Storing wine in your refrigerator may make the wine aficionado cringe, but sometimes this is the only option, aside from tossing the bottle. Having a dedicated wine refrigerator or a proper wine cellar is the best solution to storing all variations of wine. However, with a few adjustments you can easily store your red, white and rose wines in your full-size refrigerator temporarily.
Instructions
1. Adjust the temperature. The optimal temperature for keeping wine chilled is between 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. A full-size refrigerator's average temperature is 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Since this is your dedicated refrigerator, you do not want to raise the temperature too high. Keep the temperature between 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Adjust the humidity. Modern refrigerators allow you to adjust the level of humidity in their smaller compartments. Set the humidity to medium-high. If the air is too dry the cork will dry out quicker, allowing air into the bottle and ruining your wine. If your refrigerator does not have the capability to adjust humidity, you can still chill your wine anyway. Either way, it is best to consume or transfer the wine within a week.
3. Control vibration. Full-size refrigerators tend to vibrate a lot, even if you do not notice it. This vibration can start to loosen the cork, allowing air into the bottle and ruining the wine. Wrap the bottle of wine in a small towel to provide a shock absorber.
4. Drink the wine. Keeping the wine in a typical full-size refrigerator is not ideal and should not be used as a permanent placement for your wine. It is best to drink the wine within two weeks of being placed in the refrigerator.
Tags: degrees Fahrenheit, full-size refrigerator, your wine, allowing into, allowing into bottle, between degrees
