10 Food Storage Tips, Tricks and Hacks for Stretching Your Groceries

Tasty.co

1. Store lemons in the fridge, not on countertops. In a test, lemons stored in sealed plastic bags in the fridge lasted four times longer than lemons kept at room temperature.

2. Take cheese out of the plastic wrap it came in. Instead, re-wrap it in parchment paper or cheese paper so it can breathe and last longer. When cheese is wrapped in plastic, it can’t intake oxygen — which can affect flavor and breed bacteria.

3. Store refrigerated greens with a paper towel. The paper towel absorbs excess moisture, which keeps the greens from getting soggy over time — and extends their shelf-life.

4. Puree any past-their-prime greens (like kale or spinach) then freeze them into smoothie boosters.

5. Store natural nut butters upside down to prevent separation.

6. Freeze leftover tomato paste in scoops.

7. Don’t leave canned food leftovers in the can. If you open a canned good — like beans, tuna or tomatoes — but don’t use all of it, make sure to transfer leftovers into a separate container. Refrigerating leftovers in the same open can negatively affects taste, among other things.

8. Store herbs upright in fresh water. If you have the counterspace, this is the best way to ensure maximum extended freshness.

9. Freeze meat if you’re not eating it right away. This way, you can also buy in bulk — which can save you a few bucks or at least prolong your next trip to the store.

10. Don’t wash produce until it’s time to eat it. If you pre-wash all your fruits and veggies when you get home from the store, the leftover dampness can make them mold or rot more quickly.