Refrigerating your food goes all in vain if the food tastes nothing but chemical. Yes, it can be a nightmare for you, especially when you need to store food for a long period.
And if you have experienced something similar, then you are probably wondering, “Why does the food in my fridge taste like chemicals” and what to do. Now, you can sit back and relax as we describe the causes and solutions to this issue.
Sometimes, you can mistake the chemical smell for chemical taste. And throw all your food in the bin, assuming they are toxic. In order to prevent such scenarios, we will break down the causes in terms of smell and taste. Stick with us!
Why Does the Food in My Fridge Taste Like Chemicals?
From the refrigerants and cleansers to the stored food itself in the fridge can produce the chemical taste in your food. As the causes of chemical tastes are different, you need to apply several solutions to fix them. Before that, take a look at the factors below that cause the issue –
- Cleansing Products
Once in a while, you need to cleanse your fridge. Otherwise, germs, bacteria, or mold will grow on your food. And the cleansing products you use have chemical ingredients in them. Those ingredients leave a pungent or chemical taste on your foods often.
Also, if you do not wipe off the chamber of the fridge properly after cleaning them, the odor of the cleansing product will permeate the food. And placing the food and closing the door immediately after cleaning the fridge can also develop a chemical taste.
- Newly-bought Fridge
It might come across as a shocker to you that a newly-bought fridge can leave a sour or chemical smell. And you might confuse the smell with a metallic or chemical taste. In such cases, you do not need to throw away the food with a chemical smell as they are not toxic.
If you have kept your foods inside the new fridge, they might smell like chemicals for a day or two.
After a few days, the chemical smell from the new fridge will not permeate the foods anymore. But if it is not a new fridge, and still you can taste or smell the chemicals in food, go through the next causes.
- Freon Refrigerant Leak
All types of fridges require some chemicals or refrigerants to maintain the cold temperature inside the fridge. And one such chemical is Freon. As Freon does not emit a strong smell, you cannot even identify whether there is a Freon leakage or not.
However, if the foods inside start to rot and stay warm, then it is most probably because of the Freon leak. And if your foods are exposed to the chemical for a longer period, you will experience a slight pungent or chemical taste in them.
You must throw the food if it tastes like chemicals due to the Freon leak. Also, remember that whenever there is any leak or unit damage in the fridge, you must call the technicians to fix the issues.
- Citrus Fruits
Sometimes, it can happen to you that you keep some half-used citrus fruits inside the fridge, and you forget about them.
Eventually, these fruits rot in the fridge, and the bad smell of citrus permeates the fresh foods. And you can mistake the smell for a chemical taste.
It is better not to store cut-up or half-used citrus fruits such as lemon, pomelo, oranges, or limes in the fridge. Even if you do, always check whether they are rotting or not.
How to Get Rid of the Chemical Taste of Food Stored in the Fridge?
There are several fixes that you can apply to fix and prevent the chemical taste of food stored in the fridge. And keeping the availability of ingredients and your convenience in mind, we have listed some of the easy yet significant solutions below –
- Use Baking Soda
After cleaning your fridge, do not store the food right away. Instead, let the door open for a couple of minutes or so. Afterward, place a box of baking soda in the fridge. Then, you can store the food.
Once you leave the soda inside for a week, it will absorb the pungent or chemical odor emitted from the citrus fruits or cleansing products. And the odor can no longer permeate the food to make it taste like chemicals.
- Utilize Activated Charcoal
If the baking soda does not absorb the odor, you can try using the activated charcoal. These pure carbons absorb the chemical, citrus, or any other smell.
You can easily find activated charcoal in drug stores. Once you get the charcoal, ensure to place them in an open container and keep it at the back of the fridge. And you no longer have to worry about the chemical taste of the food in the fridge.
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q’s):
- Should You Call Professionals to Fix the Chemical Taste of the Food in Fridge?
If Freon leakage or any other damaged units or fan of the fridge cause the chemical taste, you must call the technicians. Otherwise, fixing such units on your own can risk your health and surroundings.
- Can Too Much Moisture Produce Chemical Taste?
Yes, if there is too much moisture inside the fridge, it will produce a musty smell. And that will permeate the food and give them a chemical taste.
- Can You Prevent Moisture from Producing Chemical Taste in the Food?
You must clean the fridge with hot soapy water and a tablespoon of bleach to get rid of the moisture. Then, after drying out the surfaces, place the food to prevent any musty taste or smell from the moisture.
Conclusion
The fridge is supposed to keep your food fresh. But if the food tastes like chemicals, it is natural for you to wonder “why does the food in my fridge taste like chemicals,” even after storing them properly.
Sometimes, the food tastes like chemicals due to your lack of supervision. And the fridge units or refrigerants are the culprits behind it at times. No matter what the cause is, we hope our solutions will help you out.
