wall, it means that the equipment is working properly, according to the set plan. But as soon as the picture changes: ice appears in the sump and excess water collects, it is worthwhile to start repairing it sooner.
Modern models are more progressive in this regard: many of them are equipped with a small backlit display that shows the temperature maintained inside.
Some models have a very interesting and useful mode called "Vacation". It is ideal for those who have to leave home for a long time.
Thanks to this mode, the temperature inside the equipment is maintained below room temperature. This avoids the growth of bacteria, and therefore the appearance of an unpleasant odor.
Temperature measuring instruments
If none of the methods for determining the temperature for some reason is suitable or absent, you can use devices to measure it:
An ordinary outdoor thermometer
Such a thermometer is placed in a dry saucer and placed on the shelf. You need to leave it there all night, and take measurements in the morning. They may be with some error, but this is already something.
Non-contact thermometer
This is how it looks:
This device is capable of receiving infrared radiation from objects. And the spectrum of this radiation depends on the temperature. With it, you can easily find out what is happening in the freezer.
It is very easy to use the device, as it is equipped with only two buttons: "measure" and "backlight". The display will show the measured value, an error of + - 2 degrees is allowed.
Infrared baby thermometer
He, unlike the two previous devices, gives absolutely accurate readings without errors. After all, it is designed to determine the temperature of the baby's body, baby food, mashed potatoes and more. It operates in a temperature range of 0 to 100 degrees.
So that nothing is lost
Even with proper operation of refrigeration equipment and normal temperatures, the products manage to lose their freshness. Why it happens? Perhaps the reason is the negligence of its owners, who simply use it incorrectly, because there are a lot of rules here too.
Products must be in the package
Do not put warm food in the refrigerator, let alone hot food
Doors must always be tightly closed
There is a separate compartment for each type of product.
Advice! Many families buy food for a week and immediately fill their refrigerator with all this. With such a dense staffing, its work is noticeably reduced, since air circulation is disrupted, and at the same time, the cooling intensity decreases. But if this cannot be avoided, then it is better to lower the degrees by increasing the production of cold.
What temperature should the refrigerator be? Answer: each compartment is different. It can be slightly adjusted to what the manufacturer allows. But if you store the food correctly and do not create a "temperature swing" by constantly opening the door, no adjustment is needed, and the food will stay fresh longer even in the heat.
Useful video on the correct storage of food and timing:
Using refrigeration chambers every day in everyday life, we think little about what the temperature should be in the refrigerator. But this is very important for the products inside it.
Plus, there is a place for every food item in the refrigerator!
Temperature Standards and Reasons for Using Them
It is impossible to set arbitrarily the temperature in the new refrigerators Lg, Indesit, Samsung and others.
Modern manufacturers offer several standard modes in the device kit and for obvious reasons.
Products purchased in the store and in need of proper storage should not be kept in the refrigerator compartment with a degree higher than + 5 ° C.
That is why the optimal temperature in the refrigerator and freezer compartment is set by default. A very convenient mode is used in some models in case the owners leave. In this case, the freezer is turned off completely and only the refrigerator compartment is used.
Temperature distribution across shelves
If you see the figure + 5 ° C on the display, it is not at all necessary that this temperature is in household refrigerator fits all shelves inside. The degree fluctuates from 0 ° С to + 8 ° С.
The cold is distributed as follows: closer to the freezer - colder, farther from it - warmer.
Products, in accordance with this state of affairs, are best distributed as follows:
- On the closest shelf to the freezer, the degrees in the refrigerator should be between + 2 ° C and + 4 ° C. it optimal place storage of sausages, milk, cheese and vegetables. A shelf on the door for eggs, most often also located near the freezer.
- Normal temperature in the refrigerator on medium shelves is from + 3 ° С to + 6 ° С. It is best to store here soups and sauces, ready-made main courses, baby food, and bread.
- Whatever the temperature on the other shelves, in the part as far as possible from the freezer should not be more than + 8 ° С. This is a great place for fruits, hoods and juices, and other products that do not need much cooling.
Normal temperature for the freezer
To understand what temperature should be in your freezer, you need to inspect everything that is stored in it.
- If you plan to preserve vitamins in vegetables, meat and fish for a long time, then deep freezing is required. In this case, we select the maximum mode of most refrigerators, this is -24 ° C for a freezer. Many experts believe that with deep freezing, almost all vitamins and nutrients are preserved better.
- If you want to know what is the optimal temperature for freezers in which food is often placed and does not freeze them for a long time, then choose an average mode of -18 ° C. It will be the unmistakable choice for storing meat and fish for a period of about one month.
- The minimum temperature in the freezer is -6 ° C. At this degree, meat cannot be stored for more than 3 days! This mode is rarely used because frozen food needs a cooler environment.
Branch - freshness zone
This compartment is not available in all refrigerator models.
To determine how many degrees the freshness zone should have, it is enough to understand that the shelf is intended for products stored on the verge of freezing.
A perfect place for storage fresh meat and fish, meat and confectionery semi-finished products, sausages, hard cheese and similar products.
What else you need to know about refrigerators
A significant difference for users is the difference between refrigerators in terms of defrosting principle.
Previously, they actively used refrigeration equipment in need of defrosting. Now, to replace their predecessors, refrigerators with the No Frost system have come.
Refusing to defrost brought with it many pleasant moments, but at the same time, how to get rid of unpleasant odors from the refrigerator? From time to time, even modern models of Atlant, Bosch, Stinol and others refrigerators need thorough cleaning.
Of course, the process cannot be called defrosting, but this folk remedy, as cleaning the refrigerator and freezer with a solution of hydrogen peroxide, has become as urgent as possible.
Refrigerators from the Korean manufacturer are as beautiful as they are functional. The main purpose of the device is to create cryogenic zones for storing food. Innovations are used to create multi-level base temperature control. What indicator to set in the LG refrigerator depends on the load and external factors.
The LG refrigerator has a basic average temperature for a cold cabinet of 2-3 0 C. It is believed that the closer to zero the temperature, the longer the shelf life of the products. LG was the first to combine products such as fresh meat and fish into a fresh zone with a temperature of 1-2 ° C, creating a partition between the dry and wet compartments. On the shelves for storing other dairy and meat products, temperatures up to 5 ° C have been created. The very top is reserved for home culinary preparations and dinners. They do not need to be stored for long.
What temperature is selected in the freezer of the LG refrigerator depends on the class of the product. If a small compartment is built into a cold chamber, the temperature will be minus 6-12 degrees, determined by the number of asterisks in the marking. A small amount of frozen food is eaten quickly, there is no point in increasing energy consumption for storage. Low-cost models of LG refrigerators include mechanical temperature control in three positions: Max, Medium, Min. The manufacturer recommends using extreme modes in exceptional circumstances. The temperature should be at the base position. Then the LG refrigerator will be able to work for decades without breakdowns. What a savings!
If the refrigerator is two-compartment, most LG models are designed for separate regulation by compartments. The freezer has a standard temperature from -6 to -26 0 С. For quick freezing, a shock mode is provided. This will allow you to instantly freeze the fruit, while preserving the whole range of useful elements. You can store them at 8-10 degrees.
The temperature is the same in all chambers of the freezer. Which one, you can find out using a special thermometer. Studies have shown that most dangerous microorganisms collapses at -18 0 С, this temperature is taken as the base temperature for modern freezers of LG refrigerators.
How to adjust the temperature in your LG refrigerator
The LG refrigerator with multiple temperature zones is already at home. It is adjusted at the assembly stage, but if there is no display, how can you find out and adjust the temperature inside the chambers? A thermometer for refrigerators or a simple household appliance with precise graduations. Water should be taken, kept in a cold chamber, and then the temperature should be measured. In the center, it should be 4 degrees, higher - warmer.
In a shock freezer, a short-term mode is used up to -25 degrees, standard temperature- minus 18. Check how many degrees you can on the shelves using a refrigerator thermometer.
Almost all LG two-compartment refrigerators have separate controls for the freezer and refrigerator. Electronic control is more precise than mechanical control. After measuring, it is necessary to adjust the temperature as written in the instructions. Whether drip defrost or No Frost, the setting is the same. If you set new parameters, and the mode in the cameras does not change, it’s time to check the health of the sensor.
How to reduce the temperature in your LG refrigerator
To reduce the temperature in a mechanically controlled refrigerator, the temperature regulator must be moved to the Max side by 1 point. Measure the temperature in the chamber after 5-6 hours.
The more the reference is reduced, the greater the load on the cooling system. It is possible that the temperature in the LG refrigerator will drop if you reduce the amount of food loaded and reduce the temperature and humidity in the room. How to adjust the temperature taking into account the external conditions? The refrigerator will work more efficiently under an air conditioner, in a draft or in the shade. A heavily freezing evaporator signals system overload. The capacitor may be damaged.
What should be the temperature in the LG refrigerator
Modern premium refrigerators from LG are getting more sophisticated. The inverter compressor allows the use of economy mode without starting loads. Electronic temperature control and several sensors create climate conditions on every shelf of the refrigerator compartment. The control function gets remote access from a smartphone, according to the program.
The storage temperature must meet the requirements on the label of the perishable food. Therefore, dairy products and sausages are stored at 2-3 0 C, fats, cheese, butter up to 5 0, and homemade meals are on the upper shelves of the refrigerator. Door shelves are located far from the evaporator and have the highest temperature zone.
We offer you to watch a video review of a modern budget LG refrigerator
What temperature should the LG refrigerator be?
It takes ~ 2 minutes to read
People in most civilized countries cannot imagine their life without a refrigerator. This device is one of the first acquisitions in a new home. Knowing what temperature should be in the refrigerator is extremely important. After all, the quality of food consumed by a person and, accordingly, his health depends on this.
The freshness of products is guaranteed not only by a well-chosen temperature regime, but also by their location in the refrigerator. It is no secret that each shelf and compartment of this technique is intended for a certain group of products (dairy, vegetable, animal ...) In addition to the refrigerating chamber, there is also a freezer. It is designed for storing frozen convenience foods. In addition, knowing the optimal temperature for this department will help you properly freeze vegetables and berries for the winter.
What is the optimal temperature in the refrigerator
Ideally, all foods have their own storage temperature to keep them fresh for as long as possible. But since this is not possible, the manufacturers have determined the average values.
Positive indicators are set on the main block - from 2 to 5 degrees Celsius. This is optimal for most foods. If refrigeration unit does not show the temperature value, then you need to measure it yourself. This requires placing the thermometer in the main unit. If the indicator is less than 2, then it should be increased, if it is higher than 5 degrees, then lower. Try to adjust with the rotary switch as instructed.
It should be noted that stamps different manufacturers can have a different temperature regime of the refrigerator.
Probably, many wondered what temperature in the freezer is optimal. This is especially true for people involved in harvesting from the dacha. Support correct storage food in the freezer is possible with a maximum value of 18 degrees Celsius. Minimum value in most modern models not less than 24 degrees below zero.
You also need to build on the degree of congestion in the camera. With a small amount of food and rare use, you can limit yourself to a temperature of -14 degrees. On the contrary, if you often use the freezer, while loading it more than half, you should reduce the parameters to -20, -14 degrees.
The new freezers have a shock freeze function. Freezing occurs at ~ -30 degrees for several hours, which is considered quick freezing. This option helps to preserve all useful microelements, vitamins and preserve taste.
How to find out the temperature
Most easy way- have a refrigerator with a built-in thermometer. So you can be aware of the temperature regime around the clock. Perhaps you bought a refrigerator for a long time and did not even think about the temperature in the freezer and other compartments. There is nothing wrong with that. In addition, if you are satisfied with the quality of food, it does not spoil for a long time, then there is no reason to worry.
For your own peace of mind, you should buy special thermometers (2 pieces), which you can find in any household store in your settlement... You need to install it on the inner wall of the refrigerator and freezer.
If you need to measure the temperature once, you can use a regular room thermometer by placing it on one of the shelves.
Cold distribution
- As mentioned earlier, the temperature in the refrigerator is not uniform throughout the space, but changes depending on the location (upper, middle, lower).
Let's analyze how the cold is distributed on specific example at a total temperature of 4 degrees.
- Thus, the coldest place will be the area near the wall of the upper part of the chamber - + 2, + 3 degrees. Perishable foodstuffs are stored here: meat and semi-finished meat products.
- The middle shelves will be at + 3, + 5 degrees. This is the place for dairy products, sausages, cheese products, as well as bread and some fruits.
- There is a "freshness zone" where the temperature ranges from 3 to 8 degrees. it perfect place for storing fresh greens, as there is a special climate.
- A place with a very high temperature compared to others - a door. Medicines, sauces, drinks are usually stored here.
If the refrigerator door is not opened for a long time, the temperature will gradually equalize.
Find out how many degrees are in the freezer of the Atlant refrigerator, LG, Samsung, Bosch and their refrigerator:
- Antlant: in the refrigerator - 3-5 degrees, in the freezer - -18;
- LG: in the refrigerator - 2-6 degrees, in the freezer - -20;
- Bosch: in the refrigerator - 2-6, in the freezer - -24.
- Before adjusting the temperature regime, carefully read the manufacturer's instructions.
- Do not put hot food in the refrigerator.
- Good to know: in addition to the refrigerator, there are other refrigeration structures - an ice pack ( plastic box, which is often taken on a trip) and a refrigerator (a vehicle for transporting groceries).
- The refrigerator should be defrosted regularly (the frequency depends on the make and model).
- Do not set the maximum values on the refrigerator, this will negatively affect both the durability of the device and your budget.
- Do not open the door too often, this will disturb the normal temperature regime.
Now you know how to properly set the temperature in the refrigerator. This is very dear Appliances, therefore correct operation will significantly extend the service life, increase the efficiency of its work, and also keep the food fresh.