I have to admit, I have a hard time making sure to use up all my food in the fridge before it spoils, and it is a sore spot with me. If this is something you struggle with as well, here are some tips from a reader on how to keep your food fresh longer so it doesn't spoil on you.
It's discouraging to dig through your fridge and discover that the "fresh" produce you bought earlier in the week has gone rotten. Fortunately, there are hacks you may employ to get fresher, longer-lasting goods. Here are some of the greatest methods for preserving the freshness of your food.
Start Fresh
The first step to getting the longest storage life in your kitchen is to choose the freshest fruits and vegetables. Choose root vegetables, cabbages, squash, and onions that are heavy and free of blemishes or soft spots. You don't have as much control over the quality of your produce if you rely on grocery delivery. Selecting specific types of produce yourself, on the other hand, can help in this regard.
Check Best Before Dates at the Store
Always check the expiration date on items when you're in the grocery store. Checking the expiration date is crucial since it prevents you from buying expired products. If you consume expired products, it can put your health at danger. No harm in buying items that are a day or two away from their expiration date as long as there's a strategy in place to consume them as soon as possible.
Grow Your Own Produce
Grow your own food if you have space for a garden (or simply a few pots)! Culinary delights such as tomatoes, squash, and herbs grown in your own garden can be plucked and consumed the same day they are harvested. You will never have to wonder how long your food has been in transit or plucked. You may save money by growing your own food and enjoy it at home. A little backyard plot can produce an abundance of fruits and vegetables, and even save money on groceries if it is done right.
Observe the Temperature of Your Refrigerator
The temperature in your fridge should be between 0 °C and 5 °C, and the temperature in your freezer should be between -18 °C and -20 °C if you want to get the most out of your food.
The sooner your fridge and freezer can reach these temperatures and keep them there for as long as possible is critical to maximizing the amount of nutrients in your food. These temperatures will not be automatically set in your refrigerator or freezer. You must configure it according to the manufacturer's recommendations, which can be found in the operating manual.
Keep in mind that not everything belongs in the refrigerator. Refrigeration is not required for potatoes, onions, garlic, or squash. They should last for weeks if you keep them in a cold, dark place like your pantry or basement.
Keep Food in its Original Packaging
When feasible, keep your food in its original packaging, as it was almost definitely designed with food freshness and preservation in mind. This is notably true for vacuum-packed meat packaging, but it also applies to fruit and vegetable packing, where properly positioned air holes can make a significant difference in shelf life. Packaging is important in enhancing conditions that increase the storage life of food since it helps to manage the immediate environment of a food product.
Allow Leftovers to Come to Room Temperature
Whether they're going in the fridge or the freezer, you should always allow leftovers to cool to room temperature before storing them in the fridge or freezer. Otherwise, the heat from your freshly prepared food will cause the temperature in your fridge and freezer to soar. Not only will this reduce the freshness of other food in the fridge which must be kept at a constant temperature, but it will also make your fridge freezer work more to cool down, increasing your energy expenses.
Cook or Freeze Meat and Vegetables
Cook food that is about to expire or turn it into something that can be stored for a longer period of time. For instance if your minced meat is about to expire, turn it into Spaghetti Bolognese. The minced meat will stay fresh in the fridge for another week. Also, vegetables that are about to be thrown out will make a delicious soup. Otherwise, put it in the Freezer! Just make sure the food hasn't gone bad before freezing it.
Store Food in Glass Containers
Store your food in high-quality glass jars which can tolerate all temperature changes without warping or cracking. Make sure your jars are scratch-resistant and sealed. Glass jars keep food fresher for extended periods of time, limit bacterial growth, and tend to reduce the possibility of mold growth. There is a large variety of microwaveable and airtight glass containers that are refrigerator safe that you can use to store your dry food items.
Seal Food Jars Tightly
The idea is to keep oxygen out of the food, thereby suffocating germs. Bacteria (both good and bad) cannot develop in the absence of oxygen, and hence food cannot rot. People in the food industry know this, and need to seal items such as meat, seafood and vegetables so that they last, so they use machines such as the Levapack aluminum Foil Packaging Machine. Even people at home can make sure to seal their foods properly.
Conclusion
Nothing beats luscious, fresh produce when it comes to staying healthy. Nothing is more disheartening than having something spoil before you can consume it. These suggestions will help you keep your food fresher for longer, save money, and waste less.
Make sure that you maintain hygiene when handling food to avoid transferring germs to it. Wash your hands with soap and water or alternatively use hand Sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol.