How to store your food to keep it fresh
Your food can stay fresher for longer - it all depends on how it's stored.
Most of us have to clean out the fridge regularly and throw away vegetables, milk or leftovers that have rotted or expired soon after we’ve bought it. Other people tend to freeze everything after they’ve bought it to avoid it from becoming spoiled.
The secret to keeping food fresh actually starts in the store when you go shopping.
Only buy large quantities of perishable foods your family eats quickly and limit those that tend to last.
Grocery stores recommend that you buy fresh meat, dairy and frozen goods last because it will remain at the right temperature and prevents bacteria from multiplying.
Take cooler bags to transport frozen foods when you have to travel long distances to get home or if you won’t be heading home straight away. It is not safe to refreeze products once they have defrosted.
Check products’ seals and packaging to ensure that it has not been tampered with. Don’t buy dented, rusted, bulging or leaking tins.
Most importantly, always check the sell-by date. If it has expired, it should not be on the shelf. Tell a nearby employee or the store manager so that the product can be removed before another consumer buys it.
You need to store your groceries in a certain manner
Fruits and vegetables should be stored separately as fruits emit an ethylene gas that may shorten the life of your veggies. Store them in their original containers in the fridge. Line the bottom of your crisper drawer with paper towels. They will absorb the excess moisture that causes vegetables to rot.
If your carrots or celery are looking a bit wilted, put them in a bowl of ice water with a slice of raw potato. This will restore their crunch. Avoid separating bananas until just before you eat them because it takes longer for bunches to spoil.
Store fresh tomatoes that you plan to use shortly out on the counter to ripen. Smaller tomatoes and cherry tomatoes should be stored in the fridge in an airtight container or resealable bag.
Only wash the vegetables before you plan to use them, as washing them long beforehand will cause quicker deterioration.
Moving on to meat, most people correctly store uncooked meat in the freezer until they use it. Cooked meat, however, should be wrapped and sealed in an airtight container, before being stored in the coldest part of the fridge.
Other leftovers should also be stored at the back of the fridge. The items closest to the door will be subject to changing temperatures as the door is opened and closed.
Eggs also last longer if they are stored in the back instead of the door-storage unit. If you’re unsure whether the eggs are fresh, gently drop them in a cup of water. Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom and rotten ones will float to the top.
Somewhere near the eggs, the cheese is also kept. Many people have trouble finishing their supply of cheese before it becomes mouldy and lament having to throw a big chunk of cheese in the rubbish bin.
Soft cheeses with a high-fat content can luckily be frozen. Keep it in the original packaging and cover it tightly in cling wrap. You need to defrost it in the fridge for one day before it can be served.
To stop hard cheese sealed in wax from drying out, spread butter or margarine on the cut sides to seal in moisture.
To make cottage cheese or sour cream last longer, place the container upside down. This will create a vacuum that inhibits the growth of bacteria.
After you’ve made space for the eggs by freezing the cheese, check the beverage storage.
If you have a bottle of sparkling wine that has become flat, don’t throw it out. Just drop a couple of raisins into the bottle to revitalise it, the natural sugars will work wonders.
Now that your fridge is nicely repacked, the amount of food you’ll have to throw away will hopefully decrease. Remember to follow each product’s storage directions to ensure it lasts longer.
Sources: https://www.spar.co.za/Tips/View/Health-Tips/Food-Safety, https://www.property24.com/articles/tips-for-storing-food-in-the-fridge/15404, https://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Food-Fresh-in-the-Kitchen and https://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/15-tricks-for-keeping-food-fresh-longer-2392811.html.
