There are few kitchen messes that are grosser than mold in the refrigerator. We’re not talking about a container of moldy cheese or sour cream. (Although, yes, those things are gross.) We’re talking about full-fledged mold that’s somehow managed to grow on the appliance shelves and walls. To put it simply: This is not ideal and you do not want mold in the refrigerator. Here’s what causes fridge mold, what you can do about it, whether or not it’s dangerous, and how to prevent it in the first place.
What causes fridge mold?
The most common source of refrigerator mold is rotting food. Usually, you can (sadly) throw that food away and be fine, but mold spreads through the air and through surface contact. So spores form a moldy piece of cheese could spread through air circulation or onto the shelf it’s sitting on. (Remember, refrigerators are dark most of the time and mold likes darkness!)
Mold can also appear if, say, your fridge has been unplugged for an extended period of time. (Maybe you lost power for days? Maybe you’ve inherited an already moldy fridge in a recent move?)
Or you could have a mechanical problem (this could be the case if you see no rotting food or the mold comes back even after you’ve given the inside of the fridge a good cleaning). If you think it might be a mechanical issue, an appliance professional can come in to check to make sure your fridge is working properly.
