There’s a special type of guilt that we feel when we have to throw food out because it’s gone bad. As you dump out your moldy tomatoes, wilted black salad, and rock-solid croissants, you can’t help but think of all the people starving in the world and how you’re hurting them, your wallet, and the environment.
If you’ve ever felt bad about throwing food away because it’s gone off, then this is the list for you. Bored Panda has cooked up a spread of tips, simple tricks, and slices of advice to keep your produce fresh for extra long. Don’t forget to upvote your fave bits of advice. Got any of your own tips for keeping groceries fresh for longer? Share ‘em in the comment section to help your fellow Pandas out in the kitchen!
Bored Panda spoke about keeping groceries fresh with baking expert and pie artist Jessica Clark-Bojin and talented cake designer Darci, founder of Kake by Darci. Read on to hear what they had to say.
#21 Get An Ethylene Gas Absorber For The Fridge
A set of 3 costs $16. These little pods absorb the ethylene emitted by fruits and vegetables to keep them fresh up to 3x longer
unknown
Report20points
#22 Store Carrots For Months
The key to prevent soft carrots is to remove the greens and store them in water! Also includes tips on how to long term storage in cellar, and freezing them.
Report
19points
#23 Freeze Maple Syrup For Forever
Good-quality, 100% pure maple syrup is so good, but usually pricey. I like to buy a couple of jugs at a time, but I never knew how to store it properly. Turns out you should absolutely refrigerate it to keep it fresh for up to one year. Even better: if you freeze it, it keeps indefinitely.
My suggestion: break medium to large jugs up into smaller containers. Put one in the fridge, and the rest in the freezer. Thaw smaller containers as you need them.
Report
19points
#24 Lemons
You can also keep sliced fruit, particularly lemons, fresh with a toothpick. Simply use the toothpick to reattach the cut-off end piece
Report
19points
#25 The Key To Keeping Grapes Fresh For A Longer Period Of Time Is Its Container. Use Polyethylene Bags To Store Grapes So They Last Longer.
unknown
Report19points
#26 Store Potatoes With Apples To Keep Them From Sprouting
unknown
Report18points
#27 Revive Raisins With Hot Water
Resurrect dry currants or sultanas by soaking them in hot water for an hour or two. Store them in an airtight container and they’ll be as good as new.
unknown
Report17points
#28 Add A Dab Of Butter To The Cut Side Of Cheese To Keep It From Drying Out
unknown
Report16points
#29 Store Nut Butter Upside Down
Leave it right way up, and all the natural oils drain to the bottom, so try storing your nut butter products upside down – and keep them refrigerated to prevent them from going rancid.
unknown
Report16points
#30 Follow These Rules On Where To Place Items Within Your Fridge
unknown
Report15points
#31 Keep Potatoes In A Dark Place
Exposure to light makes them turn green and shrivel faster.
Report
15points
#32 Strong Alcoholic Drinks Do Not Expire
Actually, it is said that the longer they stay in the bottle, the better they are going to taste. It is best to keep them in a cool dry place and avoid putting them in a place where too much sun or heat is present
Report
15points
#33 Roast Nuts As Soon As You Get Home From The Store, Then Store Them In The Freezer
Nuts that are roasted have more flavor, keep longer, and can always be used in recipes that call for nuts, roasted or otherwise. Spread them in a single layer on a sheet pan, bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant.
unknown
Report14points
#34 Treat Oily Herbs Differently.
Oily herbs like thyme can be tied loosely together with string and hung in the open air.
unknown
Report13points
#35 Wrap Celery, Broccoli, And Lettuce In Tin Foil Before Storing In The Fridge
It'll stay crisp for 4 weeks or more.
unknown
Report11points
#36 Reuse Plastic Bottles To Close Up Your Plastic Bags
Make sure your produce is absolutely dry before putting the cap on
unknown
Report11points
#37 Freezing Cooked Potatoes
If you don’t’ plan on eating the potatoes you cooked within a few days, it is best to freeze them. They will not brown since cooking them destroys the enzyme that oxidizes. Like anything else, it’s best to store them with as little air as possible when freezing them.
Once frozen, cooked potatoes can remain frozen up to one year. They will have no noticeable change in their quality or nutritional value. It is best to defrost them overnight in the fridge versus microwave defrosting them. The microwave can change the structure and result in changing the texture.
Report
10points
#38 Freeze Fresh Herbs
I have completely avoided buying fresh herbs simply because I knew I wouldn’t use them all before they went bad. You can freeze fresh herbs with olive oil in an ice cube tray. I’d rather use this trick than force myself to find a recipe to use my rosemary before it goes bad.
Report
10points
#39 Spray Leftover Guacamole With Cooking Spray Before Putting It Back In The Fridge
unknown
Report9points
#40 Store Asparagus Like Cut Flowers
Sort of. Cut the stems, place in water, throw a plastic bag over 'em and refrigerate. They'll stay crisp for a week or longer, and you can use this trick on cilantro and parsley as well
unknown
Report8points
