Why You Should Keep Your Fruits & Vegetables Separated

It happens far too often; we buy food at the grocery store and we have to throw it away before it gets eaten. Not only is it wasteful, it's costly – researchers estimate that up to 40% of the food that we buy actually ends up in the trash, not our stomachs.

One of the hardest foods to keep fresh is produce, whether it be fruits or vegetables. Even under proper conditions, fresh produce doesn't have a very long shelf life, and if you store it the wrong way it could spoil in just a few days.

What is the easiest way to extend the lifespan of your fruits and vegetables? By keeping them separated!

Most refrigerators have two produce drawers; take the hint and use them both. Why? The answer is quite simple: as they ripen, most fruits produce a gas called ethylene. Many vegetables, on the other hands, are sensitive to ethylene, and exposure to it causes premature rotting, spotting, and softening of the texture.

This list will help you understand which foods you should keep separated.

 

Ethylene-Producing:

• Apples
• Avocados
• Bananas (Ripened)
• Kiwi
• Melons
• Peaches
• Pears
• Tomatoes

Ethylene-Sensitive:

• Bananas (Unripened)
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Green Beans
• Leafy Greens
• Peas
• Peppers
• Squash
• Watermelons

Basically, with the exception of watermelons and unripened bananas, the list is perfectly divided into fruits and vegetables.

Is your refrigerated food still spoiling quickly, even though you are storing it correctly? A warm refrigerator may be to blame. If you suspect that your refrigerator is malfunctioning, call the experts at Speedy Subzero. For more than 75 years, Long Island residents have trusted us to keep their refrigerators, freezers, and ice makers running properly. We guarantee one-hour service to Nassau and Suffolk counties, so call us today at 866-782-9376.

The Basics of Wine Storage

New to the wonderful world of wine? Don't be intimidated by the long-time connoisseurs and their professional grade wine cellars. While wine is a very delicate beverage, you don't need to invest thousands of dollars in a place to store it. There are just some basic rules you have to follow, which we will lay out below.

Cool and Consistent

Unlike most beverages, you don't want to keep wine in the refrigerator. While heat is wine's biggest enemy, too low of temperatures can also negatively affect the taste. The ideal climate for your bottles depends on the type of wine you have; sweet and sparkling wines are best kept at 45 degrees, while rich reds do better at 65. All in all, 55 degrees is widely considered to be the best temperature, but even more important than the number is the consistency. Temperature fluctuations are not good for wine, so you will want to do your best to keep the temperature as constant as possible.

Lights Out

Ideally, your wine storage area should be dark. The suns ultraviolet rays can cause your wine to prematurely age, and even household light bulbs can still inflict minor damage. Many winemakers use colored glass bottles to help block some of the UV rays, but the thin layer of glass can only do so much. You can invest in special low-UV lighting, or take the low-tech route and keep the lights off and the sun out.

Steady As She Goes

While not as damaging as heat or light, many experts believe that excessive vibration can also alter the taste of your wine. The theory is that constant shaking, no matter how minor, speeds up the chemical reactions in the liquid, and can agitate the sediment, preventing it from settling properly.

See Things Sideways

It is highly recommended to keep stored wine on its side. Not only is this method of storage space-efficient, it also helps preserve flavor. If the humidity of your storage area is not closely controlled, the cork could dry out and shrink. When this happens, air can enter the bottle and deteriorate the integrity of your wine. Keeping the bottle on its side ensures that the liquid remains in contact with the cork at all times, helping to prevent it from drying out.

So where can you find a place in your home that is consistently cool, dark, and vibration-free? If you have a basement, that would be a decent option, but your best bet is to purchase a wine cooler. If you own a wine cooler and it is failing to keep a consistent temperature, contact the refrigeration repair experts at Speedy Subzero. We have 75 years of experience serving Long Island and New York City, so call us anytime at 866-782-9376.

Germiest Places in the Kitchen

 

Every time someone gets sick after they eat, the food is the first to get blamed. While food can make you sick, there are other offenders hiding in your kitchen. Food safety doesn’t pertain strictly to what you eat, but also to cooking utensils, storage containers, and other kitchen items. Here’s a short list of the germiest things in your kitchen.

Cutting Boards - First things first, your kitchen should have two of these bad boys. One should be strictly used for raw meat and poultry, while the other can be used for fruits, veggies, and fully prepared meat that is ready to be sliced. This will help you avoid cross-contamination and any foodborne illness such as salmonella.

The cutting boards can be made from either wood or plastic. If you choose the wooden path make sure it is made from hardwood, such as oak or maple. Wooden cutting boards need to be cleaned with a stiff bristled brush under warm soapy water to get rid of any contaminants. Plastic cutting boards can simply be washed in the dishwasher, which is why they are usually preferred.


Sponges - According to NSF International, kitchen sponges contain more hazardous microorganisms than any other place in your home. In order to avoid getting sick from your sponges, replace them regularly or clean them in one of these ways:

• Microwave sponges for two minutes. More than 99 percent of the germs will be destroyed.

• Run them through the dishwasher.

• Boil the sponge for one minute on the stove top.

Kitchen Towels - This kitchen sidekick has multiple uses: it can be used for drying dishes, wiping down your counters, or removing hot pans from the oven. While it is convenient, the kitchen towel was not meant for every task you use it for. That’s how cross-contamination of germs can start. Instead, use multiple towels for different tasks to prevent a spread of germs throughout the kitchen.

Everything Else - There are many items in your kitchen that have the potential to contain an immense amount of germs. NSF International created a list of additional items in your kitchen that contain a high amount of germs. The list includes: refrigerator vegetable and meat compartments, blender gaskets, can openers, rubber spatulas, and food storage containers with rubber seals. To see the full list, click here.

Items and appliances in your kitchen that can be taken apart, should be in order for proper cleaning; this includes blenders, spatulas, and even refrigerators. If you are cleaning your refrigerator out and you notice that it isn’t keeping your food cold or appears to be broken, call Speedy Subzero to come and fix it. With over 75 years of experience, our trained technicians will fix whatever the issue is. Give us a call at (866) 782-9376 today!

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Keep Your Chest Freezer Organized with These Tips!

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Chest freezers are great. They provide you with a ton of extra space for your frozen food, plus they are super energy-efficient. The only downside to them is that it can be a bit of a headache to find your food. If you are someone who just throws your frozen goods into your chest freezer without any form of organization, you will quickly learn it may be worth your while to reconsider your process.

Maximize the usefulness of your chest freezer by using these tips to keep your food neat, organized, and easily accessible:

• Keep an inventory list. Keep a full inventory of everything that you have in your freezer, and make sure to update it every time you put something in or take something out. Keep it on a clipboard with a pen on top of the freezer so you never forget to log the changes.
• Clearly label everything. What's in that plastic bag? Is it chicken? Fish? Who knows. And are those vegetables from last Thanksgiving, or the one before that? Point is, it's difficult to keep track of what's what in a giant frozen box. Do yourself a favor and clearly label everything with the type of food it is and the date it was frozen.
• Use easy-to-move bins. The biggest problem with chest freezers is that it's not easy to access your food, especially towards the bottom of the unit. Instead of having to take everything out one-by-one to get to the bottom, store your food in bins. Milk crates are perfect for this; they can stack and are sturdy enough to hold even your heaviest of foods.
• Divide frozen foods into categories. Take the milk crate idea one step further by dividing your food into different categories, and using a different crate for each type. For instance, all your frozen meat goes in one crate, vegetables in another, baked goods in one, etc.

Are you experiencing problems with your chest freezer? Whether it is making loud noises or just not keeping cold, the experts at Speedy Subzero can fix it for much cheaper than a new model. We have been repairing refrigerators and freezers across Long Island for over 75 years, let us make you our next satisfied customer! We guarantee one-hour service to Nassau and Suffolk County, so call us any time at 866-782-9376.

How to Organize Your Refrigerator in 15 Minutes

What can you do in fifteen minutes? You could watch half of a television program, or you could make good use of your time by cleaning and organizing the inside of your refrigerator. A dirty fridge not only makes it harder to find your food, it could become a breeding ground for bacteria and nasty odors if it is neglected for too long.

If you haven't cleaned your refrigerator in a while, it may seem like an overwhelming task, but it doesn't have to be. Follow this step-by-step guide to tidy up your fridge in just 15 minutes of your time:

1. Remove the food and shelves from your refrigerator. First things first, take all of the food out of your refrigerator. If you are worried about it spoiling, put it in a cooler before moving moving on to Step 2. You will also want to pull out any removable drawers and shelves.
2. Clean all shelves and drawers. Using a soapy sponge and warm water, thoroughly wash the shelves and drawers of your refrigerator, making sure to remove all visible spills, stains, and other food residue.
3. Wipe down the interior. Using either a soapy sponge or disposable disinfecting wipe, clean the entire interior of the refrigerator including the back wall, side walls, and ceiling. Just like with the shelves, you will want to remove any visible traces of residue and grime.
4. Dry and replace shelves. Use a clean towel to dry the inside of your refrigerator as well as the shelves and drawers. Place the components back in the fridge in move on to the next step.
5. Filter through your food. Before putting your food back in the refrigerator, sort through it and throw away anything which has expired or will expire before you get a chance to eat it. This will help prevent you from losing track of food and letting it spoil in the fridge, which can cause less-than-pleasant odors which are hard to remove.
6. Restock your fridge. After sorting through your food and discarding what is necessary, it is time to restock your refrigerator. Don't just place the items anywhere though, following this guide will help keep your food fresh for longer.

We recommend following this routine once every two weeks to keep your fridge clean and odor free!

Is your refrigerator leaking, making loud noises, or failing to keep your food cold? The refrigeration experts at Speedy Subzero can fix it! We have served all of Long Island and New York City for more than 75 years, trust us to repair your refrigerator, freezer, ice maker, or wine cooler. We fix all makes and models and our phone lines are open 24/7, give us a call to schedule your appointment at 866-782-9376.

Which Refrigerator Type is Best For Your Family?

If it has been a while since your last trip to the appliance store, you may feel overwhelmed with the variety of options in the refrigerator section. With different colors, configurations, and optional features such as water dispensers and WiFi capability, it is enough to make your head spin. If you are having trouble determining which style of refrigerator is right for your family, this article is for you.

Typically, refrigerators come in four styles: top-freezer, bottom-freezer, side-by-side and French door. Each offer their own distinct pros and cons, read below to figure out which is most suitable for your household.

Top-Freezer

This is the most economical choice for families who are on a budget. These are the most common types of refrigerators, and they are the cheapest to purchase and repair. They typically don't offer many features, but they do offer the most usable space per cubic foot. If you are strapped for room in your kitchen beware of these models, as they have wide doors.

Bottom-Freezer

Although it is more expensive to buy than its top-freezer counterpart, bottom-freezer refrigerators are the cheapest to operate. Many people prefer these styles because it places the fresh food section at eye level, which is convenient because this area is used more often than the freezer section. However, this configurations makes your frozen foods more difficult to access and find.

Side-by-Side

The freezer and fresh food sections are split vertically, which allows both to be at eye level. These models usually sacrifice some refrigerator space for extra freezer space, so this is a viable option for families who never seem to have enough room in their freezer. These models typically have features such as water dispensers, and their narrow doors are good for smaller kitchens. The drawback to the narrowness of this style is that you can't easily fit wide items – such as pizza boxes.

French Door

French Door refrigerators are the most expensive, but they offer benefits of both the bottom-freezer and side-by-side refrigerators. Eye-level fresh food section, narrow doors, and wide shelves for easy storage of platters and pizza boxes are among the most attractive features of a French door refrigerator.

Are you planning on taking a trip to the appliance store to replace your old, broken refrigerator? Not so fast! The refrigeration experts at Speedy Subzero may be able to repair your refrigerator for a fraction of the cost of a new model! We have been serving Long Island and New York City for more than 75 years, so give us a call at 866-782-9376.