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We all store food in our refrigerator either in a Tupperware or in a container. These are two of the most basic things that we use to store food in a fridge. However, not all of us have that many containers available, and sometimes those are dirty. That is why we wonder if can I put a pot in the fridge.
The answer is yes, you can. A pot or a pan is perfectly fine to use to store food in your fridge. However, make sure to cool off the pot before putting it in the refrigerator.
We thought why not provide an article covering such issues that an everyday person has with what they can put in their fridge and much more.
Can I Put A Pot In The Fridge?
Putting a pot with food is very common in almost every household. We usually get tired after cooking and eating, and doing the dishes seems more work so we put the leftover food the in a fridge. That is completely normal and yes, you can put a pot in your refrigerator.
But can I put a hot pan in the fridge? No, it is not recommended as the hot pan or the pot will not allow the food to cool off quickly; thus, preserving it in the fridge. Moreover, it also causes the food to go bad much quicker than a cooled-off pot.
What if I put a metal pan in the fridge? That is perfectly fine as long as the pan is not hot and the food has come to room temperature. So, can I put a warm pan in the fridge? The answer is no. It is not recommended.
However, the overall decision about whether can I put a pot in the fridge. The conclusion is that you can but it should be cooled off meaning the pot is at room temperature to avoid rotting the food.
Can I Put A Crock Pot In The Fridge?
The crock pot or a slow cooker is one of the most popular kitchen appliances in the world. These are amazing for people who have a family to cook a meal for and have a job. It is very useful as it allows you to cook for the entire family. However, with the leftovers in the pot, can I put the whole crock pot in the fridge?
The crock pot consists of many parts and some of those parts cannot be put in the fridge such as the electronic parts and the main base. That will ruin the appliance; however, there is a ceramic dish that you can put in your refrigerator. Let the food and also the ceramic come to room temp before putting it in the fridge to avoid ruining the ceramic.
So, can I put the slow cooker pot in the fridge? The answer is, you can buy only the ceramic dish as other components are not safe to put in the fridge as they will damage the parts. Moreover, the ceramic dish needs to be at room temp before inserting it in the refrigerator.
Another question is how long to let crock pot cool before refrigerating. There is no stated time as different dishes require different times to cool. The ideal measure is to see if the pot is not so hot to touch that you feel a burning sensation. Let it cool till you can easily hold and put it in the fridge.
Can I Put A Ceramic Bowl In The Freezer?
Ceramic bowls are widely used in the kitchen due to their durability and being dishwasher, oven, and freezer safe. It is a common utensil in almost kitchens nowadays, and people generally use it to eat and store food in the fridge.
As ceramic containers are safe to put in a freezer, many people use them as their go-to containers for the storage of leftovers. However, these things are not indestructible, as extreme temperature changes can cause the ceramic to break to have cracks in different places.
Can I Put A Plastic Container In The Freezer?
The most bought and the go-to containers for any average person are plastic containers. Even though plastic is not good for the environment, people tend to buy these at a very high rate. It is mostly because these last for a much longer period and are much cheaper than metal, steel, stainless steel, or ceramic containers.
Another thing is that plastic containers are safe for dishwashing, do not crack in when temp changes, and also can be in the freezer for a long time without any issues.
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Glotoch 50 Pack 32 oz Meal Prep Container, Microwave & Freezer & Dishwasher Safe, Eco-Friendly, BPA-Free, Durable & Stackable
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The Risks Of Storing Pots In The Fridge
We’ve all been there before where we prepared a pot of food and then stored it in the fridge with the pot. Although, it is not an issue to put a pot in the fridge; however, there are certain risks of doing this which you need to be careful of, such as –
It Can Ruin The Pot:
Foods that are salty and acidic, can damage your stainless steel pot if you put it in the freezer. The manufacturers do not recommend that you do so; however, utensils such as plastic containers or ceramic containers are ok to put in a fridge with food.
Probability of Causing Health Issues:
The pot does not usually come with a lid which will seal it airtight. Therefore, there is a chance of bacteria growth and odor can get into the food from its surroundings. These types of things happen in terms of putting metal pots with food in the fridge. Moreover, aluminum or copper cooking utensils used for food storage can leach chemicals.
It Affects The Quality and Taste of The Food:
As there is no lid on the pot, it tends to go bad quicker than food stored in containers. Moreover, aluminum utensils used to store food like – cabbage, rhubarb, and tomatoes can affect the taste of the food due to the chemicals in the pot.
Alternative Storage Options
Although you can store food in a pot; however, there are certain risks in doing it. That is why recommend here some alternative storage options that can benefit you in the long run, like –
- Silicon sandwich bags.
- Glass containers.
- Mason jars.
- Stainless steel containers.
- Ceramic containers.
- Beeswax or Vegan Food Wraps.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Is It Safe to Put a Hot Crock Pot in The Fridge?
Not the entire appliance; however, you can put the ceramic dish as it is freezer-proof. The other components such as the electronics and the base are not suitable to stay in the refrigerator.
Can You Put a Stainless Steel Pot in The Fridge?
Yes, you can; however, if the food is salty or acidic, then it can damage the pot if kept in a fridge for a long time.
Can You Leave Food in a Pot Overnight?
It is fairly common to store the leftovers in a pot in the fridge and then eat it the next day. Make sure to properly heat it till it boils for a few minutes.
Can I Put a Hot Pot in The Fridge?
You can but will ruin the food quality and taste. As there is no air-tight lid on the pot, the hot pot will attract bacteria and can cause health issues. Moreover, hot food in a fridge will go bad very quickly.
Can I Put a Hot Coffee Pot in The Fridge?
Yes, you can. But we do recommend pouring it out while hot in a container, sealing it, and then putting it in a fridge.
Conclusion:
Properly storing your food is very important, as it can cause health issues. However, many people give little to no thought when it comes to storing leftovers or any type of food. That’s when people do things like putting the pot with food in the fridge.
So, can I put a pot in the fridge? Yes, you can; however, there are certain downsides to it and to avoid those, we recommend not putting the cookware with food inside the refrigerator without properly cooling it and sealing it airtight.
