Expert shares three barbecue mistakes to avoid this summer

Daily Record

30-04-2025

We're currently enjoying the 'warmest spell of the year so far' with Scots seeing temperatures rise as high as 22C this week, just in time for the May Day Bank Holiday Weekend. And with the warm weather comes the itch to fish the barbecue out from the back of the shed, where it's no doubt been collecting dust since last summer. But if you do decide to get the grill out this week, there are a few common mistakes an expert is warning people to avoid. Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance repair expert at Domestic & General , has shared three mistakes that can damage your fridge, which are easily done during barbecue season. It's best to avoid these common errors if you can this summer, in order to protect your appliance and make sure it lasts through plenty more heatwaves in the future. Here is Ian's expert advice. Deciding whether to put away leftover hot food immediately or once it's cooled down is a dilemma often faced at the end of a summer gathering. But when it comes to appliance maintenance, it's preferable to wait for food to cool down first. Ian explains: 'Putting something hot into your fridge will force the appliance to work harder in order to stay cool. "Hot food that is immediately stored away will give off steam, adding more moisture and resulting in condensation. 'Condensation in your fridge can lead to water leaks and ice build up - both of which should be avoided to protect your appliance. Wherever possible, allow hot food to cool to room temperature before storing it in the fridge.' If you've hosted a BBQ, you may find yourself squeezing more items onto the shelves than usual. But this can sometimes lead to problems later down the line, explains the expert. Ian says: 'Your fridge functions to store food, but it shouldn't be treated like a cupboard. If you cram it full of food, leaving little gaps for air to flow through the appliance, this puts increased pressure on the fridge to maintain the cool temperature. "You may notice some parts of the fridge have ice build up, whilst other shelves feel warm. 'The pressure on the fridge's system can overwork the fan, compressor and other key components. This ultimately leads to inflated energy usage, and energy bills. ' Whilst hosting and preparing food, you'll likely be in and out of the fridge, but with high temperatures , it is crucial that you close the fridge door each time to protect your appliance. Ian says: 'Whilst leaving the fridge door open quickly shouldn't impact its functionality, if you leave the door open for a few minutes at a time whilst preparing food, this will start to reduce its overall lifespan. "Fridges and fridge freezers alike need specific temperatures to work effectively, so if the door is open for an extended period of time, this will cause the appliance to work harder in order to maintain the required temperature. 'This ultimately puts unnecessary added load and pressure on the fridge freezer, which could result in needing a repair. As a general rule, never leave the door open for longer than three minutes.'