We share some tips on how to store your food so that it lasts longer.
By knowing how to store your food properly you can significantly extend its shelf life. You’ll save money in the long-run by making your food last for longer and preventing waste.
There is often a lot of confusion and mixed opinions when it comes to how best to store your food. Some will argue that fruit is better kept refrigerated, while others will always keep their fruit in a fruit bowl.
We take you through some tips on how to store your food to make it last as long as possible.
Where should it be stored?
- One stand-by that will ensure many different kinds of food are kept fresh is to buy some air-tight storage containers. Putting food in these makes it last longer because it prevents oxygen getting to the food and causing it to deteriorate.
- Make use of your freezer. Often bread and other foods can be frozen to make them last if you know you aren’t going to able to use them by their best-before date. By freezing food instead of throwing it out you’ll greatly reduce waste in your home.
- Pay attention to the ‘keep refrigerated’ labels on products – they’re there for a reason. Refrigerating food will prevent bacteria growing, hence keep it fresh. Some foods, such as those in jars, will need to be stored in the fridge once opened.
- Some types of vegetables should be chilled loose in the fridge, such as cucumbers, celery, leeks, and peppers.
- Other vegetables that lose moisture quickly should be sealed in containers and kept in the fridge. This includes lettuce, broccoli, carrots, and cabbage.
- Other types of vegetables like potatoes, butternut squash and aubergine should be kept in a cool, dry place.
- Dried foods generally don’t need to be refrigerated and can be kept in a cool, dry cupboard. This includes things like rice, pasta, and tinned food.
- Tomatoes can be better kept out of the fridge, as cold temperatures can deteriorate their flavour. They will stay just as fresh in a cool, dry place.
When should it be eaten?
- ‘Use-by’ dates will usually apply to perishables such as meat and fish, and you should not eat food past this date.
- ‘Best-before’ dates will usually be on foods like bread, cake and milk. This means the food will be at its best up until that date, after which it will start to deteriorate – but it will generally still be edible.
- If you are eating leftovers, keep them in the fridge and consume within 2 days.
- Some foods can be kept indefinitely, so there is no need to throw them away. This includes wheat, vegetable oil, baking powder, instant tea and coffee, salt, white rice, and dried pasta.
How to make food last longer
- Wash your vegetables just before using them, instead of before refrigeration, as too much moisture can deteriorate some vegetables faster. This applies to all vegetables except leafy greens...
- ...Which can be made to last longer by washing them in cool salted water just before placing them in the fridge.
- Herbs such as parsley and thyme can be made to last longer by standing the sprigs in a glass or jar of cool water, loosely placing a plastic bag over the top, and putting in the fridge. You can also chop up any leftover herbs and freeze them, either in ice cubes or in a freezer bag.
- The shelf-life of milk can be extended by transferring it into a glass bottle. It will keep longer in glass than in a plastic container.
- Keep bread longer by expelling as much air as possible from its bag before twisting it closed and putting in the bread bin. You can also buy special bread bags that will keep your bread fresher for longer.
- If you open a can of food but decide not to use it all, transfer the remaining contents into a container and put it in the fridge. Canned food shouldn't be stored in its packaging because when a can has been opened it is exposed to the air, and this oxidisation can pass quickly to the food inside it.
How can I tell if my eggs are fresh?
The following method may come in handy when trying to tell how fresh your eggs are:
- Place the egg in a jug of water. If it lies flat on the bottom, it is very fresh.
- If it tilts upwards it is less fresh but still fine to eat.
- If it floats upwards in the water it has probably gone off.
- This is due to the air pocket found in eggs, which lets more air in the longer the egg is kept – therefore making it more likely to float the older it is.
- Contrary to popular belief you don’t necessarily need to store eggs in the fridge; any cool, dry place will work just as well.
- If you do store your eggs in the fridge, take them out and let them reach room temperature before you use them for cooking.
How about fruit?
- Apples will keep better when stored in the fridge. If preferred, take them out and bring them to room temperature before eating.
- Bananas should be kept in a fruit bowl at room temperature.
- Fruit gives off a gas called ethylene which can speed up the ripening process, so fruits kept together will ripen quickly. If you want to keep your fruits for longer, keep ripening fruits separate from those that haven’t ripened yet.
- On the other hand, if you want to make your fruits ripen more quickly, keep them together.
