Simple ways to keep your food fresher for longer

According to Jena Roberts, Vice President of Business Development at The National Food Lab, manufacturers want to ensure that consumers eat and taste high-quality products so they provide indices of what she calls shelf stability, to determine the interval for when a product will be at its best. In other words, the expiry date does not mean that the product is old, simply that it’s no longer at its highest quality. Here are 7 kitchen hacks to help keep your food fresh for longer:

Wash your berries

Rinsing berries in vinegar will kill the bacteria that cause mould but be sure to dry the berries completely and store them in a dry area as well.

Refresh salads

If you’re hoping to retain the freshness of ingredients like lettuce and tomato, simply freeze them while they’re still fresh and thaw them just before tossing them into a salad. The lettuce and tomato will taste just as crisp as when you bought it.

Keep onions crisp

Choose a dry, dark place to store onions so that they stay fresh. They also need a breathable spot so opt to hang them in a breathable bag or hang them in a stocking.

Foil celery

Try wrapping your greens like celery in foil so that it’s protected while they sweat but don’t go slimy (as it would, covered in plastic).

Get good fat

Refrigerate avocados to pause the ripening process or store them at room temperature to help them ripen easily.

Freeze herbs

Freeze your herbs in olive oil, using an ice tray which you can easily add to a pan or pot when needed, or place the herbs in a glass of water to ensure that they remain oxygenated.

Don’t separate bananas

Did you know that bananas ripen faster if they are separated? To ensure that they stay fresh, keep them bunched up for as long as possible. You can also try wrapping just the stems in a small piece of cling wrap.

You might also be interested in 20 Foods with the longest shelf life.