Many households these days freeze their ice in the freezer, right? Typically, we take the ice out of the tray in the freezer, refill it with water, and freeze it again. We often neglect to regularly clean the freezer and ice tray because we assume they must be clean due to the cold temperature. However, did you know that some bacteria can survive even in the cold environment of the freezer? If you don’t manage your ice tray properly, food poisoning bacteria can multiply, so caution is necessary.
It’s Easy to Neglect Cleaning the Ice Tray
It’s easy to neglect cleaning the ice tray in the freezer because we often think that bacteria can’t multiply due to the low temperature. Although freezing water in the freezer does not cause food poisoning, the condition of the water during storage can be problematic. If the freezer is contaminated, bacteria can multiply and transfer to the water when frozen, causing the ice to be contaminated with bacteria. Consuming this can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, and other symptoms of food poisoning.
Bacteria That Don’t Die Even at -4°F
Did you know some bacteria can survive even at -4°F? If you keep reusing an unwashed ice tray, ‘Listeria’ bacteria, which can cause various infectious diseases such as sepsis, meningitis, and food poisoning, can multiply. Listeria bacteria can survive at temperatures even below -4°F. Therefore, you must be cautious since they can grow and multiply as ice melts. Also, they don’t die out completely, potentially leading to food poisoning.
Norovirus Also Survives for a Long Time
In addition to the bacteria mentioned earlier, another cause of food poisoning, the norovirus, can also survive for a long time in ice. According to the Food and Drug Safety Administration, norovirus in ice survives 99% even after three days, and about 45% can survive even after 17 days, showing strong vitality. Norovirus is believed to lose 99.9% of its infectivity. However, based on the above results, we can infer that ice preserves norovirus infectivity for a significant duration.
Sterilization Method for Ice Trays
To sterilize and disinfect the ice tray in the freezer, soak it in water mixed with vinegar for about 20 minutes, then rinse it thoroughly with water and dry completely. If the ice tray smells, it’s good to soak it in rice water for about an hour. The starch in the rice water will remove stains from the ice tray and absorb the smell. If there are still stains, sprinkle coarse salt and scrub the surface with a brush.
This is Annoying But Necessary
Before you remove the ice tray from the freezer and freeze new ice, rinse it with water. A similar example is that to remove norovirus, it is most effective to soak food in tap water for more than 2 minutes and then rinse it under running water for about 30 seconds, according to an announcement by the Food and Drug Safety Administration. It is safer to thoroughly clean the ice tray that comes into direct contact with the ice.
The Refrigerator is a Hotbed for Bacteria
During the summer, infections due to exposure to food poisoning bacteria frequently occur within the home. Bacteria proliferate most commonly in the refrigerator at home, and studies show that a fridge contains about 10 times more bacteria than a toilet. It is best to avoid frequently opening the freezer door and to keep the temperature at -4°F to create an environment where bacteria cannot multiply.
What if You’re Using an Ice Water Purifier?
If you’re using an ice water purifier at home, you must regularly replace the filter. Ice water purifiers create ice by sending cold refrigerant from the evaporator to the tray filled with purified water. Once the ice forms, the machine drops it by momentarily heating it with a heater. Due to this complex structure, bugs or bacteria can easily thrive, making regular cleaning and filter replacement crucial.
Ice Used in Cafes Requires Special Attention
Ice used in general restaurants or coffee shops requires special attention. The ice used in cafes can be more easily exposed to food poisoning bacteria due to the environment where it quickly melts and freezes again and is frequently exposed to room temperature. Ice can be contaminated when touched without wearing sanitary gloves or when the ice maker is used where it is not completely dry after disinfection.
Making Ice with Boiled Water
When freezing ice at home, it’s better to use boiled water instead of tap water. This is because norovirus can easily be activated in the chlorine concentration of tap water. If boiling water is too much of a hassle, you can use water from a water purifier.
Good to Buy Hygienically Packaged Ice
Since it’s hard to judge the hygiene status of ice with the naked eye, it’s better to buy hygienically packaged ice sold in convenience stores or supermarkets. If you want to make ice at home, you should not only clean the refrigerator but also use bottled water or boiled water, as mentioned earlier, and get into the habit of thoroughly cleaning the used ice tray down to the crevices.
By. Jeon Shin Young (press@daily.co.kr)
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