We all know that throwing away a moldy loaf of bread or a funky block of cheese is just like dumping $3.50 right into the can. To save money, and all your food, next time try these tips for keeping your grocery goods fresher, longer.
1. Put cereal, chips, and crackers into airtight containers. These guys just can't wait to get stale. Plus, if you take them out of the original packaging, you won't have to fumble with boxes and bags later on when you need a handful of munchies. Just clear, resealable containers.
2. Put mushrooms in a paper bag. This trick keeps your mushrooms away from moisture that can surround them in plastic produce bags. Don't wash them until you're ready to use them.
3. Keep milk out of the door. Milk's freshness is something we're all sensitive about. So don't keep it the unstable environment of the fridge door. The temperature there varies the most because people pull it open and shut all day long.
4. Put meats and cheeses you don't need yet in the freezer. Almost any uncooked meat is a freezer-friendly item. The unused portion of a rack of ribs or a pack of hotdogs can sit behind the freezer door for months and defrost easily when needed. If you use half a package of meat for tacos one night, but need a break from ground beef for a while, don't let the remaining portion sit in the fridge unused.
5. Keep tomatoes on the counter. Tomatoes give off ethylene gas as they ripen, so they may speed the ripening of other foods as well if they are bunched into a produce drawer. The same goes for bananas. Keep them on the counter instead, in a bowl with enough space that they don't wedge or tear.
6. Dry store-bought greens before they wilt. For slotted, pre-packaged salad mixtures especially, pat the leaves with a paper towel as soon as you buy them and store them in a new plastic bag that isn't as moist (perhaps from the produce spritzers). They will not wilt or brown as quickly.
7. Lastly, use fresher foods first. Plan meals that use fresh meats, veggies, and above all, bread, in the beginning of the week. Later, you can use frozen vegetables, pastas, etc. as the week winds down and it gets closer to your next trip to the store.