How to Store Your Food to Make it Last

Have you ever spent a couple of hundred dollars on groceries only to have them go bad before you can use them all? It is frustrating to waste money and food when it doesn’t last as long as you’d like, especially when you have a limited grocery budget. Here are a few tips that will help you to store your food to make it last as long as possible.

Keep it at the Right Temperature

First of all, you need to make sure that you keep your different food items at the right temperature. There are many foods, such as dried foods and canned foods that don’t need to be refrigerated or frozen. However, you’ll still want to make sure that your home environment isn’t too hot or humid to keep those foods in good condition. As far as your fridge or freezer go, there are specific temperatures that you should maintain. Your fridge should be programmed to be around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 4 degrees Celsius. Your freezer, on the other hand, should be set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or -18 degrees Celsius. These temperature settings won’t prevent the spread of bacteria or spoiled food if you’re not regularly cleaning your fridge or freezer or taking care of the food inside. Remember, the amount of food that you have inside your fridge can affect the way that it is effectively and safely stored. If your fridge or freezer is overcrowded, it might not be able to maintain an ideal temperature as easily.

Use the Right Containers

Another practice that you should implement to make your food last as long as possible is to use the right containers to store your food. Certain foods should be kept in air-tight containers to prevent them from spoiling or developing mold as fast. Air-tight containers can also keep certain foods from going stale, such as bread and baked goods. Using air-tight containers helps to keep pests away from your kitchen.

Be Careful with Produce

Finally, make sure that you’re being careful as you’re storing your produce. You can’t treat your produce with a one-size-fits-all mentality because different produce items need to be stored in different manners. For example, you shouldn’t wash your produce until you’re ready to eat it, because washing it can make it rot and wilt more quickly. If your produce is already a bit damp, you can store them with a paper towel to absorb the extra water. Certain products, like potatoes, onions, garlic, and more should be stored in a dark, indoor location, like a pantry or cupboard, since they go back if they’re exposed to light and cold temperatures. Check out these tips to learn how to store your produce.

So, if you’re trying to store your food more effectively so it will last longer, remember the tips in this article. Make sure that you keep your foods at the right temperature, use the right containers, and be careful with your produce storage. This will help your food to last much longer so you can get the most out of your money spent.

Check out this article on how to design a diet that helps you feel better!