What is the safest way to store raw meat in a refrigerator?

Storing raw meat safely in a refrigerator is crucial to prevent cross-contamination and ensure food safety. The best practice is to place raw meat on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. This positioning helps avoid any potential dripping or leaking of juices that can carry harmful bacteria onto other foods, especially those that are ready to eat, like fruits and vegetables.

By keeping raw meat on the bottom shelf, any leakage is contained and reduces the risk of contaminating foods stored above it. This method aligns with food safety guidelines, which recommend the separation of raw and cooked foods to maintain hygiene and minimize health risks.

While storing raw meat on the top or middle shelves might seem convenient, it poses a heightened risk of contamination to other foods if any juices were to escape. A separate compartment can be beneficial in certain refrigerators designed for that purpose but is less common in standard configurations. Therefore, the bottom shelf remains the most widely recommended and safest option for storing raw meat.