Wondering what food goes in crisper drawers? These drawers can store produce at humidity levels that are different from that of the refrigerator, extending the life of fruits and vegetables. But what are the right settings for each drawer? How are they adjusted? Most importantly, which foods should be stored in them? Tampa’s refrigerator experts answer these FAQs, and more, for better food storage solutions.
What Food Goes in Crisper Drawers:
Your Questions Answered
While almost all refrigerators have crisper drawers for food storage, not all of us use the drawers the same way. More often than not, a lack of time, the need for space, and competing responsibilities all contribute to us unloading food quickly, without thought to what those drawers actually do. We’ll review some FAQs about what food goes in crisper drawers to maximize your refrigerator’s features and extend the life of your produce.
FAQ #1. What Are the Ideal Crisper Drawer Settings?
Depending on the type of produce, most are best stored in either a high or low humidity environment. So what should crisper drawers be set at to keep produce fresher, longer? If you have two drawers, one should be at a low humidity setting while the other can be set at a higher humidity level.
FAQ #2. How Do I Adjust the Crisper Drawers in My Refrigerator?
Crisper drawer settings are typically adjusted by a slider that opens and closes a vent in the drawer. A higher humidity setting closes the vent to trap moist air inside while a lower setting opens it to release humid air.
How do you adjust the crisper drawers on a refrigerator? To open the vents and create a low humidity environment, move the drawer’s slider lower. Adjust the slider higher to close the vents and provide a high humidity setting.
FAQ #3. What Food Goes in Crisper Drawers?
So, where do you put produce in the refrigerator drawers to best store individual items? Many fruits emit ethylene gas as they ripen, which can hasten rotting, but that you may only notice when your refrigerator smells bad. You should keep these fruits in a low humidity drawer, so the open air vents release the gas and keep them fresher, longer.
What food goes in crisper drawers with a high humidity setting? Green vegetables and fruits that are highly sensitive to ethylene gas should be stored in this drawer to prevent wilting and decay. Here’s a list of common items that do best in each crisper drawer:
Low Humidity Drawer:
- Apples
- Avocados
- Mangoes
- Pears
- Peaches
- Plums
High Humidity Drawer:
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Cucumbers
- String beans
- Leafy greens
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
FAQ #4. Why is My Refrigerator Crisper Drawer Freezing Food?
Food freezing in the crisper drawer can be a common problem with straightforward solutions. If your crisper drawers are too cold, temperature issues or airflow problems are usually responsible. Here’s how to troubleshoot the problem for a fast fix:
- Check your refrigerator temperature: If your refrigerator’s temperature is too high fans in the refrigerator drawers will run more frequently to keep their contents cool. Confirm that your refrigerator temperature is set between 34-36°F so drawer fans are not overused.
- Make sure refrigerator doors are closed: Similarly, keeping refrigerator doors closed maintains the refrigerator’s temperature, preventing overuse of crisper drawer fans. Make sure the doors are always closed properly and avoid keeping them open for long periods of time.
- Clean the condenser coils: dirty condenser coils can lead to airflow problems that result in excessively cold crisper drawers. The coils can easily be cleaned with a narrow hose vacuum attachment or appliance brush. However, we suggest referring to your user manual to locate the condenser coils on your refrigerator and confirm the proper cleaning methods.
