Evening star., 1923-06-15
N summer the housewives Thoughts

| turn to the problem or keeping
food fresh and cool. If you are
| planning to buy new refrig-
orator. choose one that Is well made
! 1t will consume less ice than one
of poor construction. Choose a re-
| frigerator that is large enough. 1t
| is a great mistake to have too small
! a refrigerator for the amount of
| food placed in 1t. In this case there
| Is not room for enough ice. The
| food melts the ice faster than the ice
| can chill the food. Too much crowd
/ ing of food also obstructs the air
circulation 80 essential to keeping
the flavor fresh and appetizing.
On the other hand. a small refrig-
orator, we'll filled with ice, and not
| overcrowded with food, will give bet
ter satisfaction than a large refrig-
| orator half filled with ice.
The best place for refrigerator
| is In the kitchen near the rear en-
trance. This may not be as con-
venfent as a little nearer the work ing
| section, but II will save the ice man
crossing your kitchen. A porch, even
II protected, and cellar are both bad
| places for a refrigerator. II should
| be kept in a cool spot, away from q
| draft. moisture or sudden changes in
| atmosphere.
A refrigerator is not a place in
| which to preserve ice. 1t Is for food
preservation. Therefore, keep the ice
compartment well filled. This is
economy in the long run. Covering
| ice with blanket or newspaper will
prevent the ice from melting as fast
but it will also make the refrigerator
less cool by raising the temperature.
| Such coverings are only desirable
when ice is very scarce or to use as a
| protection on the side OF the ice eX-
| posed when the Ice compartment Is
opened. The whole surface of the
Ice is needed to purify the air prop
erly. 1t is a case of +spare the ice
and spoil the food" and food is the
| more expensive.
The more ice you use at one f1ll-
ing the greater economy practiced.
1t is better economy to have the ice
chamber filled chock full of ice three
times a week than to buy small
piece of ice every day in the week
If you allow your refrigerator to
get warm 1t will take much more
Ice to chill it again than Ii would to
keep it cold. Ice is an article YOU
cannot economize on by skimping.
II the fce chamber is kept we'll filled
the air will be cold all the time. and
r the Ice Will Will pelt more slowly, of
|
either rapidly or slowly according
to the quantity of food placed in the
refrigerator. Be careful about open
ing the refrigerator door unneces-
sarily. Do not open ii every time
you want single article of food
| which may be needed about the same
| time. and do not hold open the dooy
while wondering what to take out
nrst or while planning meal. Tests
/ hl In ntrer Il
the temperature inside rises at leas,
two degrees. A rise of two degrees
| five times before dinner and five
times after dinner would compel the
! Ice to, restore a total of twenty de-
greeS. That is a quick way to melt
| your ice
| The coolest part of the Refrigerator
Is the first compartment to which the
air passes after being cooled on the
| 1Ce-usually the one just below the
ice compartment at the bottom. The
ice compartment should never be used
for food. as 1t is likely to absorb
Gdors, and the temperature is nc
lower there than in the next COM
partment. Never place hot food in a
refrigerator BY so doing you pro-
duce vapor which may injure the
FOOD directly and the people who par
take OF 1t indirectly: This is impor-
tanf. espe cially when applied to
1t also makes a big difference ir
what part of the refrigerator you
place the different kinds of food
Ihey give OFF odors, and these odors
are sure to mingle unpleasantIy IL the
air circulation reaches them in the
wrong order. Hot air rises and air
that is not being constantly purified
by circulation around the blocks OF
ice soon becomes unfit to come In
contact with food. When the warm
air in the refrigerator rises II car
ries with 1t impurities and moisture
absorbed from the surface of the
] food, which. If allowed to remain In
the air. will spoil the food. The air
which is warmed by passing over the
food. comes in contact with the ice
where the moisture is condensed
upon mes .ns Surlace ia ia ana the lmpurities
The air is thus dried, cooled and
purified. Then the cooled air i'm
mediately descends to gather up more
moisture and impurities and thus
Anything placed directly on or
around the fee tends to interfere with
the circulation Of the air.
| Ripe melons and other fruits and
Cabbage. onions. cheese. fish and
other foods with their flavor. A
piece of charcoal will help to keep
the air pure. and if used a fresh piece
should be put in once a week. Drink
ing water and other liquids should be
placed on the bottom of the refrig-
orator. Butter. lard, cream and milk
should be kept on the lower shelf
tender vegetables and fruits on the
upper shelf. and meats and other
foods on the intermediate shelves
To Keep Refrigerator Clean.
AS far as possible a refrigerator
should be kept clean by preventive
care. Ice should be washed before
1t Is put into the ice compartment
Food should be put into the refrig-
| orator in clean and usually covered
dishes. Anything spilled in the re-
frigerator should be wiped up imme-
diately The contents of the refrig-
orator should be frequently inspected
to make sure that no spoiled food is
left in it. Scour out every crack, cor
ner and joint once a week. A bit OF
meat or a drop of milk not removed
when cleaning may make the refrig-
orator have that musty odor so dan
gerous to health. Wash the ice rack
and shelves with soap and water
Clean the waste pipe with a flexible
rod, and always have the drip pan as
clean as the inside Of the refriger-
ator. If ants get into the refrigerator
scour the shelves and interior with
hot water and borax. The first time
a refrigerator is used in season II
should be clean and the ice should
be put in several hours before the
food is stored in 1t.
| Uses FOR Cracked Ice.
A little cracked ice on the dinner
table will make the entire meal more
appetizing by keeping the butter
from melting, the salad and fresh
vegetables from willing and the
drinking water from becoming warm
Summer drinks are not refreshing
without ice. They lack the snap
which revives tired nerves and
soothes dry throats. It is not neces-
sary to have the drinks too cold. Just
1 should he used tn hrin Q