The refrigerator is one of the common appliances in homes and the reason for this is understandable. When stored in a refrigerator, food items can last for several days or weeks.
However, placing a hot glass in the fridge to cool down fast can seem like an ideal thing to do. By the way, the fridge’s job is to cool or lower the temperature of items stored inside. So, it is easier to assume that putting a glass filled with hot liquid in the fridge is a good decision.
You could be cooking and want the hot liquid in the glass to cool down fast. And for that, you may decide to place the hot glass in the fridge.
But before making such a move, ask yourself this question – is it ideal transferring a hot glass to the fridge?
If you’re seeking the perfect answer to this question, read this post from start to finish.
Can You Put Hot Glass in the Fridge?
Yes, you can put hot glass in the fridge. For the record, the hot glass won’t shatter the fridge’s shelf even if it’s made of glass. But the truth is, it is not the wise thing to do.
When you put a hot glass in the fridge to cool down, the appliance will do as expected. It would keep the hot glass and its content’s temperature down. However, keep in mind that the glass and its content is hot. Therefore, it might take the fridge a while to cool them down.
Now, take note of this. It is possible to put hot glass and its content in the fridge. But that doesn’t make it a good idea. Try to lower the content’s temperature to at least 90 degrees Fahrenheit before placing it in the fridge.
There are diverse reasons to avoid putting hot food in the fridge. We’ll discuss them in detail shortly.
What Happens If You Put Hot Glass in the Fridge?
Several things could happen when you put hot glass in the fridge. And knowing them can help you make an informed decision.
Let’s discuss what could happen when you place a hot glass in your refrigerator.
1. Possibility of bacteria growth
The reason bacteria that cause food spoilage haven’t started their activities in your fridge, is because of the low and unfavorable temperature in the fridge. Bacteria can grow in the refrigerator when the temperature rises to 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, also called the “Danger Zone.”
So, bacteria can grow in a fridge once the environment is conducive. And given the chance, these food spoilage bacteria can cause foods stored in the refrigerator to go bad.
What does this have to do with putting hot glass in the fridge? Well, it has everything to do with it. The hot glass will dissipate heat as it cools down, raising the temperature inside the refrigerator. And as the temperature rises, it would give bacteria the opportunity to become active again.
2. Increased electricity bill
The fridge, on its own, consumes high electric energy when operating. It needs electricity to lower the temperature of the items stored inside.
The hotter the foods or items stored in the fridge, the higher the amount of energy it would require to bring down the temperature of the said food. So, when you put hot glass in a fridge, the appliance needs to work harder to reduce the temperature of that item.
In this situation, the fridge will have to consume more energy, causing your electricity bill to increase. Note that if the glass doesn’t contain any liquid or food, the refrigerator could be able to lower its temperature much quicker.
3. Possibility of the glass cracking
Before placing a hot glass in the fridge, ensure its thermal shock-resistant. Otherwise, it could crack or break. Being thermal shock resistant implies the glass can handle temperature fluctuation. And as you know, temperature fluctuation will be a big issue when you place a hot glass in the fridge.
Is It Bad To Put Hot Glass in the Fridge?
Yes, it is. It is not a wise thing to do. We have shared several reasons why putting a hot glass in the refrigerator isn’t a good idea. One is that it can raise the temperature inside the fridge, causing other foods stored in the appliance to go bad.
Another reason you should avoid putting hot glass in the fridge is that it can raise your electricity bill. The fridge will have to work harder to keep its temperature down. Finally, there’s a chance that the glass could crack or break.
So, you can see that putting a hot glass in a fridge isn’t the best of ideas. But that doesn’t mean it is not doable.
Can You Put a Hot Glass Pan in the Fridge?
Yes, you can. The hot glass pan and its content won’t damage the fridge’s shelf. But that doesn’t mean it is a good idea. It is better to allow the temperature of the glass pan and content to drop to room temperature before transferring them to the fridge.
The reason to avoid putting hot glass in the fridge is this. The hot glass and its content would raise the temperature inside the refrigerator. In this scenario, your fridge’s compressor must work harder to keep the temperature inside the fridge down.
When the fridge works harder, it will use more electricity. And what this means is that your energy bill will increase. Additionally, it will take the fridge more time to cool or lower the temperature of the hot pan.
Can You Put a Hot Glass Bowl in the Fridge?
Yes, you can. But then, is it a wise decision? No! Just like the hot glass pan, putting a hot glass bowl in the fridge can raise the temperature inside the appliance to unsafe levels that may cause spoilage of the other foods stored in the fridge.
Again, when you put a hot glass bowl in the fridge, the appliance has to work harder than it should to keep the temperature inside the fridge low. It will also work hard to cool down the hot glass bowl.
So, irrespective of how you want to look at it, putting a hot glass bowl in the fridge is not a great idea.
Can You Put Hot Glass in Freezer?
Again, yes, you can. But is it something you should consider doing? No! Before freezing, give the hot glass and its content more time to cool down. In other words, don’t throw a hot glass into the freezer just like that.
Note that hot foods placed in a glass container are more likely to get freezer burned than those in a freezer bag. There’s also a chance that the glass may suffer thermal shock in the freezer.
Thermal shock is a product of the rapid and sudden temperature change and it is capable of making glass shatter or develops cracks.
The best way to prevent the glass from experiencing thermal shock is to heat or cool it gradually. In other words, when the glass is still warm, please don’t put it in the freezer immediately. Allow the glass to cool down to room temperature before placing it in the freezer.
Similarly, when a glass is cold, don’t heat it immediately. Allow it to get warm gradually.
Will Hot Glass Break in the Fridge?
Yes, though it may not happen the first time you try it. However, repeatedly putting a hot glass in the fridge would weaken it and increase its chances of breaking or cracking.
Note that cooling a hot glass fast will cause it to cool down unevenly, causing it to crack or break. This uneven cooling causes the inside of the glass to contract while the outer part remains expanded.
Usually, glass contracts when it cools or is frozen and expands when it is heated or hot.
Can You Put Pyrex Straight From the Oven to the Fridge?
The answer is no! Avoid transferring Pyrex from one extreme temperature to another. For example, avoid moving Pyrex from the oven straight to the fridge or refrigerator to the oven.
The danger of transferring Pyrex from the oven to the fridge is that the extreme temperature changes could cause the glass to shatter to pieces.
So, give your glassware some time to cool down. Let it cool down to room temperature before putting it in the fridge.
Conclusion: Can you put hot glass in the fridge?
Yes, you can. But then, that isn’t a good thing to do. It is better to allow the hot glass to cool down naturally to room temperature before transferring it to the fridge.
Moving a hot glass to the fridge can cause the glass to suffer thermal shock. And as you know, thermal shock can cause the glass to crack or break.
So, avoid transferring glassware from one extreme temperature to another, such as from the fridge to the oven and vice versa. Give the glass and its content time to cool down before putting it in the refrigerator.
