Metal is used in your kitchen every day from your cutlery to cooking pots. Popping a tray of leftovers in the fridge with a spoon still in the food you’ve probably never thought ‘Is safe to put metal in the fridge?’. Don’t worry though, this is perfectly fine and I do it myself all the time.
There are times when you shouldn’t put metal straight in the fridge though. Certain types of metal are also not suited to keep your food at a cold temperature. Keep reading to find out how to safely store metal in your fridge.
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What Happens To Metal When It Gets Cold
Nothing really happens to metal when it gets cold. Putting metal pots or tins in the fridge won’t have much effect on them. Keeping them in the freezer or exposing the meta to sub-zero temperatures, unlikely unless you live in an igloo, will of course have some effect. We recommend not taking the metal out of the fridge and straight into the microwave or oven. Let the pot or tin cool to room temperature before using it.
Can you store metal in the fridge?
Yes, you can store metal in the fridge. Storing metal in your home or garage fridge is very common, particularly for keeping leftovers fresh. As mentioned above, there are some metals you should avoid storing your food in at cold temperatures. The temperature of the metal is also something you need to consider. A general rule to follow is that if the metal is hot to touch then it’s not ready to go into the fridge.
Why Shouldn’t You Put Metal In The Fridge
Metal shouldn’t be kept in a fridge, well most types of metal. Stainless steel that’s most commonly used in your kitchen for pots and cutlery is absolutely fine. Other metals can be dangerous to your health and well-being if you store your food in them and put them in the fridge. Common metals that are not suitable are aluminium and copper. These metals are reactive and can leach harmful chemicals into your food.
Storing Food In Metal Pans In the Refrigerator
Storing food in metal pans in your refrigerator won’t do any harm. Tin-lined copper is generally safe, if there is a scratch and a little copper is exposed don’t worry too much. A very low amount won’t do much harm at all. The good news is it would take a long time to have any real adverse effect on your health.
A downside to storing soup still in the tin for example, is a loss of flavor or your soup having a bit of a metallic taste. Tomato soup is rather acidic and will react with the metal lining of the tin and seep into your soup. This will happen if stored in the fridge or if you pop your tin of soup into the microwave.
Is It Safe To Put Metal In The Fridge? – Recap
Yes, it is safe to put metal in the fridge. We recommend using stainless steel pots, bowls, or cutlery if you plan to store your leftovers in the fridge. Metals that are not suited for the fridge or cold temperatures are copper, aluminium, and tin. This is due to the reactive ions in the metal and will cause chemicals to leach into your food.
You are not going to die if you leave your soup in the tin overnight, don’t worry! The bad thing about using these types of metals is that they will leave a metallic taste in your food.
Stainless steel is the best option, but remember to let it cool to room temperature before you pop it in the fridge. Likewise, when you take it out of your kitchen or caravan fridge, let it warm to room temperature before you cook anything.
FAQ’s
Check out our list of FAQs about if it’s safe to put metal in the fridge and the answers.
Does aluminium shrink when cold?
No, aluminium doesn’t shrink when it’s cold. Aluminium tends to expand if heated, even at just 1 Degree Celsius can cause a change in size. When aluminium is cold it contracts, depending on how much is of course dependent on the temperature change.
Can I put a metal pan in the fridge?
Yes, metal pans can be put in the fridge. There are some types of metal that should be avoided for popping in the fridge like aluminium, tin, and copper. Chemicals may leak into your food as these types of metals are reactive to temperature. You won’t suffer any real threat to your health but the food in the metal pan may develop a metallic taste.
Can you put stainless steel water bottles in the fridge?
Yes, you can put stainless water bottles in the fridge. Stainless steel water bottles are completely safe to go into the fridge. We recommend using stainless steel to store water or food in the fridge as it doesn’t react with the cold temperature and won’t leak chemicals into your food or liquid.
Can you store food in an aluminium pan in fridge?
No, you shouldn’t store food in an aluminium pan in the fridge. Storing food in an aluminium pan in the fridge is not the best idea. The cold temperature can cause the aluminium to contract. Chemicals may seep into your food from the aluminium and give it a sort of metallic taste. We recommend using a stainless steel pan to store your food in the fridge.
Is it okay to put food in the fridge with the spoon still in there?
Yes, it is okay to put food in the fridge with the spoon still in there. Leaving a spoon in your food stored in the fridge should be fine. There is a chance of spreading germs though. The metal in the food itself won’t be harmful, even more so if the spoon is stainless steel as this type of metal won’t leak chemicals into the stored food.
