The third heat wave of this summer is beginning to make itself felt. During today’s day the thermometers will exceed 40 ºC in several areas of the country, such as Badajoz, Córdoba, Ciudad Real or Toledo. Moisturizing, not exposing yourself to the sun in the central hours of the day and reducing physical activity are some of the tips that experts give to manage to get out of this increase in temperatures, but there are other practices that should be avoided.
In relation to food safety, on hot days it is advisable not to store supermarket purchases in the trunk of the car. According to the Catalan Food Safety Agency (ACSA), this is the hottest space in the car, and it is not a good idea to store the most perishable products there. “The best place is on the floor of the seats, without contact with the sun,” says this organization in a report, which also recommends activating the air conditioning to achieve a cooler environment.
In the same way, during these days it is important to plan the tasks. If we have other things to do, the purchase of perishable products should be the last thing before returning home. The food safety expert and director of the SAIA consultancy, Lluís Riera, explained in this article that if the thermometer reads more than 36 ºC, it is advisable not to let more than an hour pass from when the food is placed in the supermarket cart until it is We keep them in the fridge at home.
Parking the car in the shade will also help prevent food from spoiling prematurely, as will using insulated bags. You have to be especially careful with meat and fish, which should be the last to be stored in the supermarket cart and kept in separate bags to avoid cross contamination.
The ACSA reminds us that if we take leftovers from a restaurant, we must also take them directly home and not leave them in the car for hours. High temperatures facilitate the proliferation of harmful microorganisms and the chances of suffering from food poisoning increase.
Once home, storing food on the proper fridge shelves will also help it last longer. Those that deteriorate before, such as eggs, should never go in the refrigerator door: it opens continuously and there are many temperature changes that can damage the product.
Meat should be kept on the lower shelves of the refrigerator, because the temperature is colder there, and if for some reason it is not well wrapped, it will not drip onto other foods.
In the central spaces it is recommended to store those foods that we are going to consume in a short time, such as pre-cooked meals and products that are already open. It is also a good place to store dairy products and sausages. Finally, fruits and vegetables should be placed in the drawers, outside the bag, to prevent them from getting damp.
