Food storage

... Food storage Importance of Refrigeration. Refrigeration slows bacterial growth. Bacteria exist everywhere in nature. They are in the soil, air, water, and the foods we eat. When they have nutrients (food), moisture, and favourable temperatures, they grow rapidly, increasing in numbers to the point where some types of bacteria can cause illness. Bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40 and 140 °F, some doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. A refrigerator set at 40 °F or below will protect most foods. Types of Bacteria in Refrigerated Foods There are two completely different families of bacteria: pathogenic bacteria, the kind that cause foodborn illness, and spoilage bacteria, the kind of bacteria that cause foods to deteriorate and develop unpleasant odours, tastes, and textures. Pathogenic bacteria can grow rapidly in the "Danger Zone," the temperature range between 40 and 140 °F, but they do not generally

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