Food storage is important! According to Money, the average household tosses out about 20% of the food they buy — about $1,500 worth of food waste per year for the average family. I’m sure you could think of plenty of ways to put that kind of cash to good use, and those ideas are bound to come in handy after you read this post!
Reducing food waste is as simple as learning a few tips and tricks about proper food storage so it lasts longer and is less likely to go bad before you can eat it. Here, I’m sharing 36 quick food storage tips for fruits and veggies, meat and eggs, pantry staples, and dairy products.
No matter what type of food you’re interested in learning how to store, you’ll find helpful tips right here!
36 Food Storage Tips That Keep Food Fresh Longer
▶︎ General Food Storage Tips
1. Check Your Fridge Temperature
Check the temperature inside of your fridge, which should be somewhere between 38-40°F. This is cold enough to keep your food as fresh as possible without freezing it. Eliminate the guesswork with a fridge thermometer, which you can buy for just a few dollars online.
2. Check Dates At The Store
Make sure to check the expiration date on foods while you’re shopping at the store. There’s nothing wrong with buying foods that are a day or two away from their expiration date, but you should only do it if you can make a solid plan to eat it ASAP.
3. Plan Around Your Fridge
One strategy that can help you cut down on waste is planning a few meals around what’s in your fridge and how long you expect it to last. For instance, if you have a bag of spinach in your fridge that is on its last legs, you could plan to use it in omelets the next day!
4. Grow Your Own
If you have the space for a garden (or even just a few pots), try growing your own food! Home-grown tomatoes, squash, and herbs are packed with flavor and can be picked and eaten the very same day. You never have to wonder how long your food was in transit or how long ago it was picked when you grow it yourself.
5. Buy From Local Farms
If you’re not much of a gardener, the next best option is to buy it from a local farmer. Local produce is sure to last you at least a few days longer than their supermarket equivalents, which have already traveled long distances before it arrives at the store. And it’s always good to support local businesses!
6. Prep Your Food
#6 – Clean and prep fresh food shortly after you get home according to how you plan to use it. If you do the prep work beforehand, you’ll be more likely to actually use it the way you planned to before it goes bad!
▶︎ Tips For Keeping Fruits & Vegetables Fresh
7. Moisture Control
Line the bottom of the produce drawers in your fridge with paper towels. The paper towels will help absorb excess moisture and keep many foods fresh so they don’t rot prematurely.
8. Mushrooms
You can help keep mushrooms from getting slimy by wrapping them in paper towels before refrigerating.
9. Tomatoes
If you notice your tomatoes are starting to get a bit wrinkly, they’re probably on their last legs. Buy yourself an extra week or so by roasting your tomatoes in slices or chunks. Place the roasted tomatoes in a container with olive oil, and they’ll stay good in the fridge for about a week.
10. Berries
Wash berries in water and a small splash of vinegar before refrigerating them to help keep them fresh. Store them in the plastic container they came in or a ziplock bag, and place them in the back of the fridge where it stays coldest.
11. Lettuce
Wrap lettuce in a damp paper towel before storing it to help keep it fresh. If your lettuce has started wilting, you can usually revive it by soaking it in ice water for several minutes.
More Ideas You'll Love
12. Greens
Store kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, and other hardy greens with their stems in a glass of water. Cover the greens loosely in a plastic bag, and they’ll stay nice and crisp longer.
13. Crunchy Veggies
To keep celery, carrots, and radishes fresh, chop them and store them in the fridge in a container of water. They’ll stay fresh for a surprisingly long time this way!
14. Squash
Coat whole squashes in a thin layer of vegetable oil and store them in your pantry. They can stay good for months this way!
15. Apples
Store apples separately from other foods. Apples give off ethylene gas that can cause other foods to decay more quickly than they would otherwise. (But on the other hand, this effect can come in handy in cases when you want to quickly ripen bananas for banana bread!)
16. Green Onions
You can triple the lifespan of green onions by storing them in a jar of water on your countertop. The tops will keep growing and you can snip them off as needed!
17. Asparagus
Asparagus will last longer in the fridge if stored with its ends in water. Just stand the bunch up with the larger ends at the bottom, and stick it in a shallow glass of water.
18. Bananas
Avoid separating bananas before you plan to eat them. They stay fresh longer when kept in a bunch! Store bananas at room temperature until ripe. If they’ve over-ripened, stick them in the freezer to use in a future batch of banana bread.
19. Garlic
Don’t store bulbs of garlic in a closed container. It will last much longer if stored in an open basket or a paper bag.
20. Avocados
When buying avocados that need to ripen, store them at room temperature. If an avocado is ripe but you don’t want to eat it right away, stick it in the fridge to prevent it from ripening further.
21. Freeze Fresh Herbs
Keep herbs fresh by storing them in whole bunches. Just rinse the bunch, put it in a ziplock freezer bag, and toss it in your freezer. It should stay fresh for up to a month this way! When you’re ready to use them, just chop them up and toss them in whatever you’re cooking.
More Ideas You'll Love
▶︎ Tips For Keeping Meat, Fish, & Eggs Fresh
22. Fresh Fish
Fish should be kept in a bag on top of a bowl of ice inside your fridge. Eat it as soon as possible! You can also freeze fish to keep it fresh for longer.
23. Eggs
Store eggs in their original carton. If you can’t decide if your eggs are still fresh, place one in a cup of water. Fresh eggs should sink, while old eggs usually float.
24. Meat & Poultry
Meat and poultry should be kept in their original packaging if you’ll eat them in the next day or two. If not, wrap it in tin foil or stick it in a ziplock bag, then store it in your freezer. To freeze smoked meats like bacon, ham, etc., wrap them in a vinegar-dampened cloth, then cover in wax paper and freeze.
▶︎ Tips For Keeping Bread & Pantry Staples Fresh
25. Flour
Freezing flour for 48 hours is sure to kill any insects that may be present. After that, transfer it to a tightly sealed container. Store the container in a cool, dark location.
26. Coffee Beans
Buy whole-bean coffee and grind as needed to get the best flavor. Store your coffee beans in an airtight and opaque container to keep them fresh, and use within 3-4 days. (If you bought more than you can use in that period, you can freeze the rest to keep it fresh!)
27. Dry Ingredients
To help keep weevils at “bay,” store your flour, rice, or cornmeal with a bay leaf in the container. The scent of the bay leaf should deter weevils from moving in.
28. Bread
Storing bread in the fridge can actually make it go stale faster because it’s such a moist environment. For best results, keep bread out on your countertop in a tightly sealed bag or container.
29. Shelf-Stable Foods
Store your dry foods in airtight containers, rather than the packaging they came in! This will help keep pasta, cereal, pretzels, and other foods fresh for longer. I like to use mason jars, but any airtight container will do!
30. Salt
If you live in a humid area, you’ve likely experienced salt clumping up in your salt shaker. To prevent this, put a pinch of dry rice into the shaker too. The rice will absorb excess moisture and keep the salt from sticking together.
31. Brown Sugar
Store brown sugar in your freezer to keep it from hardening. For brown sugar that has already gone rock-solid, toss a piece of bread or a marshmallow into the container to soften it up.
32. Honey
Honey won’t ever really spoil, so there’s no need to toss it out when you see crystals or cloudiness. Just microwave it on medium power in 30-second increments until it clears up and thins out.
▶︎ Tips For Dairy & Cheese
33. Cheeses
Before storing cheese in your fridge, wrap it tightly in wax paper to allow airflow while sealing out moisture. After cutting the cheese, you can rub butter on the cut part to help keep it fresh. To freeze shredded cheese for later use, simply shred it, toss it with cornstarch, and store it in a freezer bag.
34. Milk
Keep milk in the main part of your fridge rather than in the door. The shelves in the door are typically warmer than the rest of the fridge, and your milk will stay fresh longer if you keep it nice and cold!
35. Cottage Cheese & Sour Cream
To keep cottage cheese or sour cream fresh, store it upside-down in your fridge! Inverting creates a vacuum inside the container that will help reduce the chance of mold or bacteria growing on the surface.
36. Butter
To keep butter fresh in the fridge, keep it in its original package. To freeze it for later use, seal it up in a freezer bag and store it for up to 6 months.
With the help of these tips, you’ll be reducing your household’s food waste in no time (and keeping more money in your pocket while you’re at it!)
What’s your best tip for keeping food fresh?
Something I learned from cheese makers in Vermont is that, for aged hard cheeses, cut off the mold. This is what they do to prep it for sale. Many of them eat that, which I have done too. Moldy soft cheeses should be tossed/composted.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.One useful tip is that food doesn’t “expire.” Those dates are essentially how long the company is guaranteeing them. Use your eyes and nose to determine if it’s good, which is usually WELL past that date.
Regarding bread — and I both bake and buy bread — I usually refrigerate it and freshen it by heating. Unless I’m using it up quickly, it dries up too much outside the fridge and bread in plastic grows mold at room temp.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I freeze cold cuts all the time,just wrap in foil and put in a ziploc. I also freeze bread and take out when I need it… leave on counter a few minutes or put in the microwave for 10 seconds.Bread would go stale in a week on the counter.If there’s only two people in the house it takes too long to eat a whole loaf.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I don’t recommend putting honey in the microwave, it destroys the health benefits of honey. Just place the jar in a pan of simmering water until it liquufies.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m a beekeeper and this is true! Treat it like you were heating a baby bottle.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Herbs are so easy to grow in pots. Start from seed or buy the small pots and place in larger pots or the garden.
Good tips here if you must keep food. But how many of us leave food until the last possible moment then “use it up before it goes bad”? Dearhearts it started going bad the second you brought it home. OK some things last longer than others. Still. Buy the freshest food, spices, etc. you can find, and in small enough quantities to use up right away. Your food will taste so much better and you won’t have any waste. Yes you might have to shop more often, yes you might pay slightly more but not having any waste will offset most or all of that. It really is a small price to pay for good tasting meals. And it’s one of the reasons many cultures have “night markets” – it’s social and everyone goes out to get their groceries for the next day or two only. Try getting freshest food and using it up right away and you will not want to go back to keeping food on hand until it is tasteless and you have to eat it in order to not “waste” it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I tried storing the cottage cheese and sour cream upside down. When I went to lift the sour cream up for the next use – it leaked all over the refrigerator and on to the floor. Apparently, not all containers have leak proof lids.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Don’t freeze your coffee! It will destroy the flavor. (I thought it tasted like poison!) Store your coffee beans in its original wrapping and in a metal container.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Exactly. Never freeze or refrigerate beans like I used to do until I read the guidance from coffee specialists
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You used to have the ability to print your articles in a condensed version. Why did you stop? Please put it back.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes, I agree. Too much fluff. I spend so much time deleting the fluff from here and other people’s articles that in MS Word, the count goes down to at least half.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Why do I do that? Because I want the article to get to the point without all the unnecessary fluff added.
Lisa, we are in the midst of making some changes to the website and hope to add the feature back. In the meantime, you can use this website to make one of our posts print-friendly. It functions exactly like our print-friendly feature.
https://www.printfriendly.com/
If it is a recipe that you would like to print without waste, we do have a print-friendly feature. Just scroll all the way down to the recipe card and click on “print”. It will give you different options of what you want to print so you don’t waste paper and ink.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If you can’t eat your bananas before they get too ripe move them to the fridge. The skin may get dark, but the fruit itself will still be fresh.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I store mushrooms in an open container in the fridge. I’d rather have them dry up a bit than get slimy. If they get too dry, I might dry them completely and save for later use. If the caps are just a little bit slimy, you can peel them off easily and use the rest of the cap. They have to be really fresh for the stem to be usable.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Very interesting about the Farm eggs. We will occasionally get eggs from my sister when their hens are producing a lot. We also will occasionally save our egg cartons for her.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.how long does the celery keep for ?? how often do u get to change the water ??
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I store it in the new Rubbermaid containers that have bumps inside and vents on the cover. I don’t recall the name of them, but they keep celery, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and other veggies a lot longer than any other method out there. Been using them for a few years, so I can attest to these containers working.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.NEVER PUT GROUND COFFEE IN THE FREEZER!!!! (it ruins it)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have found that wrapping asparagus in wet/damp paper towel and placing the parcel in the fridge actually keeps them longer than standing in water. Also, Avocados ripen better when placed in a cool dark place.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I see many of these hints advocate the use of plastic – can we look for other ways?
Jill, tried to print this article. It is not printer friendly. Is so spread out on many pages. Is there any other way I can get a nice smaller copy. I don’t need the pictures, just the print information?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks, Shirley
That would be your printer’s settings. Right-click, Copy, and Paste into Word. That way you can delete unnecessary information and the photos. Been doing that for years.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Another thing to remember if you like to buy in bulk. Vacuum sealers are your friend. And if you use it as often as I do, don’t waste your money on one of the plastic ones from the big box stores. A decent near commercial model like the Weston that I use doesn’t cost that much more than a Foodsaver. And if something on the Weston breaks, you can actually get replacement parts. Good luck trying that with a Foodsaver machine, or any of the homeowner grade machines, for that matter. I went through four of the cheap machines prior to the Weston, so take my word for it. They won’t last. And when you buy bags, buy in bulk on Amazon, Webstraunt Store, or Google vac sealer bags for more choices (I buy ’em 1000 at a clip). If you buy those small packages at the big box places, you’ll pay too much, and the savings become much lower. Freezer bags are ok for short term use, but not even close to vac sealing for the long term. And here’s a little tip for vac sealing high liquid items. Clean out a good area in the freezer, put you high liquid content foods in the bags, and carefully stand them up in the freezer overnight to freeze solid. Then you can just pull them out the next day and seal up the frozen solid contents with no mess. We like to do that with strawberries in particular. And if you are into marinating meat, you can buy a marinating container that does the job in a very short time, as opposed to overnight. My Weston even has an automatic cycle for marinating that vacuums and releases a few times to enhance the process and get the marinade deeper into the meat. I believe the whole cycle only takes around a half hour.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Please note: Many people realize how bad for one to use a micro-wave and have gotten rid of it long ago so please when giving directions for use one also please add the alternative. I use a very inexpensive toaster oven and use it many times instead of using my regular oven.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.And I don’t have to be concerned about the radiation that the micro-wave gives off.
Actually, there are many studies that show many foods (vegetables, for sure) actually keep their nutritional value better, when cooked in the microwave, vs stovetop or frying. You must cook them correctly and do not add too much water or overcook. As long as your microwave is in good condition and the door seal is in good condition, they do not pose any danger. Technology has been greatly improved over the years since the microwave was first invented.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.During the Covid isolation I learned that freezing milk is a great way to save it from going bad. I wrote the amount and date on a ziploc bag, then laid them flat in the freezer. The milk fat will separate during freezing and makes it appear yellow, but when you defrost it, the milk looks just as it did in the container and tastes just fine.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for sharing this great tip! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How to store oranges to keep it last longer?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The best way to store citrus so it will last longer is to keep it in the fridge, unwashed.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have read that once food is cut the nutritional value goes down daily and if not used by the third day all the good stuff is gone, just empty calories. The same for cooked food.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Be careful buying honey in stores. if the container has a date on it, do not buy. True honey with NO additives will not go bad. the ‘dated’ honey will grow a science project. Darker honey or honey with chunks of honeycomb is more natural. As for crystals, I always put the bottle in hot water, not boiling, for a few minutes. Great with my tea!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Isn’t dating just a legal requirement? I’ve never had any problems with it
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Bananas: Store in an airtight container in the frig. I have only tried this once & it was after they had sat on the counter a few days, but it has now been 2 weeks and the 1 that’s left is as firm, sweet & fresh as day one! The skin turned dark, but it could be because I didn’t do this right away. You can separate each of them from the bunch, as singly it’s easier to fit them into the container. It takes up a fair amount of room, but boy, to me it’s worth it!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great article – thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If you have a FoodSaver with a mason jar attachment, chop or tear your heads of lettuce (whatever your preference is), wash, spin dry and lay it out on paper towels on your table or counter. Blot as much water as possible off the lettuce and pack it in mason jars. I pack it in tight. It doesn’t bruise or crush the lettuce. Vacuum seal it and store it in the fridge. Your lettuce will last at least a month. This has worked best for me with iceberg and romaine. I stock up when it’s on sale and a packed quart jar is the perfect amount for 4-5 people to go with a meal.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I always read to separate bananas to keep fresher, this is the first I heard to keep them together. Has anyone experimented?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It never occurred to me to separate them – but I do wrap the top in plastic to keep them from browning. All told, I would say I get maybe an extra 2 days using this method before they become unattractive
Please log in or create a free account to comment.#14…coating anything in oil and storing in pantry here in the South is a sure-fire way to attract the creepy crawlies I prefer NOT to have in my pantry…
Please log in or create a free account to comment.# 6 The microwave will essentially destroy all of the beneficial enzymes and properties of the honey. There are other much better ways.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I was surprised about the microwaving honey, as well. It so often comes in plastic containers, which shouldn’t be microwaved. It would be better to put it in a bowl of hot (not boiling!) water.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If the honey is at the point where it crystallizes, I give up on it being a healing product and just think of it as a sweetener. Whatever benefit the bees give to honey, I always thought you had to use it fairly soon although it will not go bad. It just loses its healing ability. Honey from the Egyptians has been found and I doubt it had much healing quality left. They couldn’t microwave their honey; I do if it has crystals. :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Does the same for food that one puts in a microwave. Better to use a toaster over in my opinion.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It depends upon the food that you are going to nuke (Microwave.) Already mashed potatoes I was and frozen veggies are delicious if you microwave them. I was never a fan of honey, so I do not purchase it.
I apologize, as I made a lot of typos, but I do nuke already mashed potatoes and frozen veggies. I thaw chicken tenders, cube steaks, pork chops, and other meats in the fridge overnight.
#6 The microwave will essentially destroy all of the beneficial enzymes and properties of the honey.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I saw e hint for using echo dot or Alexa but I cannot find it. Could you please repost it. Thank you.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.At #28. I believe that the word “store” should be “spoil”
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My husband and I use a vacuum sealer for just about everything that we store in the freezer. By removing the air your food won’t develope ice crystals. Once sealed I recommend writing the date, what cut of meat and portion is on the bag with a permanent marker. We also vacuum seal many pantry items that we by in bulk or on sale. Best place to buy the bags is on Amazon. You can also buy the material in rolls to make custom size bags.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Debbie Meyer green bags work really well too for fresh produce, opened bags of cheese, fresh baked bread, etc. Good thing, and I love vacuum sealing freezer or longer term dried things
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I agree. I have been using Debbie Meyer green bags for produce for years.
great advice so useful
Please log in or create a free account to comment.# 16 (the green onion thing) is not working for me at all. Anyone else having luck?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If that’s not working, you can keep the green onions in the cup of water, but add a produce bag over the top and stick it in the fridge :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jillee, a woman once tested the bay leaf theory and was very disappointed to find that it did not work. She said it was very depressing to see the weevils crawling all over the bay leaves and into and out of the flour.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That’s terrible! I’ll have to look into that and find a new method :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve had success with those big dried peppers in the Mexican section of the grocery…
I always wondered if the flour would have a taste of bay to it, so I have never tried this.
If you freeze flour , grains , rice etc for even a couple of days it kills the eggs that hatch into weevils or bugs.
It’s better to have freezer full, so leave in if space isn’t needed.
I’ve never had a problem doing this.
Theresa
My son the chef also told me I should put my mushrooms in a brown lunch bag and back in fridge away from the light. Just bought a new house a tad smaller than the old one and so kinda starting
Please log in or create a free account to comment.new. Many of these hints are going to be out to good use. PS: I finally got my French door refrigerator. I am so excited.
Congratulations on the new home! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Another way, I slice them, lay out in single layer in cookie sheet, freeze them then transfer to zip bag and keep in freezer til needed. super easy
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Tupperware makes these great containers called Fridge Smart. They are not cheap but well worth the investment. They store many different types of produce. I have kept lettuce fresh for weeks with these.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can you freeze SPINACH??? My grocery store sells organic spinach in containers way too large for the person who lives alone. My best plan is to put it in a glass container with paper towels over & under it, but still, I don’t want to eat spinach every day for every meal. I also try to use spinach in smoothies. But often I end up throwing out the last of the bunch. Help!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes! It will be perfect for smoothies. Here are two options: (1) Lay out the spinach on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer. Once it’s frozen, place it in a freezer bag for storage. This will prevent the leaves from sticking together in one big chuck. Option (2) would be to blend the spinach with a little bit of water and make spinach ice cubes that you can toss into the blend :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I recommend blanching the spinach before freezing it, as nutrients can still degrade even while it’s frozen. I have to do this with most of my farmer’s market greens as it’s usually too much to eat quickly. This applies to most types of produce. Just bring some salted water to a boil, add the spinach, return the water to a boil and set a timer for 30sec-1 min. The heat will be just enough to destroy the enzymes that destroy the nutrients but not enough to cook it completely. You’ll also notice a brighter green color. Have some ice water ready and use a kitchen strainer (the kind with a handle) to fish out the spinach leaves, then dump them in the ice water to stop the blanching. Once the spinach is cooled, bunch it into a ball (or 2-3) and squeeze out the water. Then just put the balls in labeled ziploc baggies in the freezer for later use.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Spinach is great to freeze. I once bought 5 bags of fresh organic spinach on sale and just tossed the bags directly into the freezer. Great for receipes, not good for eating raw.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I also toss bags of fresh spinach right in the freezer if I think it is going to go bad before being used. It’s still great to pull out and toss in soup, pasta, omelets, stir fry, anything you are cooking/baking, as well as being great in smoothies.
Arlene, will your grocer repackage some of that spinach to a smaller container? We’ve got one that will and one that won’t repackage produce for us in my area.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Coffee is something that shouldn’t be frozen. It contains oil, and freezing it dries up the oil.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Wrap whole celery in tinfoil and it will keep for 6-10 weeks. Just take off as many stalks as you need, and rewrap the rest. I’ve had it last as long as 14 weeks that way.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I like this idea! I was going to try the idea of cutting the celery up and sticking it in mason jars with water, but I really don’t have the room to spare. This will save me a ton of space! Thanks for the tip!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That’s amazing! I can’t wait to try it :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If celery gets limp, put a damp (not wet) microfiber cloth (or paper towel if you haven’t joined the revolution yet) at the bottom of a plastic bag. Then put the celery bunch in the bag with the root end touching the damp cloth. The next day the celery will be as crisp as when it was harvested.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Whoa, I didn’t know that.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve gotten 3 weeks with this method but 6-14 is amazing! I also chop off the end and place it in a small container of warm water. Change the water every day and within a day or so you’ll start seeing new growth. I do this just to get the extra leafy bits but it’s also possible to plant the entire thing and start a new bunch of celery
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can cut the bottom end off celery, lettuce, and other vegetables and place in a bowl of water (I use tap water–not warm water) change every day and in a short time leafy greens start growing. You can also plant in a pot of soil and grow on your window seal. Doesn’t give you a lot of greens but some to add to you salad. Do the same with Carrot tops and get greens from them. Makes a good pesto ingredient.
I store most things upside down just to keep out the air, mayonnaise, any kind of sauceS , and horseradish especially. I also do the bread in freezer even with a family as they go through spirts. Most veggies get blanched if not eaten when bought so they can be used later if only for soup. Awesome tips from everyone.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Also a good thing to store mustard upside down to make it easier to use especially after most of it is gone from the container.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The only problem with storing things like mustard, ketchup, or anything in a squirt bottle upside down in the reefer is that when you take it out to use it and it starts to warm up, it’ll squirt out like a water pistol as soon as you open the lid or spout.
Never touch cheese with you bare hands as it is bacteria on our skin that causes the mould on cheese
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If you put a half sheet of a paper towel into a bread wrapper before you put it into the freezer, when you get it out and let it thaw your bread won’t get soggy. Take it out after the bread has thawed ad the bread will be fresh as when you bought it.
I was always told not to put coffee beans in the freezer…. Just keep them in an airtight container in the dark and they will last a long time.
I have always understood that one of the things that makes honey crystalize is because you used a metal utensil in the container. We have a lot of honey from bees that are put out in the alfalfa fields here in Delta….
Will be 70+ soon so I have had a long time to try many suggestions, thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ll have to try this. I am very tired of soggy bread. I’m 74 and still have a lot to learn.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Celery stays an amazing long time if wrapped in aluminum foil.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Fascinating! Thanks for posting this. Most were new to me, so I printed the post for future reference.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks Dorothy!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I was at a farmers market one day and listened to a woman that said they threw away their eggs after a week. I was floored. Eggs keep quite a while. Eggs go on sale one month before Easter so that when you hard boil them 2-3 weeks later they will peel easier. My BIL found 2 dozen in the back of his egg storage fridge (Organic Chicken Farmer) dated 6 months earlier. He used them as fertilizer in the garden. Only 2 were bad.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I need to try some of the fresh veggie keeping ideas. I am one who usually wastes what I buy.
My grandparents had a small chicken farm. In the spring, when the hens were laying like crazy, my grandmother would put the eggs in flats and stack them against the wall in the coolest part of the house. (No air conditioning in those days!} Then in the summer, when the chickens were as miserable from the heat as the people were, she would take out the oldest eggs so that they were used first, candle them (that means she looked at them backlit with a flashlight for signs of spoilage, red spots, and so forth), and deliver them to her customers. Every now and then a customer would notify her of a bad egg, and she would instantly replace it with no questions asked. Some of the eggs were several months old when she sold them.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I watched a video some time ago of an egg packing plant where they just took past dated cartons of eggs that were returned by grocery stores and dumped them right in with fresh eggs as they traveled down the packing lines. Haven’t been able to locate it a second time, however. The egg council, or whomever watches over such things, probably went into panic mode when they found out about it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I put my bread in the freezer, take out the slices I need, they thaw quickly, taste just as good and fresh out of the bag. I’ll be 70 in two weeks and I have been freezing my bread for years, something I recall my mom doing as far back as I can remember. I put pastas, cookies, oats, flour, meal, chips, bags of dry beans, you name it, the list is endless, and it is NEVER soggy. I enjoy all your tips Jillee, look forward each day to see what you have posted. Thanks and have a blessed day!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I agree, Gail. I’m a single person, so don’t always use up a loaf of bread very quickly. I keep it in the freezer and just take out the slices I need. They don’t take long to thaw, and I don’t have to worry about them being stale or moldy. I use airtight Tupperware containers for my flour, oats, sugar. And my mom taught me the trick of storing cottage cheese upside down. Great tips, Jillee!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love the bread idea! Thanks Gail!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.When I buy hot dog or hamburger buns I usually freeze them in vacuum sealed bags. Since it is just the hubbs and myself, I split the package in half and freeze in separate bags. The sealer that we have is a hand held pump, but it is amazing! Just be careful not to squish the buns too flat.That way, the bags with four buns will get eaten and not go to waste, and if they’re left in the store packaging, if you don’t eat them soon, they get hard and rather nasty.I suppose you could use THEM for bread crumbs (think meatloaf, meatballs,etc.) or maybe bread pudding…
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I freeze bread. No problem. But freezing buns never works for me.
I am still using herbs that I froze last summer. And I am learning to ferment vegetables. They keep for weeks or longer in the frig after fermenting! It’s really amazing!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That’s so great! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I freeze fresh whole heads of garlic, without peeling, in the freezer. The garlic is easy to peel and thaws quickly when needed. I sometimes place the head in a freezer bag, smash lightly to break up before freezing. The garlic does not freeze together in a lump.
I also wash and cut fresh lemons into wedges, place in freezer bag and freeze all the wedges in one bag. I use these in iced tea instead of ice cubes. I never had the problem of lemons freezing in a frozen lump.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Clever ideas – thanks Nana! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I sometimes freeze whole lemons and limes. When I need some ‘zest’ in a recipe, I simply take out the frozen fruit and ‘zest’ away. I return the fruit to the freezer for next time. When the zest is gone, I use the remaining lemon in other dishes. They can be cuts in 1/2 and used in pasta dishes, etc.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love this tip! I have a lemon tree so that means I have an excess of lemons in the winter and none in the summer. I’ve frozen the juice but never thought to freeze them whole. Thanks for the idea.
I tried freezing whole lemons once and when I thawed them out to make juice, it tasted like grapefruit juice, kind of bitter. It was good became it tasted like grapefruit juice! LOL. But now I just squeeze excess lemons and freeze the juice. That way it taste sour like it should. I also zest the lemons before I freeze them and freeze the zest separately in a baggy.
I transfer mushrooms from store container to a brown paper bag immediately and place in refrigerator. They keep mush longer that way.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for the tip!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I know that #28 is common advice, but I really disagree with it. I even conducted tests, and I found that the best way to keep bread is to wrap it in a towel (or even better, a dedicated bread bag made of towel-like material) and keep it in the fridge. I tried no towel + fridge, towel + countertop, no towel + breadbox, plastic bag + fridge, plastic bag + countertop, but towel + fridge was definitely the best.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.La semaine d’une gourmette
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Does the homemade bread bag need to be cotton terry cloth or will a microfibre material work as well?
No, kitchen towel material: weaved cotton, linen, or a mix
I agree. I’m single and use very little bread. I put it right in the fridge in one of the crisper drawers and it keeps for weeks. Yes, weeks. I usually toast bread before eating, but this method has worked for me for years whether I toast it or not.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We buy the Ezekiel bread and you should keep it in the fridge. You can put half in the freezer and the other half in the fridge if your family does not eat it regularly. You could lay each piece you are going to freeze on a cookie sheet to freeze and then put in a zip lock bag but I don’t bother to do that as it is easy to get the pieces apart when frozen.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I agree with you. But if I decide to leave a loaf of real Italian or French bread out and it dries up, I recently learned a nice trick. Briefly run it under water and “re-bake” until the outside is dry. Tastes like fresh baked bread
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great ideas . We plant tomatoes and squash in our garden every year. The fruit and berry tip , I read awhile back is to use a few teaspoons of the Mrs Bragg apple cider vinegar and soak them in a solution of the vinegar and water for about 15-20 minutes before you refrigerate them. Berry baskets are also great to use.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just do it briefly or they tend to get soggy
Please log in or create a free account to comment.#2 ‘It’s fine to buy foods that are a day or two away from their expiration date’ is a great tip for saving a lot of money, actually. The Mister and I make a habit of shopping the day after the grocers specials change over. They mark down all the previous weeks deals even more to make room for the new specials. We frequently get chicken breasts that are already trimmed and marinated for 99 cents a pound, cheeses for 1.99 a pound and more. The deli is also a great place to search. They often have pre-made potato salads and cold cuts reduced and pre-portioned. Fresh veggies require a bit of close examination, but they’re often just fine. You have to plan your freezing or cooking around it, but it has worked great for us.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Those are some great deals Nichole!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great tips! Here are a couple of things we do.
The best way to store celery is to wrap in aluminum foil and store in the fridge. Don’t wash strawberries – place them in a glass jar with a lid and was them as needed. They will keep much longer this way. Also agree with Donna – never microwave honey – place jar in a pan of hot water and simmer.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I hate to be that person, but I disagree with your advice about honey. Check any bee keeper website and they will all tell you never microwave honey. Put the container in a hot water bath to de-crystalize. Other than that some really great tips.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This sounds CRAZY, but try storing the honey in the bathroom if frequent crystallization is an issue. I have a dedicated jar of honey for my skin and hair that’s been in there over a year, and it never crystallizes. I assume the heat and humidity of the bathroom is the cause.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Microwaving the honey probably sterilizes it, or pasteurize it. If you bought it at a store and it says it is pasteurized, microwaving shouldn’t matter. (unless they stated a different reason) If you bought raw honey it will be.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Never ever give honey to babies, it can make them sick. Keep any sugars or sweeteners away, too, as it cuts down on obesity in the oncoming years. For snacks give them plain Cheerios, or puffed rice.
I too have learned that honey should not be microwaved. When I buy honey I always transfer it to a mason jar once opened. Then if it crystalizes, i put the jar in a small crock pot with some water, turn to warm or low, and gently de-crystalize this way. Has worked very well for me!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Also, to get all the nutrients out of raw honey, it should never be heated. If you are just using it for taste, it doesn’t matter.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I think this depends on the temperature it’s heated to. What nutrients are lost through heating?
Keep your bag of potatoes from growing eyes by putting a whole apple in the bag. And store that bag in a dark cabinet. It works.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.