As another scorching heatwave is set to hit parts of Britain, specialists are urging households to check a commonly overlooked appliance – their fridge – before temperatures rise.
New research from electrical retailer AO, surveying 2,000 UK adults, reveals that 40% of Britons admit that hot weather makes storing food in their fridge more difficult. The study also found that 44% say limited fridge space is their biggest challenge.
Habits not adapting to heat
Despite these difficulties, almost half of Britons (48%) say they do not change how they use their fridge during hotter spells, even though all participants reported facing at least one seasonal problem. This highlights a gap between fridge use and summer needs.
The findings come after a summer marked by extreme heat, forcing fridges to work harder while being packed with extra food and drinks.
Overcrowding and organisation
More than three in ten Britons (31%) admit their fridge is often overcrowded or messy all year, which worsens in summer. Only 30% regularly organise their fridge and place items in proper zones.
Jade Golding-Gault, refrigeration specialist at AO, said: "Summer exposes the strain we place on our fridges without recognising it. When temperatures soar, it's unavoidable that your fridge must operate harder to maintain your food cool and fresh, but at the same time being overfilled can make your fridge less efficient."
Expert tips for summer fridge use
Golding-Gault added: "After the recent heatwave, and with more warm weather on the horizon, now is the ideal time to review how you're using your fridge and ensure it's equipped to handle higher temperatures."
Her top tips include: avoid overfilling, leave space around food for air circulation, consider a smaller second fridge for drinks and snacks, and rotate food items to reduce waste.
