This Is One of the Germiest Places in Your Kitchen — And the Best Way to (Easily!) Clean It
When you think of the most germ-ridden places in your kitchen, what comes to mind? Maybe you think of your sponge, the stinky garbage, or your sink? Those spots can definitely harbor germs, but there’s one unexpected part of your kitchen that’s also prone to potentially harmful germs: your refrigerator’s crisper drawers!
According to microbiologist Jason Tetro, author of The Germ Files, it’s common for crisper drawers to be hangouts for Salmonella and Listeria. For that reason, he suggests keeping fruits and vegetables in bags to reduce moisture levels — and, just as importantly, to regularly clean and disinfect the drawers. To help you keep your crisper from turning into a petri dish, we’ve rounded up three top tips.
1. Clean your crisper drawers.
While rotting produce or rank smells are surefire signs it’s time to clean out your fridge’s drawers, do your best to prevent those things from happening in the first place by regularly checking on your fruits and veggies and cleaning accordingly. As a rule, aim to inspect your crisper drawers once a week and deep-clean them about once a month or every other month, depending on what’s in it.
Here’s what you do. Take out the drawers and discard anything past its prime; set good produce aside. Wash the drawers in the sink with warm water, dish soap, and a clean sponge or brush. Soap and water should be enough for routine maintenance, but make sure you give your clean drawers a good rinse so your produce doesn’t come into contact with lingering soap. Also, always dry your drawers thoroughly — germs thrive in moist environments!
2. Disinfect your crisper drawers.
The EPA doesn’t technically recognize distilled white vinegar as a disinfectant, but for these purposes, it will absolutely do. Simply combine one part distilled white vinegar with two parts warm water in a spray bottle, then generously spray the inside of the drawers. Scrub the entire drawer with a clean brush or sponge to avoid contamination, then rinse with warm water. Make sure the drawers dry thoroughly. As soon as they are dry, they should be good to go!
3. Use bags and drawer liners.
Future clean-up will be a lot easier if you prevent major messes in the first place. As Tetro suggests, keep your fruits and veggies in produce or reusable bags when they’re in the fridge — the bags will contain the mess if your food goes bad, so you can toss it all out. Drawer liners also prevent potentially rotten produce from touching the actual drawer. They also absorb ethylene gas (a plant hormone that affects the ripening process) to keep your fruits and veggies fresher, longer. So, it’s a win-win!
How do you keep your crisper drawer clean? What do you do to keep your produce fresh? Tell us in the comments below.