Prevent Cross-Contamination by Storing Your Meat This Way

If you’re anything like me, you love looking at Instagram photos of perfectly organized refrigerators. All those colorful vegetables and brightly colored juices are a boost of serotonin, but if you decide to emulate the photos, there’s one thing you should know about meat storage.

You should store meat on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator because if you don’t, you might be risking cross-contamination.

When it comes to your fridge, there are certain zones that are cooler and safer than others. Your bottom shelf is one of them. Because there’s nothing stored or sitting beneath it, if your meat drips or leaks, you don’t have to worry about the residue getting onto other foods like produce or leaving bacteria on leftover containers.

While leaving your meat inside its original packaging can also help lower these risks, if you really want to be on the safe side, the bottom shelf is where your meat should go.

It’s not all about cross-contamination, though. The bottom shelf is also one of the coldest areas of your fridge. Storing meat there can help ensure it isn’t exposed to too much outside warmth when the doors open.

The next time you’re planning a massive refrigerator organization session, remember to keep your meat on the bottom.