Short expiry date? Do not throw! 3 simple tricks will extend their freshness up to 6 months

The trend is gaining more and more popularity in our country, not only for ideological reasons. There are often big savings involved as well. Supermarkets meet customers’ expectations by creating special zones in their stores where food with a short expiry date or, for example, damaged packaging is put away. We often pay only 30% of their initial value for such products. Additionally, there are special applications supporting such activities of shops, bakeries and restaurants. Therefore, it is worth knowing several mechanisms and principles of food processing in order to use it properly and safely.

Why you shouldn’t refreeze food once defrosted?

If we are trying to save expired food that has been frozen but for some reason has started to defrost, we should not put it back in the freezer. This is very important because this process can promote the proliferation of bacteria. They, however, can grow rapidly at or near room temperature, which can lead to food poisoning when the food is consumed. Additionally, many products, such as meat and fruit, may lose their quality and freshness during such cycles. So what to do with already defrosted food? We recommend all kinds of frozen fruit preserves. The meat, however, only needs to be heat treated to stop the processes that have already taken place and then frozen again in the form of e.g. ready-to-eat stews.

Storing carrots in sand is a trick our grandmothers knew

If we managed to buy a large quantity at a low price, it is worth using a trick to store them longer, which was already used by our grandmothers and great-grandmothers. Place vegetables such as carrots, parsley, beets and celery in a box or crate with dry sand, with a layer of sand on the bottom and top to minimize drying out. The sand will provide adequate humidity and protect the vegetables from drying out. Vegetables stored this way can last up to 6 months.

The cabinet where you store food is very important

If we want products such as flour, groats, rice, etc. to survive in our kitchen as long as possible, we should ensure that the cabinet in which the mentioned foods are located is in good condition. The biggest threat in this situation is moisture and insects. To do this, first of all the cabinet should be kept clean to avoid the accumulation of dirt and dust. A very good idea in this case is to store them in tightly closed containers. Firstly, it helps maintain freshness by protecting it from the effects of moisture, air and insects. Secondly, tightly closed containers prevent the spread of odors, which is especially important in the case of spices and aromatic ingredients. Finally, tightly closed containers protect products against access of harmful substances from the outside, which may affect their quality and durability. Therefore, storing dry products in tightly closed containers is not only a matter of hygiene and organization, but also a way to maintain the freshness and quality of stored food ingredients.