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National Clean out your Refrigerator Day: November 15th
- Tayler Harris
- Nov 15, 2018
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 11, 2020
National Clean out Your Refrigerator Day is a national holiday set aside for November 15th.
Prepare for the holidays by cleaning out your refrigerator on November 15th
Cleaning is a beloved pastime in households across the nation. Well, not technically beloved, but it is most certainly necessary. Especially when it comes to cleaning out the refrigerator. A task so important, that an entire day was reserved just to celebrate this labor of love.
Coming right before the holidays, November 15th is the perfect day to clean out your refrigerator. While making room for the upcoming holiday favorites, food safety is also an important factor. Disposing of unsafe foods could be the deciding factor between spending holidays at home with family, or spending them with doctors due to a foodborne illness.
Common tips on cleaning out the refrigerator:
Emptying all shelves
Wiping shelves down completely with safe cleaning products
Emptying all drawers and washing them
Getting rid of any items that do not get used
Throwing out all expired food or items
Getting Rid of Unsafe Foods
It is important that expiration dates are observed, but there are also other ways of determining which food should be tossed. It is generally a good rule to toss any meats that have been at room temperature for 2 hours or more, or that have been in high heat for 1 hour or more. Also, be sure to dispose of cross contaminated food.
Contamination is especially important to watch for as this is where bacteria like listeria or salmonella come into play. These can cause serious illnesses that will cut any holiday season short.
It is also common for foods that are no longer edible to have noticeable changes in appearance. This can include molding, the growth of yeast or even a change in color. Something as simple as using any of the five senses can be very useful when determining which foods to keep or toss. Any changes in appearance, feel or smell could be an indication that an item is past its prime.
Where it All Started
The history of this holiday all began with Whirlpool Home Appliances in 1999. The home economists at the company decided to create a holiday that encouraged people to clean their refrigerators before the holidays. The company even offered cleaning tips to anyone who wanted to call into their toll-free line.
While this may not be the most exciting national holiday, it is a very important one. Not only to make room for more food, but also in keeping safety first by getting rid of old or expired foods.
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