Here are ten tricks that will help you store your food without worrying about it losing freshness.
1. Freezing milk for several weeks ahead
If you’ve bought a gallon of milk and only then realized you were going on vacation, don’t worry, it won’t spoil – if you freeze it. There are several rules, however. Pour out some milk before freezing, as it will increase in volume. It’s best to freeze fresh milk and keep it in the freezer for no more than 4 to 6 weeks.
2. Freezing eggs in an ice tray
Sometimes we aren’t able to use up all the eggs while they’re fresh, or we only use the whites while the yolks are neglected. No worries, they can be frozen too! Just break them, and pour their contents into an ice tray, adding a little salt or sugar (this will preserve their texture). Then use them as needed.
3. Keeping your favorite sauce in a freezer bag
Leftover sauce is another candidate for freezing. Pour it into a storage bag, and within an hour it will be hard enough for you to dice it and add it to dishes when needed.
4. Lettuce leaves wrapped in a paper towel will stay fresh longer
Lettuce will remain fresh and crisp for a week if you wrap it in a paper towel. The excess moisture will soak into the towel and won’t let the leaves wither.
5. Apples can be stored in the fridge for several months
Apples usually stay fresh longer than other fruit as it is, but did you know that they retain all their taste in the fridge for a very long time? The only thing to keep in mind here is that you shouldn’t let them touch each other lest damage is done by such contact. Wrap each of them in the newspaper, for example.
6. Store carrots in the sand to keep them fresh
Gardeners recommend storing carrots in the sand, which isn’t at all surprising: sand decreases water evaporation and slows down rotting.
7. Prevent cottage cheese and sour cream from spoiling by turning them upside down
Your cottage cheese and sour cream will remain fresh twice as long if you put them in your fridge upside down. This will create a vacuum inside that prevents bacteria growth.
8. Onions will stay fresh if you put them into a glass of water
Bunches of onions can retain their freshness longer if you keep them in a jar filled with water. Shear the onions where you need them, and they will keep growing.
9. Fresh greens are best kept in glass jars
A glass jar is the best container for fresh herbs. Onion, garlic, or parsley will keep their flavor for a month when stored like this. The greens won’t spoil, wither, dry, or lose their aroma.
10. Keep honey from oxidizing by storing it in a glass jar
Honey can retain its useful properties for years, but it’s important to store it correctly. The best container for it is a dark glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Containers made of metal chipped enamel, or zinc-covered jars aren’t suitable for honey because they will oxidize there.