Did your greens go brown again before you could use them? Well.. that’s quite relatable.

You are not alone when we talk about people who throw away 40% of their uneaten food due to spoilage, blemishes, bruises, or staling. It can be a heartbreaking scene to see all your money go to waste at the end of the week. But there is a trick to keeping them healthy for an extended period. As specific foods require certain storing methods to stay fresh, here are some tricks that you can use to stop your food from going bad.

Hanging Bananas on Hooks

Some fruits like bananas emit ethylene gas to ripen themselves. It is one of those fruits that go bad within a day or two. Since you cannot eat a dozen bananas within a day all by yourself, it is better to store them. But how?

According to the experts, wrapping the bananas in plastic flexible packaging helps reduce the amount of ethylene emitted. You can also store them on a hook to provide plenty of air circulation. It will ultimately reduce the amount of ethylene concentrated in one area, which you would have if you kept them in a bowl.

Lining the Crisper Drawer With a Towel

The extra moisture in your refrigerator can cause most fruits and vegetables to lose their crispy texture. Similarly, it does not take long for the leafy, crispy lettuce to suddenly become limp and soggy. But you can lengthen its shelf life by lining your crisper drawer with paper or washable terry-cloth towels. It will help absorb the excess moisture, thus keeping your produce fresh for an extended period.

This trick works for other products in your fridge as well. But remember to swap the towel every week as it will go damp and increase the mold risk.

Keeping Mushrooms in a Paper Bag

Mushrooms are healthy ingredients to use in almost every dish, from a chopped salad and an omelette to a stir-fry. But nothing could be more sickening than reaching in for the vegetable only to pull out a slimy, mushy mess. Felt disgusted enough? Yeah, we do too.

The trick to keeping the mushrooms fresh and meaty for long is in the art of storing them. Whenever we purchase veggies, we store them in plastic bags; but for mushrooms, plastic can be a mold trigger as it traps in moisture which causes them to mildew.

If you want to store these items, use a paper pouch as it allows the vegetable to breathe and for moisture to escape, which ultimately slows down the rate at which they decay.

Soaking Berries in Hot Water

Berries are the one fruit that can make anyone’s day. But they can be a pricey investment, especially during the winters. So, it is essential to make the best out of these fruits. Even during the summer season, you don’t want to lose any of your berries. But how can you do that?

It is suggested to give a vinegar bath to your berries before placing them in the fridge. But that can leave a taste residue even when rinsed. Instead, you can provide these fruits with a hot-water bath of about 12 seconds and let them dry out completely before putting them in the fridge to inhibit mold growth.

Wrapping Celery in Aluminum Foil

Celery is one of those fruits that can quickly go from crisp and crunchy to supple and tasteless. But the good news is that you can increase their longevity by taking a few minutes to store them properly. The ideal way is to separate, wash, dry, and wrap the stalks in aluminium foil with a small opening. It helps in keeping the air out and moisture in, while still allowing the ethylene gas to escape, thus slowing down the ripening and maintaining the veggies fresh for long.

Keeping Nuts in the Freezer

We all know that nuts are rich in essential oils, but humidity, heat, and light can rapidly degrade those oils. If you store them in warm places, such as near the oven or stove, it can cause them to go rancid with a short period. That is why if you want to keep the nuts tasting fresh for an extended period, it is advised to store them in the freezer.

Placing Yogurt in Airtight Containers

Certain foods go stale if you do not store them in airtight containers. Yoghurt is one of those items that start tasting weird if you put it in loose or open containers. Open containers expose the food to the cold air inside the refrigerator, which dries it out. That is why you should reuse the foil that the yoghurt came with to seal the container.

Storing Potatoes in Cool, Dry Place

Potatoes are the most versatile fruits – you can turn them into baked potatoes, french fries, hash browns, or simply boil them to feed your hungry stomach. But the downside of storing a large bag of these on hand is that they begin to sprout after a certain period. So, what to do?

The trick to keep the potatoes edible for an extended period is to store them in a dry, cool place where there is no sunlight and moisture. You can get your hands on high-quality pouches for storing potatoes by contacting spout pouch manufacturers in Delhi. Another trick is throwing an apple with a bag of potatoes to discourage sprouting.

Final Words

Nothing could be worse than reaching out for the leftovers hoping you can enjoy their taste once more, only to discover that it has already gone bad. Whether it is fruits and vegetables, dairy, nuts, meat, and poultry, there are specific storage methods for all eatables. If you go through the above list carefully, you will be able to make the best out of your money and enjoy your food for an extended period.

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