Refrigerator Too Cold: Wrapping Veggies in a Blanket?

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The discussion centers on the issue of a refrigerator freezing vegetables even when set to the minimal setting. Participants suggest practical solutions such as wrapping vegetables in a kitchen towel and storing them in Ziploc freezer bags to mitigate freezing. The conversation also touches on the physics of insulation, emphasizing that air acts as a thermal insulator, which can affect temperature regulation within the refrigerator. Additionally, blocking airflow and adjusting freezer temperatures are proposed as potential fixes for the problem.

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Hornbein
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My refrigerator is on the minimal setting but still freezes the vegetables a little bit. It didn't do that a week ago. I'm renting and moving out in a few days so I'm not going to do anything drastic. How about wrapping my veggies in a blanket?

I never understood the physics of those compartments for butter. I guess they work because they are next to the wall, from which outside heat penetrates. So a blanket wouldn't make any difference. Or would it?
 
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My parents fridge has had the same issue. With the amount of food lost they could have bought a new one at this. Instead they put veggies and fruit in the wine fridge.

Dry your veggies as best you can, wrap them in a kitchen towel, and secure them in a Ziploc freezer bag. That might work.
 
I would place the vegetables inside partially inflated sealed plastic bags.
 
Lnewqban said:
I would place the vegetables inside partially inflated sealed plastic bags.
I could be wrong on this, but isn't it best to remove all air?
 
Mondayman said:
I could be wrong on this, but isn't it best to remove all air?
Air is a very good thermal insulator.
Most insulating material keep many tiny pockets of air trapped for that reason.
 
You could try blocking or partially blocking the air flow into the refrigerator. Our refrigerator did this on its own recently due to a defrost system failure and consequent ice build up in the airflow path. The refrigerator basically stopped cooling completely even though the freezer was nice and cold. I imagine you could just duct tape over the place or places the air comes into refrigerator. Or something caveman like that.

Turning up the freezer temperature might help as well. But I'm just guessing. If I knew more I wouldn't have spent that $250 on a repair.
 
Lnewqban said:
Air is a very good thermal insulator.
Most insulating material keep many tiny pockets of air trapped for that reason.
I meant more for the food itself. Oxygen will speed up how fast it turns bad.
 
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