March 28, 2024

From fruit to fudge, keep food storage safe

First comes shopping, then comes putting food away — but where? You may be surprised to learn the best places to store your groceries.

Bread

Bread can stale quickly in the fridge due to the dry circulating air. If you’re afraid your bread will go moldy because your kitchen is humid, or because you won’t be eating it quickly, it’s better to keep it well-wrapped in the freezer. You can remove only what you need and thaw it on the counter or in the toaster on the “defrost” setting. Try to eat within 3 months for the best taste and texture.

Potatoes

Potatoes’ starch turns to sugar when refrigerated — and refrigerating potatoes can also cause them to sprout faster, so store them in a cool, dry place like your pantry. Check often and remove potatoes that start to go bad.

Fruits

Fruits with pits, like peaches and plums, should be placed in a closed paper bag until ripe — then refrigerated.

Keep in mind that once you cut into any fruit or vegetable, it needs to be refrigerated to slow the growth of harmful bacteria.

Bananas

Store green bananas on the counter but refrigerate them once they become ripe to slow down the ripening process.The peel will continue to turn brown but the fruit will stay firm and fresh for another week — even if the peel becomes black.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes fare better when kept out of the fridge, so keep your tomatoes on the counter if they’ll be eaten within 2-3 days. If you don’t plan to eat them within that time, they go in the fridge to prevent spoiling.

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter becomes difficult to spread when it’s cold, so store it in your pantry if you will use it within 2 to 3 months. Store peanut butter in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 months. However, if you buy natural peanut butter, check the label; some brands recommend refrigeration to keep the natural oils from separating.

Honey

Honey is very shelf-stable. It is best stored at room temperature. If you chill honey it becomes hard to pour, so keep it in your pantry. Honey will keep indefinitely when stored in a sealed container.

Check the label on other foods too, if you are in doubt about where to store them.