Experts have issued a health warning over a potentially dangerous fridge trick that has been doing the rounds on social media – and it could ruin your festive treats
Christmas is the season for sweet indulgence, and a great dessert is a must-have to finish off the eagerly anticipated festive meal.
However, experts are sounding the alarm about a ‘harmful’ fridge hack circulating on social media that could cause more problems than it solves.
A classic tiramisu is a perfect sweet treat to have for dessert and is quite simple to make at home. But fans have been elevating the game by assembling it directly in their fridge drawers rather than using a baking tray or dish.
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The craze was initiated by @rubys.food, who posted a video of herself christening her new fridge by crafting the traditional Italian dessert straight into the crisper drawer, attracting over six million views, reports the Express.
Now, hygiene and cleaning specialists at Alliance Online are issuing a critical health warning to domestic cooks tempted to try out the fad this Christmas.
Spokesperson Rachael Kiss warned: “Unless your fridge is brand new, it’s likely that you’ve stored raw produce like fruits, vegetables and meat which can carry a host of bacteria like E.coli or salmonella unless thoroughly cleaned after use.
“Fridge drawers are notoriously difficult to clean due to their corners and crevices which means it’s really difficult to thoroughly make sure you’re avoiding cross contamination.”
As well as this, whipping up tiramisu in your fridge drawer could be a recipe for disaster for anyone with food allergies.
Rachael warned: “As fridge drawers are not designed for food preparation and therefore difficult to clean this can also mean exposing you or guests to allergens like nuts, shellfish or dairy products.”
She advised that for those hosting guests with allergies, it’s safest to prepare dishes in a food-safe dish. Rachael also highlighted the risk of ‘potentially harmful chemicals’ from fridge materials contaminating food like tiramisu.
She added: “Most household fridges don’t contain drawers labelled as food-safe for direct contact so it’s always best to double check first.
“The tiramisu drawers you see in these restaurants feature steel refrigerator drawers which are designed to hold food and be cleaned thoroughly by kitchen staff who are also trained in food safety.”
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