Most of us, before putting cooked food in the refrigerator, try to cool it to room temperature. In our dynamic time, this rule is not always observed, and often people ask themselves why it is impossible to put hot in the refrigerator, what can happen, and how it will affect the operation of the device, what negative consequences may arise if this requirement is not observed. All these questions will be answered by this article.
Rule or just a recommendation?
If you think logically, then refrigeration systems should cool, including products. Therefore, this requirement of manufacturers, which often prescribe this item in the instructions for use of the device, becomes unclear. In addition, it is not very convenient, because often food is prepared late at night or just before leaving for work, and there is no time to wait until the dish has cooled down and it can be put into the refrigerator. It is worth noting that if the device fails due to improper use, then it is not subject to warranty repair. Therefore, thinking about the question of why it is impossible to put hot in the refrigerator, and whether this will actually lead to negative consequences, imagine the cost of a possible repair due to improper operation of your household appliance.
How to cool food without a refrigerator?
In the warm season, especially in the summer heat, it is difficult to quickly cool food, but you can resort to a little trick. To do this, it is enough to wet a piece of cloth or a towel in cold water and wrap the dishes with food tightly around them. Then put this container in the sun to evaporate moisture from the fabric. Thanks to the laws of physics, the internal temperature of the container and its contents will begin to decline. The main thing is not to watch the moment of complete drying of the tissue, otherwise the food will start to heat up again, already from the rays of the sun. If necessary, you can repeat the procedure of soaking the fabric.
Why can’t you put hot food in the refrigerator, and what can happen to it?
Almost all modern refrigeration units are equipped with automatic systems in which the set temperature is maintained due to movement through the refrigerant pipes (most often this is freon). The movement of fluid is provided by the operation of the electric motor in the compressor. When the temperature reaches the required level, a signal is supplied to the engine through the sensor, and it stops working, and the movement of the refrigerant stops. Thanks to this periodic operation, the refrigerator engine is only active about 10% of the time. If, wondering why hot soup cannot be refrigerated, an experiment can be carried out and even a warm plate of liquid in it, and even next to the sensor, you can see that the temperature in the chamber rises and the engine runs repeatedly. This can cause it to overheat and increase wear. In addition, warm vapors can settle in the cooling system itself in the form of an ice coat, which, being a good heat insulator, will cause the engine to work constantly, which it is not designed for. Not only will this increase the consumption of electricity by a household appliance, but it will certainly lead to its breakdown and forced repair. Therefore, when deciding for oneself the question of why hot products cannot be put in the refrigerator, it is first necessary to think about maintaining the operability of the device. Repair of modern household appliances is an expensive pleasure.
Of course, you can fight against the formation of an ice crust in the refrigerator, for this you will have to completely defrost it. But you can not abuse it. Frequent defrosting of the refrigerator also reduces its service life. Normally, this operation should be repeated no more than once every six months in devices with a drip system (weeping wall) and once a year for know-frost systems.
When can I put hot in the fridge?
But not everything is so categorical. In certain cases, when asked why it is impossible to put hot in the refrigerator, some experts allow this operation of the device. But only if it is equipped with systems such as “know-frost” or “west-frost”, which allows you to cool some products without heating others. In addition, the device must have a super-freeze function. The fact is that for this option a special compartment is provided that does not release warm air, thereby not harming the cooling system.
Does the device only suffer from a sharp temperature drop?
Not only the refrigerator can suffer from such actions. Some dishes do not tolerate sudden changes in the environment and may lose their attractive appearance and become unpleasant in taste. Therefore, gradual cooling is very important for food. It is better to wait a bit and cool the cooked dish in a natural way than to subject it to such tests, at the same time risking the normal functioning of the cooling device. Of course, if you resort to this method once, nothing will happen, the compressor only drives the refrigerant longer. But this habit, which would seem to make life easier, can develop into a systematic one. Then, at the most inopportune moment, it may turn out that the refrigerator will require urgent repair.
Crockery can also suffer from a sharp change in temperature. Such an environment often leads to cracks and splits, especially for glass and ceramic containers.
Of course, modern technologies are adapting, and manufacturers produce heat-resistant dishes that are resistant to sudden changes in temperature, but why risk it?
Conclusion
Why can’t you put hot in the fridge? Everything is simple: if it is not equipped with a special super-freezing system with a separate compartment, a “know-frost” or “west-frost” system, with such an operation the device will quickly fail and require expensive repairs. Therefore, when buying a new modern refrigerator, pay attention to this function, and then it will be possible with confidence and without fear for it to quickly cool food and drinks there. But it is worth remembering that not all food can be cooled in this way, some dishes react sharply to sudden changes in temperature and can deteriorate.