We've all had the misfortune of seeing food go bad. Although unintentional it is sad to see that food and money wasted. To prevent throwing your food and hard earned money away read below for some food storage tips!
1. Refrigerated Foods: If foods are stored too long in the fridge they could grow mold or get slimy from the growth of microorganisms in the food. Never eat visible mold or slim or food that have been sitting in the refrigerator. Besides changing in texture or turning a funky color, foods that have sat too long in the fridge could decline in quality, which could result in changes in taste and nutritional value. Because produce can go bad so quickly this makes it especially important to make sure you are only buying what you know you can eat.
2. Frozen Foods: If food is stored in the freezer too long it most likely won't make you sick, but its quality could decline. When food is stored too long in the freezer it could get freezer burnt. When storing foods in the freezer it is very important to never thaw something at room temperature for more than two hours and then refreeze it. This time at room temperature allows bacteria take over whatever food you were thawing. The best way to thaw meat is in the refrigerator. You can also use the microwave to thaw meat but be cautious because this method could start to cook your meat and change the texture.
3. Pantry Foods: Most foods that can be stored at room temperature are safe to eat. However, if left to sit for too long, foods like flour, cornmeal, crackers, rice, and cereal can sometimes become infested with bugs. Also foods that contain a lot of fat, like vegetable oil, can become rancid if they are left in the pantry for too long. Make sure to eat what you buy in a timely manner and keep chip bags and cereal tightly shut to keep them from turning stale.
4. Sometimes storing produce can be challenging. It's common to know not to store bananas in the fridge (because they'll turn black) but where is the best place to store apples? Should they be stored in the fridge or on the counter? The best rule of thumb is to store produce the same way they are found in the grocery store.
For more information on food safety and storage guidelines, please click on the appropriate links below: