Open anyone’s fridge and one of the first things you notice will be the cartons of milk lined up and the varieties of dairy products like butter, cheese, yogurt, and cream. However, are they being stored correctly? Here are some safety and storage tips for refrigerating dairy foods the right way:

• Milk
  Milk should be stored at 39°F. If the supermarket is far from your house, let milk be the last item you pick from an aisle and the first thing you put into the fridge when you get home. Also, it is wise to put the older cartons in front and the fresh ones behind so that you consume the older ones first. It is best to consume milk within 5 to 7 days and discard it if it has been lying in your fridge for more than a week. Additionally, it is important to place the cartons only on the shelves and not in the doors, replace the lid tightly, and never pour leftover milk back into the carton.
• Cheese
  Cheese should be stored in the vegetable drawers or the bottom drawers in temperatures between 39 and 45 degrees. Do not freeze cheese, and if it comes wrapped in a plastic bag, remove it. Wrap it in cheese bags, wax, or parchment paper and place it in a sealed bag or container, and change the wrap after every use. Soft cheeses can spoil quickly, so you can store them in their containers but ensure that you do not touch them with a moist spoon or knife. Always keep track of the use-by dates if cheese is in the original packaging, or make a note of it using a marker pen so that you do not miss the date. However, cheese can stay unspoiled in the freezer for months together. You can keep it as a block or grate hard cheeses and freeze them.
• Butter
  Safety and storage tips are important for refrigerating butter to avoid its discoloration and to ensure that it doesn’t become rancid. You can either transfer it into dry containers or keep it wrapped in greaseproof packaging, but you can also leave it in the original packaging if it is tight. If packed well, butter can last for 3 or more weeks in the fridge. Besides, you can cut the butter into 1-inch pieces and freeze it if you want to. You can also wrap the smaller pieces in aluminum foil and store them in a zip lock bag. Make it a point to label it and mark the use-by date to ensure that it is fit for consumption. Many people keep butter sticks covered and keep them outside so that it is easy to spread the butter. In such cases, it is critical to ensure that the butter is not spoilt or rancid before eating it.
• Yogurt
  Yogurt can be stored in its original container, but you must ensure that you use a clean spoon every time.
• Cream and cream cheese
  You can store these in their original packaging, but always wipe the drips from the package. Once you open the carton, ensure that you use it all before the use-by date. Also, there is no need to freeze cream and cream cheese.

In addition to these safety and storage tips for refrigerating dairy products, periodic cleaning of the refrigerator, maintaining the right temperature, and discarding old and stale food can help keep the food in your fridge fresh and healthy for consumption.