In winter temperatures, many foodstuffs can easily be stored on the balcony, in the garden or outside on the windowsill. By keeping them in the fresh air in winter, we can create space in the refrigerator, relieve it and save energy. We explain to what extent nature can serve as a refrigerator and what needs to be taken into account.
Our winters are getting milder every year. Nevertheless, January remains on average the coldest month in the Netherlands. Often at the beginning of the year the cold comes back in and brings us low temperatures – and regularly freezing temperatures. Even at a constant outside temperature of seven degrees, some foods stay fresh outside just as well. If you follow a few important tips, cooling on the balcony or terrace offers many advantages.
Storing food outside can help free up space in the fridge, relieve stress and also store supplies and larger weekly purchases. Another advantage:storing food outside saves energy. The refrigerator consumes a lot of power when opened frequently and for long periods of time. The more food stored outside, the less often the refrigerator needs to be opened to store, unload and rearrange.
Most foods have an optimal comfort temperature when stored, with a particularly good and long shelf life. By arranging them in the different cooling zones in the refrigerator, depending on their perishability, you extend their shelf life. Certain temperature guidelines and storage rules must also be observed in the “natural refrigerator”.
Almost all types of vegetables are refrigerator-compatible and can therefore easily be stored outside when the outside temperature is between six and ten degrees. Only certain vegetables such as aubergine, tomato, potato and pumpkin should not be kept outdoors because of their special sensitivity to cold or frost. The following rule of thumb applies to fruit:local products such as apples can be kept cool, exotic products such as mango, banana or citrus fruit are better kept at room temperature.
Dairy products such as cottage cheese, cheese and yogurt, but also meat products, such as sausage, are best stored at around five to seven degrees and can be kept well closed outside in winter. Eggs, butter and jam, which normally find their place in the refrigerator door, stay fresh even at ten to twelve degrees. But beware:the limit for fresh meat, poultry and fish is a maximum of four degrees.
Even in winter, the outside temperature can fluctuate considerably – between minus degrees at night and temperatures well above zero during the day when the sun is shining. These fluctuations can lead to a faster multiplication of germs and bacteria in the food and thus to the fact that milk and meat products in particular spoil more easily. For this reason, when storing it outside, the temperature developments in the coming days should also be taken into account.
In principle, it is advisable to store perishable foods in the refrigerator rather than outdoors, where they are not exposed to temperature fluctuations. Think of ready-made meals or raw animal products. A short storage of a few hours is also possible in these cases without any problems and is especially useful for cooling down cooked leftovers more quickly, which can then be moved to the refrigerator in an airtight container.
It is generally advisable to store the food in the shade and not expose it to direct sunlight to prevent the multiplication of bacteria. On the other hand, it is important to seal the food watertight and airtight. Unopened items can be put outside in the original packaging. Storage jars made of glass, plastic or metal with a closure, e.g. in the form of a rubber ring, are suitable for opened foodstuffs.
When it comes to outdoor storage, there is another factor to consider:food must be protected from uninvited guests. Food storage containers must be sealed airtight and odor-tight, so that they do not attract birds or four-legged friends from the vicinity.
The cold winter months provide a good opportunity to clean and unload the refrigerator regularly, as the contents can be temporarily stored outside during this time. Outside temperatures in the minus range also make it possible to defrost the freezer compartment. While the ice is thawing, the food can simply be kept outside and stored again after the ice has been removed and cleaned. However, we do not recommend storing frozen products for a longer period of time. A conventional freezer is around minus 18 degrees Celsius – a temperature that is rarely reached in the Netherlands.
