15 Food Storage Hacks

Former_MSE_James_F

With the cost of living rising at its fastest rate in 30 years and the climate crisis feeling more real than ever, there’s never been a better time to learn more about food storage hacks that can help you to save money as well as the environment. Below I share my 15 top-tips.

Read the full story here:
'15 food storage hacks to help you save money and the planet'

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Ebe_Scrooge

Some good tips in there - some I've heard before, others are new to me.  I'm not sure about number 6 though - leftover wine?  Ermmm, I don't understand that, can someone please explain to me what this is?

One other tip to add - and I know it's been said time and again.  But please, ignore the "Best Before" dates - and, dare I say it, even the "Use By" dates.  If something is off, you'll know about it.  Use your eyes and your nose, ignore what arbitrary dates are printed on the packaging.  It really irks me to see people throwing away perfectly good food for no reason.

BaldacchinoR

In today's 2/2/22, 15 Food Storage Tips there are references to freezing food in jars. I suggest that you should not do so in glass jars as foods can expand on freezing and when defrosting, and you may end up with glass fragments in your food rendering it inedible!

BaldacchinoR

On storing bread, once it becomes unsuitable for sandwiches, freezing is best. But if freezing is not an option, it will keep longer in the fridge than outside it and can be used for toast or making bread recipes such as bread pudding or banana bread.

rpb

The banana tip is an urban legend.  The ethene/ethylene isn't produced just by the tops/stalks of the fruits but by the whole fruit, so covering the stalk makes no difference.  You can try the experiment yourself, two bunches with and without covering, and the bunches will ripen at the same rate.  Science!

See: https://www.instructables.com/Keep-Bananas-Fresh-Longer-slices-too/#:~:text=I tried it to see if it would make any difference, and it was a resounding failure

tofu-eater_3

I keep carrots in the fridge in an airtight tupperware container with a piece of cotton wool or paper towel that has been thoroughly soaked in water and squeezed out, they last for ages. 

dancerman11

Freeze Lemons if using for cooking you get more zest and more juice when thawed the same goes for oranges

p00hsticks

dancerman11 said:

Freeze Lemons if using for cooking you get more zest and more juice when thawed the same goes for oranges

Or giving them a quick blast (10-20 seconds) in the microwave also works to get more juice out

jasdev

I was going to make the comment about item no. 6 but Ebe_Scrooge beat me to it!

My other comment is that Riverford has a handy A to Z of veg here which gives advice on storage, preparation and more that complements this guide.
https://www.riverford.co.uk/a-to-z-of-veg

Rosalynda

Someone mentioned about using glass in the freezer. Many years ago i put a a filled glass jar in my freezer. I hadn't noticed that part of the top had cracked. I was washing the jar up and the water turned red!  I had to go to hospital and have stitches. Obviously i have never used glass in the freezer since.

Debran

I divide leftover wine into small plastic lidded containers before freezing them, then use them for stews, casseroles etc.  Won't freeze completely because the small amount of alcohol in the wine will not freeze.

I reiterate what has been said before about tinfoil wrapped around the top of bunches of bananas.  Don't bother.

I store apples in the fridge - and several other types of fruit too.  Get out what you need and let it come to room temperature before eating.

What I have written may not be relevant to you if there are several people living together but I live alone.