Every household has its own unique system for where items go in the fridge, but chances are bottles of milk will be housed in the fridge door.
Not only does this part of the fridge have a handy little shelf to store bottles of milk, it also makes it easier to access and keeps it out of the way of the rest of the food. But apparently this storage method isn’t the best spot for milk to go and keeping it here could actually be reducing its shelf life. According to food experts, milk will stay fresher for three days longer if it’s stored at the back of the fridge instead.
This is because the back of the fridge has the coldest and most consistent temperature so it helps to slow down bacterial growth which can cause milk to spoil.
The fridge door, by comparison, experiences a lot more fluctuations in temperature as it is frequently opened and closed throughout the day.
It means if you store your milk in the door it’s subject to warmer air and changes in temperature every time you open the fridge, which can result in it going off quicker.
Milk and More explains: “Temperature is key when it comes to milk storage. Always keep your fridge below 5°C and rather than keeping your milk in the door, it’s best to store it in the coldest part of your fridge where the temperature fluctuates less.
“It’s also important to ensure containers are properly sealed to avoid contamination. For plant-based milks, give the container a good shake each time you use it as non-dairy milks are prone to (harmless) separation.”
According to Aldi, the average Brit throws away around £387 of food per year and this can be due to incorrect fridge storage, so making small changes like moving milk to the back of the fridge instead can make a big difference.
Luke Emery, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said: “The back of the fridge is the coldest area with the most consistent temperature, so it’s the best place to store your perishable items.
“People often keep their milk in the door for easy access, but this is actually the warmest area of the fridge, with the temperature fluctuating every time you open it. Moving your milk to the back of the fridge can help it to last up to three days longer.”