The bottom drawer of a refrigerator is commonly known as the "crisper drawer" or "vegetable drawer," and its primary purpose is to provide an optimal storage environment for fruits and vegetables. It is designed to help maintain higher humidity levels compared to the rest of the refrigerator, which is beneficial for preserving the freshness and quality of produce.
Here are some guidelines for using the bottom drawer of the refrigerator:
Storing Fruits and Vegetables: The crisper drawer is ideal for storing a wide range of fruits and vegetables, such as leafy greens, carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, apples, berries, etc. These items tend to wilt or lose their crispness when exposed to dry air, so the higher humidity in the crisper drawer helps slow down the wilting process and keeps them fresh for longer.
Separate Fruits and Vegetables: To prevent certain fruits from emitting ethylene gas that can accelerate the ripening of nearby vegetables, consider separating fruits and vegetables in different crisper drawers or compartments, if your refrigerator has multiple drawers.
Adjustable Humidity: Some refrigerators come with crisper drawers that have adjustable humidity settings. If available, use the low-humidity setting for vegetables and the high-humidity setting for fruits. This allows you to customize the environment based on the specific needs of the produce you are storing.
Clean and Organized: Keep the crisper drawer clean and free from any spoiled or rotting produce to avoid the spread of mold and bad odors.
Properly Store Produce: While the crisper drawer helps maintain freshness, it's still essential to store produce properly. For example, use plastic bags, airtight containers, or produce storage containers to keep fruits and vegetables separate and well-contained.
It's worth noting that not all refrigerators have the same design or features. Some modern refrigerators have advanced technology to help extend the freshness of produce throughout the entire refrigerator, and some may even have separate compartments with different temperature and humidity controls. If you're unsure about how to best use your refrigerator's bottom drawer, refer to the manufacturer's manual or guidelines for specific recommendations.