Sub-Zero 650 Built-In Use and Care Guide - Page 25

K E E P I N G F O O D AT I T S B E S T KEEPING FOOD FRESH Your Sub-Zero unit features our unique dual compressor refrigeration system to keep food fresher longer. However, the quality and safety of your food also depends on how you handle it. The information in this section gives you the most up-to-date handling and storage recommendations to help you keep food at its best. If you have specific questions that are not addressed here, contact your University or County Extension Service or your local utility company. Most food inevitably deteriorates over time. From the very beginning until it is consumed, food undergoes changes. Microorganisms get into food, multiply and cause spoiling. Enzymes that occur naturally in food continue the ripening process even after the food is harvested. Improper temperatures cause food to deteriorate faster. Changes in humidity cause wilting and shriveling that can lead to spoiling. Sub-Zero's exclusive dual refrigeration system is specifically designed to combat these changes and keep your food fresh longer. The individual refrigerator and freezer systems have been designed to maintain accurate, consistent temperatures and proper humidity levels for longer food life expectancy. Dual refrigeration eliminates transfer of fresh food odors to frozen food or ice and does not freeze the moisture out of the air in the fresh food section. In addition, good handling practices can minimize the rate of changes in food. HANDLING RECOMMENDATIONS Follow the recommended storage times and temperatures in this guide. Your Sub-Zero unit helps to slow the ripening process by tailoring temperatures to each section as needed. Use specially designed compartments for dairy foods, deli foods and fresh produce. These compartments maintain temperature and humidity levels that keep specific food groups fresh. Rotate food in refrigeration units, using a first-in, first-out system. When food does spoil, it's usually obvious. It becomes moldy, has an off-odor, looks rotten or discolored. But there are times when spoiling may not be so apparent. If you think a food has been stored too long, discard it. Don't taste it to check if it's okay. While the bacteria that cause food spoilage will not cause food borne illness or food poisoning, taste tests are not a good idea. 25