Cooking or food hacks are methods employed by some home chefs and culinary experts to simplify, expedite, or enhance the process of preparing food, and to make food last longer. The concept of cooking hacks is not new. People who lived in tribe communities, hostels, or under other circumstances have always employed kitchen tricks to get over a shortage of equipment.
Food hygiene should also be taken into account without reservation. Food storage safety is an important component of basic food hygiene practices because it ensures that the food we cook and the fresh food we buy have not been stored in an unsafe environment. At the end of the day, safe food is all about having good-quality ingredients to work with.
Despite the fact that the vast amount of food waste that occurs can be depressing, it is empowering to realize that each of us can make a difference in the amount of food that is wasted in our own homes. We could all have a significant impact if we all made minor changes to how we shop for, store, and consume food. So let’s look at some simple food storage tips to make food last longer.
Make food last longer with these food storage tips
1. Fish and livestock should be kept in the refrigerator’s coldest drawer.
Fish and livestock typically deteriorate the quickest. In fact, it’s frequently advised to prepare fresh fish within two days of storing it in the refrigerator. Keep your meat products in the back of your fridge to help prevent them from going bad before you can utilize them. To reduce the chance of cross-contamination, it’s also a good idea to store these foods on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator.
2. Fruits and vegetables should not be washed before storing.
Washing fresh fruits and vegetables before placing them in the refrigerator may save time. According to experts, washing can actually shorten its shelf life by introducing moisture to the product. It’s better to wait to wash vegetables until you’re ready to eat them because this wetness will hasten their decomposition.
3. Milk shouldn’t be kept in the refrigerator door.
Avoid storing milk in the refrigerator door, where the temperature is warmer and more likely to vary, to extend its shelf life. Instead, keep milk in your refrigerator’s rear and bottom shelves, which are normally the coldest places to keep food. Additionally, milk may spoil much more quickly if kept in a refrigerator since the temperature of the door can vary when people open and close a fridge frequently. The temperatures on the middle and lower shelves, particularly those that are closest to the refrigerator’s rear, are usually the most stable. This is one of the most important food storage tips since the number one consumer of milk and other dairy products are children.
4. Separate banana from other fruit
Because they produce a lot of ethylene gas, bananas should be stored apart from other fruit. To avoid them spoiling too soon, do this. Cling film can also be used to extend the shelf life of a bunch of bananas by covering the fruit’s crown.
5. Maintain onions in a pair of tights.
Onion storage in a pair of skinny tights is one of the list’s more ridiculous methods. Spot one onion in a cool, dry place; make a knot between each onion; and hang. After that, they can last for an incredible eight months longer.
6. Put paper towel in greens.
Maintaining lettuce, spinach and other leafy green vegetables free of moisture is essential for extending its shelf life. After washing your greens, put it in a container with a paper towel to absorb any extra moisture since water causes the produce to wilt.
7. Water your herbs.
Herbs add a lovely finishing touch to our meals, but those that are purchased from a store often degrade very fast. Before placing the leaves of herbs like parsley, cilantro, and basil in a small cup of water, experts advise chopping off the stems and making sure the leaves are completely dry. The herbs will remain fresh for up to two weeks if a loose plastic bag is placed on top of them. As an alternative, thyme, rosemary, and sage should be knotted together and hung to allow air to circulate around the oilier herbs. Even better, you can always learn how to grow your own herbs to save money if you want a fresh supply.
8. Use sealable containers or bags for your food.
Food should always be kept in airtight containers or resealable plastic bags after being opened. This stops air or moisture from contaminating food or hastening its decomposition. In reality, the majority of fresh vegetables, including carrots, potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, and celery, should be kept in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer in a resealable plastic bag or container. This holds true for packaging up leftovers so they don’t spoil rapidly.
Safety tips on food storage
- Don’t overfill a refrigerator.
Don’t overfill your fridge, even if having a full fridge can feel good. Stuffing your refrigerator to capacity might hinder the flow of cold air and produce heated spots. This will make maintaining a constant temperature more difficult and increase the risk of food spoilage. In order to remove bacteria or spores, be sure to routinely clean your refrigerator.
- Separately store cooked food from raw food.
Foods should be kept separate from cooked food in the refrigerator. Cold cooked food can become contaminated by germs from raw food, and if the meal is not fully cooked again, the bacteria can grow to lethal levels. Raw food should always be kept in covered or airtight containers in the bottom of the refrigerator. To prevent liquids like meat juices from leaking down and contaminating the cooked food, keep raw foods below cooked foods.
- Select sturdy, healthy containers for food storage.
Aside from using them to store food, make sure your food storage containers are clean and in good shape. To reduce the risk of contamination, cover them with tightly fitting lids, foil, or plastic film. Can contents should be put into appropriate containers after being opened.
- Keep your refrigerator clean.
Eliminate bacteria by routinely cleaning and sanitizing your refrigerator and cupboards. As a result, the food there will last a lot longer.
- Frequently check your refrigerator’s temperature
Make sure the refrigerator is set at the appropriate temperature after you’ve wrapped and put all of your perishables inside. To avoid food spoiling and lower the chance of contracting a food-borne illness, make sure your refrigerator’s thermometer is functioning properly. At least 40 degrees Fahrenheit (five degrees Celsius) or a few degrees lower should be the temperature setting.
In Closing
As a whole. The above mentioned of food storages tips to make food last longer might as well be used for your future house and lot packages or condominium from BRIA Homes. Proper food storages is important for your family to get away them from harmful effects of poor food storages that are easily be prevented. Keeping them safe and healthy is our goal.
BRIA Homes, one of the Philippines’ leading housing developers, aims to bring affordable house and lot packages and condominium units closer to ordinary Filipino Families. BRIA Homes takes pride in its quick construction time. Its uses new home building technologies in every project to reduce construction time without sacrificing quality.
