There is nothing more annoying than when the purchased vegetables and fruits go to waste before they are used. What can we do to keep expensive ingredients and other foods fresh? How can we prevent premature spoilage of food? In our article, we have collected the answers and provide tips and advice for the proper storage of food.
Keeping fruits fresh
If possible, do not refrigerate fruit. For their storage, an approx. A room with a temperature of 15 degrees, a pantry, is most suitable, avoiding direct sunlight. A cool cellar is also perfect for storing larger quantities of apples and pears. In any case, make sure that they are placed in a well-ventilated place, do not cover them, do not put them in a bag for longer storage, because they may become moldy.
If a separate room for their storage is not possible, then the less delicate fruits – apples, lemons, oranges, bananas – can also be stored in a larger bowl on the kitchen counter. What we should pay attention to is to always put healthy-looking fruits next to each other, because if moldy or rotten specimens get into the bowl, they can infect each other and the other fruits can start to deteriorate.
If the fruits do go into the refrigerator, it is important to never wash them, only immediately before consumption. In the case of fruits that deteriorate more quickly, such as berries, put them in a larger bowl, not too crowded, in the refrigerator and eat them within a few days.
Extra tips for storing fruit
- Drizzle the halved avocado with lemon juice or olive oil. If the whole avocado is not eaten, the citric acid in the lemon and the olive oil prevent the oxidation of the sliced fruits, so they do not turn brown. Apply a few drops to the cut surface and put it in a bowl in the fridge, covered with aluminum foil.
- Wrap the stem of the banana with plastic wrap. All you have to do is wrap the stem of the banana bunch tightly and airtight with plastic film. This prevents the release of ethylene, and the fruit lasts 3-5 days longer. When you tear a banana off the bunch, always make sure the foil is still tightly closed.
- Bathe the berries in water and vinegar. Soak the fresh fruits in enough water to cover them, then add 3-4 tablespoons of vinegar. This prevents them from rotting and becoming mouldy.
- Store fruits separately from vegetables. Fruits that emit significant amounts of ethylene (e.g. apples, bananas ) also shorten the lifespan of other fruits and vegetables. Keep vegetables and fruits in a separate drawer or on a separate shelf, separated from each other.
- It is recommended to store apples and potatoes together. Strangely, apples and potatoes are exceptions to the former rule. Ethylene gas emitted by apples prevents potatoes from sprouting.
Keeping vegetables fresh
It also applies to vegetables, which we have already mentioned in the case of fruits, that ideally they can be stored in a cooler place, protected from light, for the longest time, in a cellar or pantry. This is especially true for our most frequently used vegetables, potatoes and onions, which we usually buy in larger quantities. It is important that they are placed in a well-ventilated place, if possible in a wooden box, it is advisable to sort through them from time to time and take out the damaged and defective specimens.
Garlic can be stored almost anywhere, tied in a garland it can even decorate the kitchen and will last for months.
When keeping vegetables fresh, the humidity is also important, if it is too high, they can start to rot, if it is too low, they can lose their moisture content.
When storing in the refrigerator, do not peel them, otherwise they will spoil and dry out much faster. It is advisable to put them in the vegetable storage box of the refrigerator, if possible without a nylon bag. If they still end up in the refrigerator, be sure to open the mouth of the bag, otherwise the vegetables may get moldy. Cut herbs can also be stored in a small bottle of water on the refrigerator door.
If the goal is to keep washed and peeled leftover vegetables fresh, put them in an airtight box or cover them with plastic wrap in the refrigerator and consume them within 1-2 days.
Extra tips for storing vegetables
- Wrap the celery in aluminum foil. The aluminum foil packaging keeps the celery fresh and crunchy for up to weeks.
- Place the mushrooms in a paper bag. It is best to store the mushroom in a paper bag, as it allows it to breathe more easily, does not get damp and preserves its quality longer.
- Do not put the cucumber in the fridge. The cucumber should be stored at room temperature, and once it has been started, put it in the refrigerator, wrapping the cut half in plastic film, where it will remain fresh for another 1-3 days.
- Place the asparagus in water. Cut back the stalks of the asparagus a little, put it in water and put it in the fridge, covered with a foil. This way it will last at least a week longer.
- Keep the red spices in the fridge. Ground paprika, cayenne pepper or chili powder will stay fresh longer in the refrigerator and retain their bright color, which can fade due to light and heat.
Storage of other foodstuffs
In addition to those mentioned above, we also have to take care of the storage of many foods and raw materials. Let’s look at the most popular ones.
- Eggs – eternal question should we store them refrigerated or not? Eggs can be stored in a dry, cool place (2-18C) without refrigeration, but the fact is that they stay fresh longer if stored in a refrigerator. It is not necessary to wash it, only before use, because during washing the egg’s natural protective layer can be damaged and bacteria can enter the inside of the egg through the shell. If necessary, wipe it off on the stem. If you want to store leftover cracked eggs, you can put them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days or freeze them.
- Bread – it is not worth storing in the fridge, it dries out very easily. Instead, put it in a bread pan on the kitchen counter and if you don’t eat it within a few days, you can freeze it whole or sliced, so you can always heat up as much as you need in the oven.
- Cheese – put it in an airtight plastic box, possibly in a paper towel soaked in vinegar, then wrap it in a paper bag and put it in the fridge, so the cheese stays fresh and mold-free. A small amount of vinegar will not affect the taste of the cheese.
- Milk – most people store it in the refrigerator door, even though this is the warmest part of the refrigerator, so it is worth putting the milk on the inner shelf, where it is the coolest.