Each week it seems that the battle of man vs. food in the kitchen is inevitable. As the week nears its end, there’s a rush to consume all produce and fresh food before it ends up uneaten in the trash can. Suddenly, both your stomach and your wallet are empty.
Cooking for a party of one has its pros and cons. Unfortunately, the joy of getting to choose exactly what you want to eat often entails buying more than enough of an ingredient.
Here are some of the well-known and lesser-known tips and tricks in the kitchen that will help you avoid having to throw your produce away and will enhance the shelf-life of many food products. Your wallet will thank you.
1. Add some butter onto the cut-open side of cheese.
Photo by Kylie Kinder
The butter helps keep the cut edge from drying out. Wrap the cheese in wax paper to allow it to breathe and store it in the fridge.
2. Avoid washing produce until right before you are about to eat it.
Photo by Kylie Kinder
So when you want to munch on some strawberries, remove the portion you want to consume from its container and just rinse that. This preserves the produce’s water-soluble nutrients.
3. Wrap up greens such as cucumbers, lettuce, and broccoli in tin foil to maintain that refreshing crunch.
Photo by Kylie Kinder
The foil prevents light and oxygen from interacting with the food inside.
4. Brush some olive oil over the open surface of an avocado and place it in a Tupperware container.
Photo by Kylie Kinder
The olive oil creates a thin layer of protection that slows down the oxidation process. Add some sliced onions and be sure to leave the avocado pit in place to ensure that it will keep its beautiful green color.
5. Store ripe tomatoes and onions on your counter in a dry, cool area.
Photo by Kylie Kinder
Make sure the area is clean to prevent any bacterial infections of the produce. For unripe tomatoes, put them in your fridge stem-side down.
6. Freeze your sliced bread and chicken breasts.
Photo by Kylie Kinder
The freezer works wonders in preventing mold and bacteria from accruing.
7. Purchase a wine vacuum cork.
Photo by Kylie Kinder
The pump sucks out any extra air in the bottle, preventing excessive oxidation and allowing the wine to last longer. Store both white and red bottles in the fridge.
8. Store your mushrooms in a paper bag.
Photo by Kylie Kinder
Moisture is easily trapped in plastic baggies, which can lead to mildewed mushrooms. Let your shrooms breathe a bit in a paper bag.
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