There are two things to remember when trying to extend the life of your fresh produce: temperature and humidity. Your refrigerator can control both, but only if you use your humidity drawers properly.

And, chances are, you’re not.

Humidity drawers are on the bottom of the fridge for a reason.

As you’ll probably remember from science class, warm air rises and cold air sinks, which is why there is a constant cycle of air circulating in your fridge. This air circulation can wreak havoc on certain produce, unless you control how much of that airflow reaches them.

Adjusting the humidity isn’t rocket science.

To control or restrict the airflow to the humidity drawers, all you have to do is open or close the air exchange at the front of the drawer (usually a slide that indicates low to high). That’s it.

Prevent wilt with high humidity.

Now that you know how to adjust the humidity, it’s time to figure out what goes where. The easiest way to remember the settings is to remember that delicate leafy vegetables and herbs enjoy a moisture-rich environment. (I like to remember Herbs=High or just try to picture crisp, water-laden lettuce in my head). To achieve high humidity, the window should be closed to trap the moisture in the drawer.

Avoid rot with low humidity.

Fruits and vegetables that would rather rot than wilt if left alone are best kept as dry as possible. Drop that setting down to “low” and open the window exchange to keep air flowing over produce like apples. If you have a lot of produced packed in this drawer, a lower humidity level is a good idea; there’s likely enough moisture from the drawer contents to keep even the humidity-loving leaves happy.

All produce is not equal.

You may not realize this, but not every piece of produce belongs in the fridge. Sensitive fruits like pineapples, bananas, avocados, citrus and mangos can actually spoil faster if refrigerated. The same goes for vegetables like cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, tomatoes, and potatoes.

If we can help you make sense of your humidity drawers, just imagine what we can do when we clean your house! Call The Maids today for a free estimate.

The post 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Your Fridge’s Humidity Drawers appeared first on The Maids Blog.