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Nutrition and daily life

The refrigerator: the right temperature and the right place

A fridge slows germ growth but does not stop it. Some bacteria, such as Listeria, can grow even in the cold. This section explains how to use the fridge properly during treatment.

Last updated: ~1 min read
Cooked food above, raw meat below.
Figure 1.An organised fridge.

01Short answer

Keep the fridge at 4 °C or below and the freezer at −18 °C; check with a thermometer. Store raw meat and fish in a sealed container on the bottom shelf so juices cannot drip onto other food. Chill cooked food within 2 hours and eat leftovers within 1–2 days. Date your containers. Do not overfill the fridge and wipe spills at once. Thaw food in the fridge, not at room temperature.

02Simple explanation

4 °C or below.

Raw meat at the bottom.

Leftovers: 1–2 days.

Thaw in the fridge.

03Scientific explanation

Listeria monocytogenes: grows even at fridge temperature, so ready-to-eat foods are kept only briefly and dates are watched.

ESPEN: enough energy and protein matter for preventing weight and muscle loss in people with cancer, and nutritional status should be assessed regularly.

NCI: practical eating tips exist for treatment side effects such as nausea, taste changes and mouth sores.

04What happens in the body?

Dates

Throw away food past its use-by date; use opened packs quickly.

A small thermometer on a shelf.
Figure 2.A thermometer — The refrigerator: the right temperature and the right place

Cleaning

Wipe shelves regularly with hot soapy water.

Containers with blank tags.
Figure 3.Containers — The refrigerator: the right temperature and the right place

Dietitian

If you are losing weight, have no appetite or need a special diet, ask to see the hospital dietitian.

Food safety

Food-safety rules for neutropenia (see “Handwashing: the simplest protection” and “Eggs and dairy: safe choices”) apply at every stage.

05Nutrition: four steps

Assess, swap the risky, cook safely, eat regularly.

Assess — Weight and appetite.1AssessWeight and appetite.
Swap — A safe choice.2SwapA safe choice.
Cook — Hot throughout.3CookHot throughout.
Eat regularly — Small portions.4Eat regularlySmall portions.
StrengthEnergy.
ProteinFor muscle.
SafetyFood rules.

06Key points at a glance

TopicIn brief
DatesThrow away food past its use-by date; use opened packs quickly.
CleaningWipe shelves regularly with hot soapy water.
DietitianIf you are losing weight, have no appetite or need a special diet, ask to see the hospital dietitian.
Food safetyFood-safety rules for neutropenia (see “Handwashing: the simplest protection” and “Eggs and dairy: safe choices”) apply at every stage.

07Key terms

Listeria
A bacterium that can grow in the cold.
Use-by date
The safety deadline for a food.
Dietitian
A nutrition specialist.
Protein
A nutrient for repairing muscles and tissues.
Neutropenia
Low neutrophils.

08Key points

  • Check the temperature.
  • Raw meat at the bottom.
  • Eat leftovers soon.
  • A diet is not a treatment.
  • Talk to a dietitian.

09Frequently asked questions

Can hot food go in the fridge?

Yes; split it into small containers so it cools quickly.

How long do frozen leftovers keep?

Longer, but eat them soon after thawing; follow your team's rules.

Can a special diet cure leukemia?

No. Good nutrition helps you cope with treatment, but it does not cure.

10Questions for your doctor

Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.

  1. Can hot food go in the fridge?

  2. How long do frozen leftovers keep?

  3. Can a special diet cure leukemia?

My questions

12Sources

  1. FDA. Refrigerator Thermometers
  2. National Cancer Institute. Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment
  3. ESPEN. ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical Nutrition in cancer (2021)
  4. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Food and Nutrition
  5. World Health Organization. Healthy diet fact sheet
  6. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2018. Johnson SB et al. Use of Alternative Medicine for Cancer and Its Impact on Survival
  7. JAMA Oncology, 2018. Johnson SB et al. Complementary Medicine, Refusal of Conventional Cancer Therapy, and Survival Among Patients With Curable Cancers
  8. NHS. How to wash your hands
  9. World Health Organization (WHO). Food safety — fact sheet
  10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Preventing Listeria Infection
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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