In an era where food waste is a major global scourge, the optimal preservation of our food is not only a matter of health, but also a matter of environmental responsibility, every day we are dealing with fresh food whose duration of life is, unfortunately, often limited, but is it really inevitable?
No !
There are proven techniques to keep your food fresh longer, improving the quality of your diet, while contributing to a more sustainable world.
This guide will provide you with simple and effective methods to increase the longevity of your food, from your refrigerator to your pantry, including grandmother’s tips that have been proven, together let’s give our food a second life and say goodbye to waste!
Properly store fruits and vegetables
To preserve the freshness and quality of fruits and vegetables, it is essential to store them correctly, potatoes and onions must be stored in a cool, dark and dry place to prevent them from sprouting or rotting, fruits such as apples and oranges can be stored in the refrigerator to extend their shelf life and maintain their sweet flavor.
Green vegetables like lettuce and spinach should be stored in plastic bags in the refrigerator to keep them fresh and crisp, some fruits and vegetables may have different storage requirements depending on their ripeness, variety and flavor. packaging, it is advisable to read labels and storage instructions before storing freshly purchased fruits and vegetables.
Use airtight containers
Airtight containers are a great way to extend the shelf life of your food, it helps limit exposure to air, which is often the cause of food spoilage, in addition to airtight containers, you can use plastic bags or glass containers to store your food.
Plastic bags are especially useful for foods that need to be frozen, while glass containers are a more eco-friendly and sustainable option.
Remember to seal containers tightly to keep air out and reduce food spoilage, this way you can not only extend the shelf life of your food, but reduce food waste and save money. money by not throwing away food that has gone bad.
Freeze food
Freezing foods is a simple and effective way to extend their shelf life, this technique helps preserve the nutrients and flavors of foods, while avoiding food waste, most foods, such as fruits, vegetables, meat and fish can be frozen safely.
It is recommended to ensure that the food is very fresh and clean before freezing it, in order to avoid any risk of contamination, for better preservation, it is advisable to store the food in airtight bags or containers, in order to avoid the formation of ice crystals and preserve their texture and taste.
Monitor the expiration date
It is crucial to monitor the expiry date of food in order to maintain your health and avoid food waste, it is important to note that perishable foods such as meat, fish and dairy products lose their freshness and quality. nutritional after a certain period of time, it is recommended to consume them soon after purchase.
Be aware that some foods have a longer shelf life than others, dry foods like pasta and rice can be kept for months or even years if stored properly, fresh fruits and vegetables can be kept longer if you store them properly in the fridge or freezer.
Understand that the best before date is not the only indication of food freshness, it is also important to check the appearance, smell and texture of food before consuming it, if you have any doubts about the quality of a food, it is best not to eat it to avoid any risk to your health.
We’ve taken a fascinating journey through the tips and techniques for extending the freshness of our food, from the importance of the right refrigeration temperature, to the clever use of packaging, to techniques for natural preservation, we explored the multitude of ways we can minimize waste and maximize the use of our precious food products.
Remember every little effort to preserve food longer not only helps the health of your wallet, but also the health of our planet, food preservation is not only a practical skill, it is also a gesture of respect for the nature that feeds us, the next time you are about to throw away a food that seems a little too old, remember what you have learned here, fresh food for longer is possible and you now have the tools to do so.
