Updated: 21-07-2025
Refrigerators are very helpful in many Indian houses.
They play a crucial role in many Indian kitchens.
Before the invention of refrigerators, people used to store food for some time using snow, cold water, caves, and cellars, and some used to dig in the ground and store food.
Around 1000 B.C., the Chinese started to cut ice and store food in it.
Initially, people in the centuries began to create different storage devices naturally.
Mechanical fridges began to come into existence in the year 1720 when a Scottish doctor named William Cullen observed that the evaporation process had a cooling effect.
Do Indians need a fridge? Why do Indians need a fridge?
As India is a hot country, Every Indian needs these refrigerators to keep their kitchen grocery, foods, and other items to keep them safe and fresh.
A fridge helps in adjusting the temperature according to the weather conditions to handle the food items for several weeks.
Uses of Refrigerators in India
✅Fruits, vegetables, snacks, and many other food items can be stored and kept fresh for several days.
✅ Great source of ice and cold water and can store any cold items.
✅ You can store meat, drinks, groceries, etc.
✅Cooked food dishes can also be stored for a few days, but make sure to eat before the food spoils.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Refrigerator
Advantages
☑️Various prices depend on the features, style, design, and size of the fridge.
☑️ Can store a variety of freezing components with different temperatures.
☑️ There are varieties of fridges as per various requirements, such as house needs, corporate offices, traveling times, private personal mini-fridges, etc.
☑️ Fridges are not only meant for kitchen use, but they are also used in several ways in different domains, such as schools, hospitals, houses, offices, and industrial areas, to keep their required items, along with food, in a cool place.
Disadvantages
✅An excess amount of CO₂ is released due to the gas present in it.
✅Common repair problems occur every now and then, depending on the usage.
✅ Disposal problems arise because fridges contain a high amount of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are environmentally unfriendly and cause heavy damage to nature.
✅ It runs on electricity, and energy usage is very high in this.
Also Read: Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables
Tips to keep the fridge in good condition for a long time
☑️ Clean it every once in a while, and then keep the fridge clean and neat.
☑️Neatly organize every item.
☑️ Check the deep fridge in the refrigerator, and do not let ice freeze, as it can spoil.
☑️Always remove the ice from the deep freezer.
☑️ Change the food and water stored in the fridge continuously. As it can spoil food if stored for a long time.
☑️ Switch off the fridge when you are out of town to save electricity.
☑️ Check for new and latest features before buying it.
Foods You Should Not Store in the Refrigerator
Here is the list of foods you should not store in the refrigerator.
And the reasons might be different for each food. You should not store it in the refrigerator.
Some of the common foods are listed below.
1. Fruits: Fruits such as bananas, berries, melons, avocados, winter squashes, etc.
2. Vegetables: Veggies as tomatoes, potatoes, onions, etc.
3. Baked Items: Bread, cake, toast, etc.
4. Liquids: Coffee, Tea, salad dressings, etc.
5. Others: Honey, Garlic, oils, ground spices, pickles, herbs, etc.
These are the foods you should not store for a long duration, as they may dry, lose their original taste, and spoil the food due to cold temperature, the flavor, etc.
Fruits can be stored for 1-2 hours to get the coolness and the crispy texture before eating.
As we all know, fridges are not a luxury, but they are a main need in every household.
Use the fridge in the best possible way. Live a happy life.
Storage Time for Foods in the fridge
Here is the chart of the food duration that can be stored in the fridge.
This list shows the extent of foods, up to what temperature they can be in good condition, and for how many days we can eat stored food.
If the food is not stored properly, the odor, flavor, and taste of the food may change while it is being stored.
| Category | Food | Refrigerator (40°F or below) | Freezer (0°F or below) |
| Salads | Egg, chicken, ham, tuna & macaroni salads | 3 to 5 days | Does not freeze well |
| Hot dogs | opened package | 1 week | 1 to 2 months |
| unopened package | 2 weeks | 1 to 2 months | |
| Luncheon meat | opened package or deli sliced | 3 to 5 days | 1 to 2 months |
| unopened package | 2 weeks | 1 to 2 months | |
| Bacon & Sausage | Bacon | 7 days | 1 month |
| Sausage, raw—from chicken, turkey, pork, beef | 1 to 2 days | 1 to 2 months | |
| Hamburgers & Other Ground Meats | Hamburger, ground beef, turkey, veal, pork, lamb & mixtures of them | 1 to 2 days | 3 to 4 months |
| Fresh Beef, Veal, Lamb & Pork | Steaks | 3 to 5 days | 6 to 12 months |
| Chops | 3 to 5 days | 4 to 6 months | |
| Roasts | 3 to 5 days | 4 to 12 months | |
| Fresh Poultry | Chicken or turkey, whole | 1 to 2 days | 1 year |
| Chicken or turkey pieces | 1 to 2 days | 9 months | |
| Soups & Stews | Vegetable or meat added | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 3 months |
| Leftovers | Cooked meat or poultry | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 6 months |
| Chicken nuggets or patties | 3 to 4 days | 1 to 3 months | |
| Pizza | 3 to 4 days | 1 to 2 months |
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Author’s Bio: Ashreetha Pendkar is a healthcare writer, trainer, and digital marketing expert. She loves to read healthcare content and spread her words about the importance of health to those near & dear. ones
