Helpful and Practical Tips on Proper Food Storage

Proper food storage and handling is very important to keep the food fresh and retain their nutritional values. Properly storing food can prevent bacterial growth and chemical reaction that result in food spoilage. Spoiled and infested foods are good as nothing and should be disposed right away. To prolong the shelf life of foods, here are some tips on how to properly store them:

• Refrigerate fresh food.
Fresh food, such as meat, cooked food, and ready-to-eat foods should be placed inside the refrigerator. Meat must be in the freezer to prevent bacterial growth. Vegetables and other fresh produce must be placed in the crisper. Leftovers and cooked meals should be placed in airtight containers. Never store opened canned goods in the fridge; chemical reaction between the can and the food can be hazardous. Separate ready-to-eat foods from meat and other uncooked foods. Keep the temperature of your fridge below 5 degrees to slow down bacterial growth.

• Place all canned goods in a dry area.
Dry food storage must be away from moisture. Canned goods can accumulate rust if they are exposed to moisture and this can affect the quality of the food inside the can.

• Buy everything in two.
Buying everything in two can prevent you from running out of supply. For example, if you buy two boxes of cereals, and you consume the first box, you can still have some cereals the next day and this will also serve as a reminder for you to replenish your supply.

• Always read the labels.
Reading the labels of the foods you store is important. From the labels you will know their expiration dates, the number of servings it contains and their nutritional values. As much as possible, choose foods that are nutritious and at the same time has lesser preservatives.

• Invest in good food storage products.
Food containers should be durable and of the highest quality. You wouldn’t want rats to eat through your food containers. Low-quality materials, such as certain types of plastics, can also react with food; so you would want to avoid buying these types of storage containers.

• Pantry and cupboards should be dry.
Areas where you store your foods should be moist-free and must have low temperature. Dried food storage should be cool and dark. High temperature can affect food quality and can speed up spoilage.

• Label your food containers.
Labeling your food containers with the names and expiration dates is necessary to avoid using expired foods and condiments.

• Refrigerate cooked foods.
Cooked foods should be refrigerated as soon as they have cooled down. Storing them in the fridge while they are hot will affect the temperature of the refrigerator.

• Variety.
Store different varieties of food. Make sure that you have enough carbohydrates, proteins and fats stored in your refrigerator and pantry. Also don’t forget your fruits and vegetables, oils, sugar, and spices. Having a variety of foods stored in your home will help you meet your daily nutritional requirements.