One of the upsides of organic food is that it contains no preservatives. The downside is that storing organic food is tricky, because it tends to spoil faster than mass-produced food. According to MayoClinic.com, there is little scientific evidence that organic foods are more nutritious than mass produced foods, but they also report that many people prefer the taste of organic foods. Whatever your reason for preferring them, look for the small green label that says "USDA Organic," to ensure that what you are getting is authentic. Keeping organic food fresh is not that difficult; it just requires a little planning ahead.
Step 1
Purchase produce that is in season, recommends Stanford University School of Earth Sciences in its "Sustainable Choices" newsletter. The farther away produce is grown, the longer it has spent traveling and the sooner it will spoil. Unless you shop at a local farm or farmer's market, ask your grocer where her organic produce is grown and what days it is delivered, and plan your menus accordingly.
Step 2
Wash organic produce before you eat it. Certified organic farmers don't use chemical pesticides, but dirt and bacteria can still pose health dangers. This is especially important when dealing with produce commonly eaten with the skin still on, like apples, cucumbers and potatoes, according to researchers at MayoClinic.com. Use a soft vegetable brush to remove dirt and bacteria without bruising the produce or breaking the skin.
Step 3
Store peeled or cut fruit and vegetables in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Glass containers with airtight lids are available online and in stores if you prefer to avoid using any type of plastic. Fruit still in its skin can be stored in the crisper.
Step 4
Refrigerate organic beef in its original packaging, because this will reduce the amount of handling. Larger cuts of meat stay fresh longer than cuts like stew beef because only one surface is exposed. As a general rule, an organic roast will stay fresh for three to four days, steaks for two to three days, and ground beef should be cooked within one or two days.
Step 5
Store organic grains and pasta in airtight glass containers. Place three or four dried bay leaves in the bottom of a clean glass container, and then add a few inches of the pasta or grain, suggests the enthusiasts at RealFoods.net. Continue layering grains and pasta and dried bay leaves, ending with a bay leaf on top. The larger the container, the more bay leaves you will need. This will keep wheat moths and other bugs away.
Tips and Warnings
- Label all glass containers with self-stick labels listing the date the foods were purchased, so that you can rotate them appropriately.
Things You'll Need
- Vegetable brush
- Warm water
- Airtight glass containers
- Dried bay leaves
- Self-stick labels
- Permanent marker
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