The best food storage tips to reduce waste

Storing your food properly can help to keep it fresh for longer. This can help to save you money at the supermarket, and reduce food waste because you don’t have to toss out food that has spoiled. I hate wasting money I could spend on nicer things, don’t you?

Here you will find some easy food storage tips that you can use at home in your kitchen.

Check your Fridge Temperature

Make sure that your fridge is set at the proper temperature, that will keep your food as fresh as possible without unintentionally freezing it. Your fridge temperature should be at or below 4 degrees Celcius. You can make sure that your fridge is at the proper temperature by purchasing an inexpensive thermometer. 

Plan Your Meals Around Your Fridge

Plan your meals around whatever you might already have in your fridge, and how much longer you expect that it will stay fresh. This can keep you from buying unnecessary items and can help you to use up anything you find in there before it goes bad. 

Check Expiry Dates

Before purchasing an item at the store make sure that you check the expiry date. Purchasing an item that is only a few days away from its expiry date like marked down meat, milk, or produce is fine, as long as you know that you are going to use it in the next day or two. 

Tips for Fruits & Veggies

Line your produce drawer with a paper towel. This will help to absorb any excess moisture and keep your produce fresher for longer. 

Wash your berries with water and a small splash of vinegar before placing them in your refrigerator. This will keep them fresh for longer, and don’t forget to put them towards the back of your fridge where they will stay coolest. 

Did you know that you can bring lettuce back from the brink once it has started wilting? Just soak it in a bowl of ice water for a few minutes. To keep it fresh for longer wrap your lettuce in damp paper towels before placing it in the fridge when you bring it home from the store. 

To keep radishes, celery, and carrots fresh for longer, dice them when you get home and store them in your fridge in a container of water. 

Don’t put your spring onions in the fridge. Instead, store them in a glass of water and snip some off of the tops as you need them. The tops will keep on growing! 

Tips for Pantry Staples

When you pick up flour or rice at the supermarket, place it in the freezer for 48 hours. Doing so will kill off any insects that may be hiding in there. After that place it in an airtight container designed for food storage and keep it in a cool, dark place. 

To prevent weevils and other insects from ruining your dry goods like flour, or rice put it in an airtight container with a couple of bay leaves. The scent of the bay leaves will keep the weevils from settling in there. 

Don’t store shelf-stable dry goods in the packaging it comes in. Take your pasta, oatmeal, cereal, pretzels, etc. out of the package and place it in an airtight container like a mason jar. This will keep your food fresher for longer, and prevent any insects from making its way into your food. 

Tips for Fish, Eggs, and Meat

Store eggs in the carton that they come in. If you can’t tell if they are fresh or not place them in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs will sink, while older eggs will float to the top. 

Did you know that you can freeze eggs? If you have more eggs than you can use, simply crack them into a freezer tray and freeze. If you like, you can separate them into yolks and whites and freeze them that way as well. Once they are frozen, pop them out of the tray and place them in a freezer bag to pull out when you need them. 

Fish, meat, and poultry that are going to be consumed within two to three days should be left in its original packaging. If it was purchased for later use, remove it from the packaging and place it in freezer bags or use a Foodsaver to portion it and put it in the freezer. 

Tips for Cheese and Dairy

Wrap your cheese in wax paper before storing it in your fridge. After your cheese has been cut, rub a little butter on the cut part to help keep it fresh, and wrap it back in the wax paper. 

Don’t store your milk in the door of your fridge. The shelves in the door are warmer than those in the refrigerator. The colder the milk stays the longer it will stay fresh. 

To keep sour cream, cottage cheese, or ricotta cheese fresh, store the containers in your fridge upside down. Storing them this way creates a vacuum and prevents the growth of mold and bacteria. 

Use these food storage tips to help keep your food fresher and tastier for longer. No one likes the idea of having to throw food away and these tips can help to reduce your food waste and save you money. Do you have any food storage tips to share?

Other articles you may find helpful

• Reducing your household waste – a guide from an Eco Blogger
• How to freeze meat well
• How to freeze potatoes
• 90 ways to save money on your food shop
• How long can you safely store food for?
• Top tips for using the freezer to store foods

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