Tricks to Make Food Last Longer
By Sara Butler
No one wants to buy healthy food only to have it go to waste because it expires before you get around to using it, yet this is exactly what happens to many people. Luckily, there are some tips and tricks you can use to safely extend the life of the foods you buy. Here are a few you can start using today.
Use Your Freezer
When in doubt, don't throw it out -- freeze it instead. Many foods can last for months or even up to a year in the freezer. When you notice something nearing it's "best by" or expiration date, package it up the right way and place it in the freezer.
To freeze foods right, place it in a freezer-safe bag and squeeze as much air out as possible. This can help to prevent ice crystals from forming or from dehydration occurring.
Keep Produce in the Right Place
Where do you store your fresh produce in the refrigerator? Fresh fruit and vegetables tend to be the first things to spoil, but if you store them in the correct place in the refrigerator, then you can make them last a bit longer.
You have two options: You can either put fresh produce on the top shelf of the refrigerator so you constantly see and remember to eat it or you can put it in the crisper drawer. Putting it in the crisper drawer helps to control the humidity and keep things fresher for longer.
Learn to Pickle
Pickling vegetables can help them to stay edible for longer and it's a new hobby to take up if you're trying to fill some extra time you may have. Pickling doesn't require fancy equipment or ingredients, simply take a vegetable you like and use red wine or white vinegar along with some herbs, spices, salt, and a little sugar in a mason jar to preserve them. You can make vegetables last up to two months this way in your refrigerator.
Keep Potatoes Cool
Potatoes are great to keep on hand because you can make a variety of things from them and they last a long time. You can make them last longer by storing them in a cool, well ventilated, dark place, never in the refrigerator. If you store them right, then they'll be good for up to four months. Just don't get them wet or wash them until you're ready to cook them or they'll grow mold.
You can make foods last longer if you simply know what to do.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Dallas, Tex.