Finally an answer: can you put warm food in the fridge?

Story of my life: I make soup for an orphanage, let it cool down because it has to, and then forget to put it in the fridge. It's definitely one of those two times. But shouldn't we not be too spastic about letting food cool down before it goes into the fridge? We obviously needed to know the details, and that's why we asked our neighbors from online food magazine FavorFlav. Of course, they have the answer.

You might think that you should put leftovers in the fridge right away so that bacteria don't stand a chance. However, it's important to let the food sit for a bit before putting it in the fridge, here's why.

Let it cool down

According to the Nutrition Center you should always let the meal cool down a bit before putting it in the fridge. This way, the fridge doesn't have to work as hard to cool the food, and the products around it are less affected. Make sure to move the products around the meal a bit so they aren't touching the warm food. The heat can affect the shelf life. Forgetting that your leftovers are still on the counter? According to Stop Foodborne Illness most bacteria appear on the food after two hours, so don't let it sit out longer than that.

Two days

The Nutrition Center recommends keeping your meal covered in the fridge for a maximum of two days. This way, you can still enjoy that delicious stew a little longer after all that effort in the kitchen.