The FIFO System Can Help You Keep Your Food Safe For Longer

FIFO is a tested and trusted system that can help anyone trying to do food inventory during which they will get rid of expired food, and also clean their cupboards and shelves. As you take stock of things in your pantry and refrigerator you are expected to keep food safety in mind.

It is true that most of the food stored will remain safe to consume even after their expiry dates, however it is advisable to cycle out food items that you don’t eat, or those that have been sitting on the shelves long enough to have lost their quality.

The same principle goes for your freezer. Frozen foods will stay safe but will lose quality as time progresses. FIFO is a system that can help with this. The abbreviation stands for “First In First Out.”

It means that all your food must be labeled with the dates that they are stored. You will also have to put older foods in front or on top so that they are more accessible. This means that they get used first while their quality remains.

The FIFO system helps you find your food faster and will also help you use them more efficiently. Make sure you use your food before they expire by keeping the FIFO principle in mind, which is using the older food items and those with short life spans first.

When it comes to refrigerators, it is easy to forget the leftovers so you need to always check for them. To make sure your leftovers are safe, you may follow the tips below:

• Bacteria multiply rapidly between 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit so be sure to refrigerate cooked leftovers immediately – preferably within two hours; or, one hour when the temperatures are over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use an appliance thermometer to ensure that your refrigerator is always 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
• Separate leftovers into smaller portions and keep them in shallow containers suitable for the refrigerator.

FIFO is a great system for food inventory. It is especially helpful when there are several items of the same product. FIFO is recommended by the Michigan State University Extension. They also urge people to remember that when a food item’s safety is cast in doubt, it is best to be cautious by throwing it away.

The sentiment is simple. When in doubt, throw it out.