Using the balcony to store food during the winter months offers an easy way to save energy and reduce the load on the refrigerator. But which foods are best for this and which are not?
Benefits of storing food outside in winter
During times when outside temperatures are sufficiently low, the balcony effectively acts as a free outdoor refrigerator by taking advantage of the natural, cool conditions. This is particularly relevant since refrigerators are among the largest energy consumers in households. Moving food to be cooled to the balcony reduces the need to open the refrigerator frequently, which in turn reduces energy consumption.
Storing food outside is not only practical, but also environmentally friendly. It helps reduce electricity consumption, which in turn reduces CO2 emissions. In addition, using the balcony as a storage location creates additional space in the refrigerator, making it easier to organize and access food in the house.
Important information about storing food outside
However, when storing food outdoors during the winter months, there are some important instructions to follow to ensure the quality and safety of the food, as the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture reports in an online article.
In winter, the outside temperatures can fluctuate significantly, which can lead to a faster multiplication of germs and bacteria, especially with dairy and meat products. These fluctuations, which can range from sub-zero temperatures at night to temperatures well above zero during the day, promote the spoilage of food, as it goes on to say. It is therefore always important to keep an eye on the expected temperature developments over the next few days and to be careful in the event of significant fluctuations. However, perishable foods in particular should be stored in the refrigerator where they are not exposed to temperature fluctuations, according to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. However, short-term storage for a few hours, for example to cool down cooked leftovers more quickly, is possible and can be practical before the food is placed back in the refrigerator in an airtight package.
It is also advisable to store food in the shade and not expose it to direct sunlight to prevent the proliferation of bacteria, as it goes on to say. In addition, the food should be sealed watertight and airtight to protect it from moisture and animals. Unopened food can be taken outside in its original packaging. For food that has already been opened, storage containers made of glass, plastic or metal with a seal, for example in the form of a rubber ring, are suitable to protect them from uninvited guests such as birds and four-legged friends. An airtight and odor-tight seal on the food storage containers is of great importance, according to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
These products are suitable for outdoor storage
Various foods lend themselves well to outdoor storage. These include, among other things, dairy products such as quark, cheese and yoghurt as well as processed meat, such as sausage, as the consumer window Hessen reports in an article. These products tolerate the cooler outside temperature well and will remain fresh as long as they are protected from direct sunlight and the temperatures remain within this range. You should also make sure that these products are stored sealed, as it goes on to say.
Eggs, butter, preserves and marmalade, which normally find their place in the refrigerator door, can also tolerate higher temperatures of around ten to twelve degrees, according to the consumer window Hessen. They stay fresh under these conditions and can therefore be safely stored on the balcony. It is important that they are protected from direct sunlight and moisture to preserve their quality.
When it comes to vegetables and fruits, the types matter. For example, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, kohlrabi, leeks, peppers, radishes, white or red cabbage and zucchini are suitable for outdoor storage. These vegetables, which are in season in winter, can easily be stored on the balcony. When it comes to fruit, berries, grapes and stone fruits such as cherries, mirabelle plums or plums are suitable. These fruits stay fresh longer at lower temperatures than at room temperatures, although they are not in season during the colder months.
These products are not suitable for outdoor storage in winter
While storing food outdoors during the winter months can be an effective way to save energy, certain foods need to be handled with extra care. Fresh fish and fresh meat, for example, are very perishable and should therefore be kept in the refrigerator at a maximum of four degrees, as the consumer window Hessen also reports. Only the controlled, cool conditions of the refrigerator would provide the necessary protection to keep these delicate foods fresh and minimize the risk of rapid spoilage.
Some types of vegetables are also not suitable for storing outdoors in winter. Eggplants, tomatoes and pumpkins, for example, are relatively sensitive to cold, according to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. They prefer room temperatures and can lose flavor and texture if temperatures are too low. Potatoes, on the other hand, require dark storage to maintain their quality and are therefore not suitable for storage on a balcony flooded with light.
It is also important to store certain foods separately from each other. For example, apples and bananas should not be stored together because apples give off ethylene gas, which can quickly turn bananas brown and mushy. The same applies to the storage of onions and potatoes, which should not be stored next to each other to prevent moisture absorption and germination. It is important to understand the properties and needs of each food and to act accordingly to ensure that they are well preserved under these conditions, as the consumer advice center concludes.
Other possible uses for the balcony in winter
In addition to storing food, the balcony offers other useful uses in winter that can help save energy. One of them is drying clothes. On dry, sunny winter days, the balcony offers an effective way to dry laundry, as Utopia reports in an online post. This method not only saves energy that would otherwise be used for an electric tumble dryer, but also freshens laundry naturally.
In addition, the balcony can serve as practical temporary storage when defrosting refrigerators or freezers. During these necessary maintenance operations, the food can be temporarily stored on the balcony to keep it fresh while facilitating the defrosting process, it says.
Another useful aspect of the balcony in winter is storing drinks in glass bottles. These often take up a lot of space in the refrigerator and can therefore be stored efficiently on the balcony. This method not only saves space in the refrigerator, but also keeps the drinks cool. However, it is important to ensure that temperatures do not fall so low that the drinks freeze and the bottles are potentially damaged.
D. Maier / editorial team finanzen.net