While shopping, one of the factors many of us have to take into consideration is how much space is available for use. Whether you are a housewife with a family or a college student on a budget, budgeting for fridge space can be difficult. For one, purchasing items for the home on the maybe that the food will be eaten is always a concern.
However, this does not have to be a conundrum for grocery shoppers anymore, as smart food storage can allow you to buy items on sale or that are in-season without worrying about waste. Beyond using shrink wrap, foil, and plastic bags, today’s shoppers can do a lot in terms of storing food in the refrigerator. In fact, a clean refrigerator at the right temperature can guarantee that your items stay fresh for a long time.
Continue reading for a few simple tips to help you keep your food fresh for longer.
Use Vacuum Packs
For items that you are not going to use immediately, consider using vacuum pack plastic that will allow you to seal food items like cheese, deli meats, and bacon to place in the freezer for later use. One of the reasons food spoils is because it is exposed to air, and the vacuum pack practically removes the air from the plastic container. By using these airtight plastic sealable bags, you can store items in both the refrigerator and freezer to eat at a later time.
Placement Of Dairy Products
The temptation is to place dairy products like eggs and butter in the door of the refrigerator. The only problem is that the door of the fridge is probably not the coolest area, where both butter and eggs should be stored. Instead of storing dairy in the door, consider placing it in a cooler part of the inside of the fridge.
Blanching Greens
Leafy greens like collard and kale are great sources of iron. However, they can go bad if not eaten. One way to store them is to blanch them, and then store them in the freezer. When you are ready to serve them, just take them out of the freezer and pop them in the pot.
Store Leafy Veggies
Leafy veggies like the various types of lettuce should be rinsed and then dried. After separating the leaves, place each one in a container and then place a damp paper towel on top of it. This can help your lettuce leaves remain fresh a little longer.
Storing fruit
The best way to store fruit is to place them in one of the compartments in the crisper part of the fridge. If dealing with berries or strawberries, consider taking them out of their container and wiping them down with cider vinegar to get rid of the pesticides. Place them in a plastic bag, but not before making sure to remove the air.
Freezer Items
If needing to store items like butter, bread, and herbs, use the freezer. Butter and bread can be stored in the refrigerator when placed in different packaging. Herbs that are not used immediately can be stored in a bag with olive oil and can be used as needed.
Non-Fridge Items
While one would assume the cold keeps everything fresh, there are a few items that should not be stored in the refrigerator. Apples, bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, and onions should be kept in a container at room temperature. However, check bowls of fruit, as if even one spoils it can cause the others to rot.
Fresh Food From The Fridge
Keeping your favourites fresher for longer is possible. With the variety of packing items, including foil and shrink wrap, keeping the air from causing food to spoil is just one of the ways to make food last longer. Finally, preparing food for storage before use also plays a huge role in whether your food is fresh when you are ready to eat it.
