Storing food properly is essential to maintaining the freshness, flavor, and nutritional value of your favorite items. Surprisingly, many of us unknowingly store food incorrectly, and this leads to it spoiling quicker and being wasted. Understanding how to store certain food items correctly and making a few simple adjustments can help extend the shelf life of your groceries and ensure every meal is as delicious as possible. Here are 18 foods people often store incorrectly.
Avocados
Many people make the mistake of sticking their avocados in the fridge as soon as they buy them. You actually shouldn’t refrigerate your avocados straight away, as this will stop them from ripening properly. Instead, you should store them in a cool, dark place to begin with. “Once ripe, uncut avocados can be stored in the refrigerator, unpeeled, for up to one or two weeks,” according to The Spruce.
Onions and Garlic
It’s best to store onions and garlic in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area. You should also make sure you store your onions and garlic away from your potatoes, as the ethylene gas that they emit can cause potatoes to sprout. Garlic can also begin to sprout if you don’t keep it stored in a place that’s dark and dry. Onions and garlic can also become mushy and moldy if you refrigerate them.
Leafy Greens
To properly look after and store your leafy greens, you should first wash them and then wrap them in a paper towel before placing them in a plastic bag or container. Once you’ve done all these steps, you should store them in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator to keep them humid. It’s also important to keep greens separate from ethylene-producing fruits like apples and bananas to prevent them from wilting.
Berries
Berries typically don’t have a very long shelf life at all, and they’re very susceptible to mold. One useful trick to keep your berries fresh for longer is to avoid washing them until you’re ready to eat them, as washing your berries too early can encourage mold growth. Berries should be stored in a breathable container, ideally lined with paper towels to absorb any excess moisture. Keeping your berries in a fridge will also extend their freshness.
Spices
You might think you can store spices anywhere and they’d be totally fine, but there are actually some rules to follow to ensure your spices remain at their best. Spices should be stored in a cool, dry place that’s far away from direct sunlight and sources of heat. Keeping spices in airtight containers will also preserve their potency and flavor, and whole spices can retain their flavor longer than ground spices.
Cheese
Pretty much everyone loves cheese and nobody wants it to lose its flavor or texture! Storing cheese properly is integral to keeping it delicious. The best way to store cheese is to wrap it in wax paper or parchment before placing it in a plastic bag and leaving it in the vegetable crisper drawer in your refrigerator to maintain proper humidity. For soft cheeses, you should use a resealable plastic container to stop it from drying out.
Bread
It’s a good idea to store your bread at room temperature in a breadbox, plastic wrap, paper bag, or a zip-top plastic bag to keep it fresh and give it a longer shelf-life. Business Insider explains that “regardless if it’s store-bought, bakery-fresh or homemade, bread stays fresh longer when it’s in a relatively air-tight environment since circulation speeds up the staling process.” You should also freeze any bread that won’t be eaten within a few days to prevent mold.
Stone Fruits
Fruit can easily end up wasted, as it typically has a shorter shelf life, so it’s important to do everything you can to make your fruit last longer. When it comes to stone fruits, you should store them at room temperature when they’re unripe until they soften. Once they’ve ripened, refrigerating them can help them stay fresh for longer. You should also keep stone fruits away from other fruits to avoid over-ripening due to ethylene gas.
Grains and Pasta
People often make the mistake of thinking grains and pasta don’t require any specific storage conditions. However, storing these food items in airtight containers is essential to protect them from moisture as well as pests. Labeling the containers with purchase dates can be a smart way to ensure older items are used first. Grains and pasta should also be kept in a cool, dry pantry or cabinet that’s hidden from direct sunlight.
Herbs
Many experts advise people to trim the stems of their fresh herbs and place them in a jar with water, covering them loosely with a plastic bag. This is supposed to help make the herbs last longer as well as allow them to take in more nutrients. Herbs like parsley and cilantro should be kept in the refrigerator, while dried herbs are meant to be kept in an airtight container away from heat and light.
Seafood
It’s vital to store seafood correctly to make sure it remains safe and stays fresh for longer. Seafood should be stored in the coldest part of your refrigerator, ideally on ice if possible. For maximum freshness, it’s advised that you eat seafood within 1-2 days of purchase. However, if you need to store your seafood for longer, freezing it in an airtight container or vacuum-sealed bag is your best option.
Coffee
Many of us rely on coffee to start our day, but how many of us are storing our coffee incorrectly? Coffee beans should be kept in an airtight container that’s stored in a cool, dark place. You should also only grind your coffee beans just before brewing to retain the flavor and aroma of the beans. Avoid refrigerating or freezing coffee beans, as this can expose them to unwanted moisture and odors.
Tomatoes
The general rule is to not store tomatoes in your refrigerator. Martha Stewart states that “tomatoes contain an enzyme that reacts to cold temperatures, causing the cell membranes to break down and leaving you with a piece of fruit that’s mushy and mealy.” Tomatoes should be stored at room temperature away from direct sunlight to ripen properly, and once ripe, it’s best to use them within a few days.
Pre-Cut Fruit and Vegetables
If you tend to buy pre-cut fruit and vegetables, you’re probably aware that they can spoil much quicker than whole produce. To help pre-cut produce last longer, it’s important to store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Pre-cut fruits and vegetables should also be kept separate to prevent cross-contamination. Make sure you use this pre-cut produce within a few days for maximum freshness and nutritional value!
Apples
Storing apples in the refrigerator crisper drawer can prolong their shelf life and keep them fresher for a longer period of time. You should also make sure you keep your apples separated from other fruits and vegetables, as this will stop them from ripening too quickly. Using perforated plastic bags or mesh produce bags to store apples can help keep them crispy and prevent mold growth by allowing air to flow around the apples.
Nuts and Seeds
Most people don’t really think too much about how they store nuts and seeds, but this can be a mistake, as nuts and seeds can spoil and turn rancid if they’re not stored properly. They should be stored in a container that’s airtight to protect them from moisture and rancidity. Just make sure you label the containers so you can track their freshness! Keeping nuts and seeds in the fridge or freezer can also extend their shelf life further.
Condiments and Sauces
Once you’ve opened any condiments or sauces, they should ideally be stored in the refrigerator to stop them from spoiling. It’s also important to make sure the bottles or containers are tightly sealed when you put them away to help maintain their freshness and prevent contamination. You should check the expiration dates of condiments and sauces regularly too and throw out any items that are past their prime.
Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes
When it comes to potatoes and sweet potatoes, people often don’t store them in the most beneficial way. You should avoid storing potatoes and sweet potatoes in the refrigerator, as cold temperatures can affect their texture and taste. Instead, these items should be kept in a cool, dark place that’s well-ventilated. They should also be kept far away from onions, as the gas from onions can encourage potatoes to sprout.
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