KITCHEN GUIDE // best ways to store your food *ultimate list*

Hello everybody! I recently posted a reel on insta showing *in a much fast-paced manner* how to store certain food items so they stay fresh for longer, and it was suggested that I made a comprehensive list for people to easily access, and you know what, that is a brilliant idea! Almost 50% of all food that is produced ends up in the bin, and in many cases, it goes to landfill, where organic material – like food, won’t be able to break down and compost, instead it releases huge amounts of methane (which is a GHG 25 times more potent than CO2), as such a big part of sustainability is about making your resources last, and avoiding food waste. So here is how I store different foods to make them last longer.

FRIDGE:

Also check out: SUSTAINABLE FOOD SHOPPING / everyone can use this tip

• Carrots: store in fridge in a container with water (peeled/unpeeled works)
• Cucumber: stay fresh in fridge, no wrapping or packaging
• Leafy greens with stalks: store in a jar of water in the fridge
• Leafy greens without stalks: rinse and prep, and store in a dry container
• Leftovers: store in a solid container
• Melon (cut): store in fridge with cut parts covered, I recommend wax wraps
• Mushrooms: wrap in a towel and place in an open container in the fridge
• Salad leftovers: I recommend keeping them dry in a solid and closed container. Personally, I try to separate “wet” and “dry” parts of the salad so they are crisp and fresh the next day

COUNTER:

• Tomatoes: store outside the fridge (unless overripe)
• Avocado: store outside the fridge, but away from direct sunlight
• Citrus/orange: outside the fridge
• Apples: outside fridge, and away separate from other produce
• Potatoes: not in the fridge, but dark and cool
• Onions: separate from potatoes, but also dark and cool
• Leek: outside the fridge
• Spring onion: in water in a jar, in sunlight (for that regrowing action)
• Bananas: outside the fridge (but inside if overripe)
• Bread: I store in glass jars or tote bags on the counter, you can also reuse a plastic over and over (if you are storing freshly baked goods, let them cool down completely before storing them away, because the condensation can make them mold faster

Also check out: VEGGIE BROTH FROM KITCHEN SCRAPS // anti-food waste recipe

FREEZER:

I have used glass jars for storing leftovers in the freezer, here is how I avoid them breaking, leave 3-5 cm of room at the top of the jar (better too much than too little). Water expands when it freezes, so there needs to be enough room for it. I also let my leftovers cool down to room temperature before putting them in the freezer because the temperature contrast between piping hot meals and a freezer can also make the glass break.

Also check out: 7 SUSTAINABLE LUNCH IDEAS // what I eat in a week as a low impact vegan