Food Business Guide: How to Store Food in The Fridge Safely

For food service businesses, proper refrigeration protects your bottom line, reputation, and customers. Every year, countless food businesses suffer losses from avoidable spoilage or contamination that could have been prevented with better fridge storage. Learning how to store food in the fridge properly prevents costly food spoilage, ensures customer safety, and strengthens brand reputation. One of the most effective tools is investing in high-quality plastic food wrap that creates proper barriers and maintains freshness throughout your cold storage system.

Why Smart Fridge Storage Matters

A smart fridge strategy supports smoother kitchen workflows and greater customer confidence, making it a win for everyone involved. Let’s explore why it matters.

Temperature Control & Food Zones

Understanding how should food be stored in the refrigerator starts with maintaining ideal temperatures between 0 to 4°C (32 - 39°F). Treat your commercial refrigerator as a zoned system. Upper shelves work best for ready-to-eat items like prepared salads, cooked proteins, and dairy products. These areas maintain consistent temperatures and reduce contamination risk.

Lower shelves should house raw meats, poultry, and seafood. This positioning prevents drips from contaminating ready-to-eat foods below. Door compartments experience temperature fluctuation, making them suitable for condiments and beverages rather than highly perishable items.

Minimizing Cross-Contamination

How should food be stored in the refrigerator to prevent cross-contamination? Create physical barriers between different food types. Always separate raw and cooked foods using dedicated containers. Raw proteins should be stored in leak-proof containers on the lowest shelves, while prepared foods stay elevated.

Sealing items tightly prevents bacteria spread and stops odors from affecting other products. Every container needs a secure lid or wrap to create an effective barrier.

Labeling & FIFO Practices

Professional kitchens rely on clear labeling systems, including preparation dates, batch information, and expiry dates. Implementing first-in-first-out (FIFO) practices ensures older stock gets used before newer deliveries, reducing waste and maintaining quality.

Why Wraps Matter in Professional Kitchens

Understanding why cover food in fridge environments is essential for any food business. Professional-grade wraps act as barriers against airborne contaminants, moisture loss, and unwanted flavor transfer. In busy commercial kitchens, should food be covered in the fridge? Absolutely, it's one of the most cost-effective ways to maintain quality and safety standards.

Quality wrapping enables efficient portioning, creates tidy layouts that maximize space, and provides visibility for staff during busy service periods.

Introducing M Wrap® Plastic Food Film

M Wrap® represents the next generation of professional food wrapping solutions. This heavy-duty, food-grade film combines PVC and PE polymers, manufactured using advanced Japanese technology from Riken Vinyl Industry Co., Ltd.

The film carries both FDA approval and EFSA certification, ensuring compliance with international food safety standards. Its temperature range spans from –40°C to +130°C, making it suitable for freezer storage through microwave reheating.

Key features include airtight sealing that locks in freshness, microwave-safe properties, freezer-safe durability, and crystal-clear transparency for premium presentation. The inclusion of Hexamoll® DINCH plasticizer from BASF provides exceptional strength and flexibility.

How M Wrap® Enhances Smart, Safe Fridge Practices

M Wrap® eliminates air pockets that harbor bacteria and cause spoilage. The film's clingy properties create airtight seals around any container shape, preserving food quality for extended periods.

Unlike rigid containers, M Wrap® adapts to any shape or size. The film provides consistent coverage for large hotel pans, individual portions, or oddly-shaped items like whole roasted chickens.

The clear film supports effective portion control by allowing staff to see stored contents without unwrapping items. Kitchen managers can assess inventory levels at a glance, improving prep planning and reducing food waste.

Practical Wrap-and-Store Workflow

• Implement an efficient wrap-and-store system with consistent processes.

• Portion cooked items into appropriate serving sizes immediately after preparation.

•  Apply clear labels, including product name, preparation date, and use-by date, before wrapping with M Wrap®.

•  Arrange wrapped items by consumption date, with items needing to be used first positioned for easy access. The transparent nature allows managers to conduct visual stock audits without disturbing storage arrangements.

•  After partial usage, re-wrap items with fresh film and update date labels. This maintains food safety standards and prevents confusion about product freshness.

This simple process helps ensure your team always knows how should food be stored in the refrigerator to reduce waste and boost productivity.

Business Benefits of Smart Wrap Solutions

Smart wrapping solutions like M Wrap® don’t just make life easier - they directly impact your bottom line.

Professional-grade wrapping systems deliver measurable benefits. Food spoilage reduction directly impacts the cost of goods sold, with many businesses seeing 15-25% decreases in waste after switching to quality wrapping materials.

Enhanced hygiene protocols reduce contamination incidents that can lead to customer illness and negative reviews. Time savings in prep work and storage tracking allow staff to focus on food quality and customer service.

Presentation benefits are valuable for operations with visible food storage, such as deli counters and buffet lines. Professional wrapping creates a clean, organized appearance that builds customer confidence.

Why M Wrap® is the Smart Choice

M Wrap® is built for professional use, utilizing industrial-grade materials while maintaining food safety compliance. The film integrates seamlessly across different food service environments, from high-volume restaurants to hotel catering and supermarket prepared food sections.

The cost-competitive nature stems from its thin yet durable construction. Equipment options include hand rolls for small operations, machine dispensers for high-volume use, and stainless steel mounting units for permanent installations.

Discover how smart wraps can revolutionize your kitchen’s efficiency, hygiene, and presentation. Request a free M Wrap® sample today or book a complimentary fridge-storage audit to see how much you could save in waste and costs.

For more information about M Wrap®, visit MMP's Food Film page or contact our export sales team at exportsales@mmpcorp.co.th. Our team responds to all inquiries within 48 hours and provides customized recommendations based on your operational needs.

References:

1. Restaurant Food Storage Guidelines. (Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://www.fooddocs.com/post/restaurant-food-storage-guidelines)

2. Food Storage. (Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://www.nisbets.com.au/foodstorage)