There’s enough green being wasted in the kitchen without the added issue of money being carelessly squandered.
Finding that perfect grocery balance is the dream. But an ever-elusive one. The buy-less-than-you-think-you-need approach is a sure fire way to force yourself into different albeit, just as dire, bad kitchen habits. Too many trips to the grocery store and wasted gas money might be the only thing more infuriating than a bag of lettuce that you just can’t seem to finish in time.
*Sigh*
So how does one save money in the kitchen? If not perfecting portioning shopping lists, how do we waste less, want less, and spend less, whilst still feeding ourselves?
Here are 7 food storage tricks worth a try, because they WILL save your green.
1. Dairy to the back of the refrigerator:
Do yourself a favor and remove your milk from the fridge door and start storing dairy products at the back where it’s coldest. Each time you swing that door open, the temp of your dairies drop and this is bad for lifespan. Interesting to note contrary to popular belief: not only is organic milk antibiotic-and hormone-free, it's also processed differently to last longer.
2. Treat herbs and artichokes like flowers:
1. Snip off the bottom of the stems.
2. Fill a jar or a water glass partially with water and place the stem ends of the herbs into the water in the jar.
3. If you are storing the herbs in the refrigerator, cover loosely with a plastic bag.
3. Use very tight seals:
Anything airtight is the way to go. Whether it’s Silo’s deep vacuum or some really strong airtight containers, find a way to remove as much oxygen as possible from the containers where your foods are being stored.
4. Keep your bananas to themselves:
Do not store your bananas with other fruit as the ethylene gas in bananas will cause the other fruits to go bad. Additional note: wrap banana stems in saran wrap to give them more time before browning and bruising.
5. Be a refrigerator clean freak:
Bacteria thrives in your fridge and cupboards. Extend your food’s shelf life by eliminating bacteria by regularly disinfecting and clearing out your fridge and cupboards. Also, be sure to always check the refrigerators temp to be sure it’s below 40° F.
6. Keep your flour and rice in the freezer:
For longer storage, keep white flours and rice in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Flour will keep up to two years at 40 F in your refrigerator. The freezer will also help protect your flour against pesky flour bugs.
7. Revive your Broccoli:
If you ever have broccoli that’s gone soft you can put it freshly cut stem down in a glass of water overnight in the fridge. Wake up in the morning to fresh, crisp florettes.
The key to keeping your food longer and wasting less is utilizing your kitchen space and storing foods in a way that optimizes longer lifespans. Your wallet - and sense of peace of mind - will thank you.