A lot of food wastage happens in the kitchen area, and quite often, this wastage is accidental, and most likely avoidable too (especially if a little extra effort is put in). To reduce waste and to store food safely, you need to have a new approach: one that is focused on storing foods safely and in airtight containers. When you safely store food, you avoid illness and cross-contamination. You also ensure that you get the maximum goodness out of items of food, especially fruit, vegetables, and salad items.

Here is a guide on how to safely store your food items and in turn, reduce waste.

Separate Foods

Not all food can be stored together, and this is a point you should pay close attention to. If food items and foodstuffs are being stored together, then you risk cross-contamination. This cross-contamination can be dangerous, but it can also mean the items of food go bad well before their use-by date or best-before date. When it comes to separating foods, you need to look at what will be used and when. This will allow you to create an efficient storage system. For example, if you have salad items in the fridge, these will need to be kept separate from dips and sauces to ensure freshness is locked in.

Decide Where Storage is Required

You will find that there are certain foods and foodstuffs that need to be stored in a fridge or freezer. However, you will also find that certain items need to be stored in an ambient environment, such as coffee beans.  You may have often wondered, how long do coffee beans last? The answer is that they last until the best-before date, but only if they have been correctly stored. If storage is too dry or too moist it will have an impact on the beans, and it can lead to them going stale. When you know where storage is required, you can then proceed with the options you have available to you in your kitchen or pantry area. 

Invest in New Containers

You may have some storage containers tucked away in the cabinets that you are attached to. However, how effective (and useful) are they at storing your foodstuffs? New containers will have seals that are intact, and they will be made from plastic (or recycled materials that are suitable for use with foodstuffs). New containers will often be space-saving, and they will be stackable. They may have airlocks on them, or they may have zip-lock freshness. New containers that are fit for purpose will help reduce (and even avoid) food waste.

Follow the Manufacturer’s and Producers’ Guidelines

When you purchase any item of food, it often comes with its own guidelines. These may be found on a manufacturer’s website, or they may be found on the packaging. When you follow the guidelines provided, you avoid any unnecessary waste. For example, a manufacturer of sugar may suggest that storage is an airtight container away from sunlight. When you follow guidelines, you keep food tasting and staying as fresh as possible.