Buying in bulk might save money, but keeping everything fresh is another story. If you’re tired of throwing out wilted greens or questionable leftovers, you’re not alone. Luckily, there are smart and simple tricks that actually work to extend the life of your food. This list rounds up 14 easy hacks that help reduce waste, save money, and make your groceries last way longer. Your fridge and your wallet will thank you.
Note: The content of this article is not medical advice.
Learn how to use your freezer
Plenty of ingredients can be safely stored in the freezer. Mushrooms, ginger, and avocado are excellent choices. Opt for thick packaging materials to protect your food from the cold such as heavy plastic wrap, and aluminum foil.
Avoid avocados from browning
If you love avocados, you know that if you only eat half, the other half will soon turn brown, even if kept in the fridge. A good way to prevent this is to store your half avocado with an onion or squeeze a little lemon juice on it.
Put paper towels in your salad
Whenever you buy lettuce, add a few sheets of kitchen roll to absorb excess moisture. This will help keep your lettuce fresh for longer.
Clean your fridge regularly
Clean your fridge regularly is a good rule of thumb to avoid waste. In this way, you will soon notice whether some ingredients need to be eaten shortly.
Wash berries in vinegar
Berries are expensive and tend to ripen quickly. To prevent this, wash your berries in a solution made with one portion of vinegar and three portions of water, let them dry, and store them in the fridge.
Cook
Are your veggies getting overripe? Then it’s time to cook them before it’s too late! You can make plenty of jams or fill up your jars with homemade tomato sauce. This will avoid waste and prepare delicious food to eat throughout the week.
Read your labels
Most products' labels will include detailed information on how to store them properly. Read this carefully and follow the instructions provided. Some may suggest keeping your food in a dry place, while others may advise keeping a certain product in the refrigerator once opened.
Put your herbs in water
Finishing the huge bunches of basil and parsley sold in supermarkets is never easy unless you’re cooking for ten people. The secret? Treat your herbs as a bouquet. Put them in a nice vase with water, and they will stay fresh for days.
Learn how to use your fridge
While some products last longer in the fridge, others stay fresher outside of it. Some of the foods you should always keep outside of the fridge include tomatoes, bananas, and onions.
Create a system
Creating a system will help you reduce food waste. For instance, you can keep veggies and fruits that need to be eaten soon in a certain compartment of your fridge. Try a few different techniques and see what works for you.
Cover your bread
Bread tends to get dry quite quickly. However, there is a simple way to avoid this. Simply put it in a bread box, plastic wrap, or airtight plastic bag to ensure it will retain its moisture over time.
Wash your veggies at the very last
Avoid washing your veggies and fruits before storing them in the fridge. This will increase their moisture and result in faster decay.
Flour in the Fridge
You may not think of putting your flour in the fridge, but that is where it really should be stored! When flour is stored in the pantry, it can start to attract little bugs called weevils. While those bugs won't harm the flour, they are gross! Putting your opened bag of flour in the fridge will prevent you from opening the bag to find those little black bugs.
Vacuum Seal
If you buy a big pack of meat or veggies, divide it into usable portions then vacuum seal and freeze the rest. Investing in a vacuum sealer is a great idea, especially if you plan to buy food in bulk regularly. Vacuum sealers will suck out all the air from the packaging and help keep foods fresher for longer. Plus, it will make your fridge and freezer look super organized!
This article was first published at Spatula Desserts.
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