Certain foods, such as honey or a can of beans, have a long shelf life. However, other products will deteriorate as soon as they arrive on your shelf.
The good news is that there are particular storage methods that you can use to extend the life of bread, vegetables, and other produce of yours.
For example, you should clean your fruits properly before you store them. Eggs and milk should also not be placed near your refrigerator door.
Apples, avocados, and bananas are known for being gaseous food items. As such, they should be stored in a separate section of your fridge to prevent the contamination and spoilage of other produce.
Garlic, onions, and tomatoes should never be refrigerated, as doing so will accelerate the spoilage process. As for raw meats and bread, they should be stored in your freezer.
This article will discuss how you can keep your food products fresh for weeks.
1. Buy Only What You Require
Buying the right food products is crucial to fully enjoying your kitchen. You should only purchase products from reputable companies. The establishments in question should also adhere to all safety and hygiene protocols.
Take the time to inspect the food item carefully from top to bottom. Closely examine the food to ensure it is clean and in good condition.
You can even smell it to check for unusual odors that indicate spoilage. It is important to remember that fresh food has a limited shelf life.
As such, you should carefully dry your fresh food thoroughly. Fresh food is perishable, so you should try and consume it within 4 days unless you plan to freeze it for future use.
2. Make A Plan For Food Storage
To maximize your fresh foods’ flavor and health benefits, they should be stored prudently.
Leftovers, bread, meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, and chicken all serve as perishable goods that require more TLC and cautious storage than non-perishable goods.
Your storage plan should be designed and implemented according to the items you wish to store. For example, fruit can be stored safely at room temperature.
However, onions, potatoes, and other root vegetables should be stored in a cold room or cellar.
Other vegetable types should be stored safely in your refrigerator, or they can even be frozen to increase their lifespan significantly.
Moreover, poultry, fish, and meat products should be promptly placed in your freezer unless you plan to cook them soon.
If you wish to store them in your fridge for an hour or two, then ensure they are placed on a tray at the unit’s base.
The items should also not be removed from their original packaging until they are ready for consumption, as raw meat juices may leak and contaminate other food items in your fridge.
As for dairy products, such as yogurt, cheese, milk, and butter, they should be stored in the coldest part of your refrigerator. Frozen foods should be stored at temperatures below -18 degrees Celsius.
3. Set Up Your Refrigerator For Storage
For dairy, vegetables, meat, and condiments to be stored properly, your refrigeration unit needs to be chilly but not extremely cold.
Your refrigerator should be set to 4 degrees Celsius or below to be safe. As already noted, your freezer should be kept below -18 degrees Celsius to keep your food fresh.
In sum, you need to ensure that your refrigerator is at the proper temperature to keep your seasonal food items fresh and delicious. Installing a thermometer is an easy way to keep track of the appliance’s temperature.
4. Erring On The Side Of Caution
If you visit your local supermarket every week, there is a good chance your fridge is near full capacity. Use the food-in-food-out (FIFO) technique to reduce spoilage and save money.
The FIFO method involves placing the items that will expire soon at the front of your fridge so that you will remember to consume them before they go bad. The items with the longest shelf-life should be placed at the back of your refrigerator.
Food items that are properly stored will last longer, taste better, and retain most of their nutritional value. By eating nutritious food items that are fresh and delicious, you will live a longer and healthier life and be motivated to follow a healthier lifestyle.
Finally, pay close attention to expiration dates and consume items with a short shelf-life as soon as possible to reduce the risk of spoilage and food poisoning.
5. Wrap Wet Greens In Kitchen Towels Or Tissue Papers
Moisture is the spoilsport when it comes to spoiling or contaminating food products. Especially the ones that are wet news to be dabbed away before they can be preserved for a longer time. The drier they are, they retain their shelf life that long.
Wet greens like lettuce, spinach, or coriander leaves need to be stored in a nicely wrapped towel or tissue paper to absorb all the wetness. Sometimes if you prefer them slightly wet enough, then placing them in a jar with water could go a long way in prolonging their shelf life.
You have to make sure that the water is replaced daily, and the failure will result in the decay of the food product and the place it is stored.
Making sure it is fresh while leveraging it is a nice way to keep your health at risk. Removing or exfoliating wet food products is a basic step towards preserving them longer than intended.
6. Freeze Them Properly
If you want any food product to stay longer, the best way is to just freeze them. They have a longer shelf life when frozen and don’t tend to get spoiled for weeks. The longer you want them to stay, the sooner you need to freeze them.
Freezing actually fixes a certain temperature on the food item, leaving them without any fluctuations. This will automatically keep them cooler and fresh when you want to use them.
You just have to make sure you have proper freezing bags to freeze them and wrap them tight enough to let any air in. You have to ensure that the food is properly reheated or defrosted well enough when it has to be cooked or consumed.
Conclusion
Storing food comes with different protocols that differ with each food item. You have to be sure to employ the right method to keep them fresh longer.
This way, you avoid unnecessary squandering of valuable resources and also save money on vegetables and groceries.
Some techniques work effectively to keep the food fresh longer than intended. This way, you can also avoid risking your chances of food poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does good storage helps keep food products fresh?
Leftovers, bread, meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, and chicken all serve as perishable goods that require more TLC and cautious storage than non-perishable goods. Your storage plan should be designed and implemented according to the items you wish to store. For example, fruit can be stored safely at room temperature.
How to set up your refrigerator for storage?
Your refrigerator should be set to 4 degrees Celsius or below to be safe. As already noted, your freezer should be kept below -18 degrees Celsius to keep your food fresh.
How do you keep wet greens fresh for a long time?
Wet greens like lettuce, spinach, or coriander leaves need to be stored in a nicely wrapped towel or tissue paper to absorb all the wetness. Sometimes if you prefer them slightly wet enough, then placing them in a jar with water could go a long way in prolonging their shelf life.
