Foil helps keep foods fresh in the refrigerator and freezer.
Proper food storage is vital to the health of your family. It prevents food-borne bacteria and mold from developing on the items. It also keeps foods fresher longer. It is wasteful to have to throw away food that has expired or gone bad in storage. Whether you are using your refrigerator, freezer or pantry for food storage, knowing the basic guidelines will help keep your food fresh and safe for your family and save money over time. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Allow leftovers to cool down for about 30 minutes before refrigerating them.This prevents lowering the temperature in the refrigerator, thus keeping the foods fresher.
2. Refrigerate leftovers within two hours of preparing them. This helps prevent food-borne bacteria. If the temperatures are 90 degrees F or above, store them within one hour of preparation.
3. Cover any refrigerated leftovers with a lid, foil or plastic wrap. This averts growth of mold and keeps the foods from absorbing refrigerator odors. Store food in clear plastic containers so you can identify the items quickly.
4. Take meat out of the packaging it comes in from the grocery store before freezing. These packages are not air-tight. The meat will freezer burn unless you wrap it tightly in foil, vacuum-sealed packaging, freezer paper sealed with tape, or other appropriate freezer-storage containers.
5. Label freezer packages with the product, expiration date and quantity. Rotate packages as you add more into the freezer. This prevents waste if you know to use the oldest products first when planning meals.
6. Freeze meat within one week of purchase, or sooner, if you know you will not use it in this week's menu plan.
7. Remove dry goods, such as flour, cornmeal and sugar, from their original packaging, if you buy large quantities when on sale. Store them in air-tight metal, plastic or glass, lidded containers. This keeps the items fresh and avoids having to throw them out before the expiration date. It also helps maintain the cleanliness of your pantry and prevents pests.
8. Store onions or potatoes in a cool, dry area, but never underneath a kitchen sink. The pipes may leak and damage the produce.
Tags: expiration date, food storage, food-borne bacteria, foods fresher, keeps foods, refrigerator freezer