If you find yourself throwing away food on a regular basis, you need to learn how to better store your groceries or plan your meals so that you only buy as much food as you think you can use before the expiration date. All perishable food has a specific expiration date. Most will have a stamp on the packaging indicating when the food expires and it's no longer safe. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, you'll have to use common sense to decide when to throw things away. When vegetables become slimy and fruits turn too soft, it's time to get rid of them.
Step 1
Refrigerate perishable food as soon as you get them home. If you know you'll be out for a long time after buying perishable food, get a small cooler for the trunk of your car and put perishable food inside. This is especially important for frozen and refrigerated foods.
Step 2
Store perishable foods on a refrigerator shelf or a drawer rather than on the door. According to the USDA, it's better to leave the eggs in their own carton and keep them on a shelf, rather than using the pre-designed egg sorter located on the fridge's door. This is because temperature fluctuates more near the door, since warm air will get in every time you open the fridge.
Step 3
Use the appropriate crisper or storage drawer for your food. For example, vegetable and fruit drawers are designed to maintain the proper level of air circulation and humidity so your produce will last longer.
Step 4
Store packages without opening until absolutely necessary. Certain foods, such as dairy products, will last longer when the packaging is sealed. Once you open them, however, you usually have only a few days until they spoil.
References
- "Brilliant Food Tips and Cooking Tricks : 5,000 Ingenious Kitchen Hints, Secrets, Shortcuts, and Solutions"; David Joachim; 2004
- USDA: Refrigeration and Food Safety
- Help with Cooking: The Shelf Life of Different Types of Food Products
