Knowing if your food is fresh is a must in this day and age. The last thing you want is a nasty case of food poisoning. If ‘how long will food last’ is one of your questions, we’re here to help!
There are many things you can do to make food last longer and it all has to do with the way you organize your fridge.
via university of Illinois
Refrigerator Shelf Life
via University of Illinois
Always defrost frozen foods in the fridge. For larger cuts of meat, this could take up to 3 days.
Be sure to keep it wrapped and in a large bowl, and make sure it doesn’t leak on any other food in your fridge. Plan ahead! Defrosting some foods can take quite a few days.
Cook it thoroughly and use a thermometer or other method for checking doneness. The middle could still be frozen and take longer to cook.
via all you
How Long Does Food Last?
via Southern Living
Many make the mistake of storing their food in the fridge when it should be in the pantry, and vice versa.
Once you know how long items will last, you can be a more savvy shopper. You can look for bargains and stockpile. Did you know for example that coffee beans can last up to 1 year when left unopened at room temperature?
Butter can also be frozen for 6 months at a time, while dry pasta can be kept for up to 2 years.
via real simple
How To Store Your Food Guide
via Real Simple
This food storage guide from Real Simple is a great one to have on hand when you’ve shopped. It shows whether to put your food in the pantry, fridge or freezer. It also tells you whether it should be left open or not.
When you’re storing foods in your pantry, always be sure to check them every few months for spoilage and throw out items that are past their use-by dates.
You might be surprised to see just how long some of these pantry and freezer staples can last. This chart will help you save money by stockpiling when favorites are on sale.
Produce Storage
via Ziploc
Food storage can be simple once you know the basics. This chart from Ziploc has some great tips plus we all know how handy their plastic bags are. A good idea is to write the date for reference.
As shown above, you can extend the time of your Lemons up to 4 times by popping them in Ziploc bags in the fridge, rather than leaving them on countertops.
Wrapping your lettuce in a paper towel and storing it in a Ziploc can also keep it fresh and crispy.
How To Organize Your Fridge Video
One very important part of keeping food fresh is keeping it organized. This video from The Design Network gives some great ideas for storing those tricky odd-sized containers and maximizing space in your fridge. Click Play above to watch now ^
