Recently, with the occurrence of high temperatures in many parts of China, people are using refrigerators more frequently. However, many people may not know that not all food entering the refrigerator is equivalent to entering a "safe". Some foods in the refrigerator may transform into "invisible bombs". As soon as I opened the refrigerator door, passion fruit exploded in my face with a loud bang! ”Recently, on social media, many netizens have shared their terrifying moment in front of the refrigerator, saying 'Coke that has been frozen all night can be taken out and fried in half.'. From passion fruit juice and lemon water to bayberry juice, willow branch nectar, and even cola and beer, they can all transform into 'bombs'. So, why do these common foods get out of control in the refrigerator? How can we use refrigerators to scientifically store food? A reporter from Science and Technology Daily recently interviewed relevant experts on this matter. The explosion principles are different for different types of food. ”Chai Xiuhang, assistant researcher at the School of Food Science, Jiangnan University, said. Chai Xiuhang explained that fruit juice drinks such as passion fruit juice, lemon water, and bayberry juice are rich in nutrients and are a "luxury buffet" of microorganisms. Even if they are put in the refrigerator, some of the cold tolerant bacteria (such as yeast and lactic acid bacteria) can still reproduce slowly. Some cold tolerant bacteria can produce gases such as carbon dioxide. If the juice is stored in a sealed container, over time, these gases accumulate more and more, and eventually the container cannot hold so much gas, it will explode, "he said. Carbonated beverages such as cola, Fanta, and beer themselves contain a large amount of carbon dioxide. When they enter the refrigerator, the low temperature will cause a decrease in gas solubility, and carbon dioxide will "escape" from the liquid one after another. If they are frozen into ice, their volume expands, and the gas is released more violently. At this point, if the bottle is sealed, it is like a constantly inflating balloon, with a very high risk of explosion. ”Associate Professor Sun Dewei from the Tourism Culinary College of Wuxi Vocational and Technical College of Commerce said, "If there are temperature fluctuations or container shaking again, the risk of explosion will be higher." In addition, fermented foods such as chili sauce, fruit wine, and kimchi will not completely stop fermenting even in the refrigerator. Chai Xiuhang said that in low-temperature environments, this type of food will continue to produce gases such as carbon dioxide, but the gas production rate will slow down. At this time, there is also a possibility of explosion in the sealed container used to store fermented food. Mastering safe storage skills: The refrigerator is the "freshness responsibility" of the home, but it is not a "universal safe". The key to making the refrigerator a safe food 'preservation station' is to understand the 'temperament' of different foods, "said Sun Dewei. For juice based foods, Sun Dewei suggests that freshly squeezed juice should be consumed on the same day. If you can't finish it, don't use completely sealed bottles for the rest. You can use a cup with a lid that is slightly loosened to allow the gas to slowly escape; Alternatively, you can use glass jars, but leave some space and don't fill them too full. After putting the juice in the refrigerator for refrigeration, store it for a maximum of 1 to 2 days, and remember to open the lid and release the air every day. For carbonated drinks and beer, Sun Dewei said that these drinks can be refrigerated, but never put them in the freezer. Freezing can cause liquids to freeze and expand, increasing the likelihood of explosions. After taking the carbonated beverage out of the refrigerator, do not shake it vigorously or open it immediately. You can first place it on the table and let it sit for a few minutes to let the gas inside "stabilize". For fermented foods such as kimchi and fruit wine, Sun Dewei said that after these foods are put in the refrigerator, they need to regularly open the bottle cap to release air. If you find that the food has a strange taste or color change, it means that it has spoiled and should be thrown away as soon as possible. In addition, there are also some refrigerator storage details that need to be noted. Firstly, the temperature must meet the standard. The temperature in the refrigerator should not exceed 4 degrees Celsius, and the temperature in the freezer should not exceed minus 18 degrees Celsius, otherwise it is easy to cause bacterial growth. Secondly, the raw and cooked should be separated. Place cooked food on the top and raw food on the bottom to avoid cross contamination. Again, regular cleaning is necessary. Clean the refrigerator every 1 to 2 months, wipe off the inner walls and sealing strips, and reduce bacterial growth. Finally, power outages need to be 'dealt with'. If the power outage lasts for more than 4 hours, it is best to throw away cut fruits, half consumed milk, etc. to avoid eating bad food. (New Society)