One of the worst possible things in the world is going into your fridge, grabbing some veggies to whip up something amazing, and finding a gross mushy spot or some funky looking stuff growing. We clearly didn’t take Food Storage 101 in college…
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to grab an avocado to make something yummy, just to find that it’s beyond brown. Or the thousands of times that I’ve lost a lone cucumber in the back of the veggie drawer and finally figured out that it was the source of the rancid smell in my fridge.
With these food storage hacks, the days of tossing yucky produce are over. Change the way you store your food to make the most out of your grocery budget. Welcome to food storage 101.
1. Store red spices in the fridge
Store your red spices in the fridge. Cayenne, paprika, chili powder, and even cumin benefit from the cold temperature. This maximizes freshness and keeps their flavors strong.
2. Put asparagus in water
Pretend your asparagus are a bouquet of flowers. Store them the same way! Chop off the ends and stick them in a jar with water to keep them from going soft.
3. Don’t rinse your produce
If you’re storing produce in the fridge, don’t wash it before you store it. Putting damp produce into the fridge makes it go bad quicker. Instead, wash it right before you eat it.
4. Store leafy greens with a paper towel
Before putting your salad greens into the fridge, put a piece of paper towel in the box or container to absorb any moisture that accumulates, which can help delay the natural wilting process.
5. Store fruits and veggies separately
If you have the fridge space, store your fruits and veggies separately. Fruits give off higher levels of ethylene gas that cause other produce to ripen quicker, which will make them spoiler faster.
6. Leave cucumbers on the counter
Oddly enough, cucumbers last longer if they’re kept out of the fridge. Keep them on your countertop instead, and away from ethylene gas-emitting fruit like bananas.
7. Use a vinegar solution on berries
Soak berries in a solution of vinegar and water to prevent premature mold. Combine three parts water with one part vinegar and give your berries a wash in the solution to prolong their freshness. Make sure to rinse and dry them well before putting them in the fridge.
8. Wrap bananas in aluminum
Extend the life of your bananas with aluminum foil. Wrap the foil around each individual stem to prolong the life of your bunch.
9. Brush avocados with lemon juice
Brush your leftover avocado half with lemon juice or olive oil to delay the oxidization process and to keep them from going brown.
#SpoonTip: Here are five more ways to keep avocados from going brown in the fridge.
10. Freeze butter
Freeze sticks of butter that you’re not going to use in the near future. Frozen sticks can last for about a year. To thaw, transfer them to the fridge or let them warm up a bit on your counter.
11. Put a marshmallow in your brown sugar
Add a couple marshmallows to your jar of brown sugar to prevent clumping. The marshmallows provide just the right amount of moisture needed to keep the sugar soft.
12. Store nut butters upside down
If you’re a fan of organic nut butters, store them upside down. This allows the oil that gets separated to be dispersed throughout the jar, making it so you don’t have to go through the messy stirring process every time you use it.
Congrats, you finished food storage 101! The Internet is full of food storage hacks beyond these. Save some money this semester by adopting these hacks into your everyday kitchen etiquette.