Every morsel of food matters when you're on a budget. That's why it's crucial to do everything you can to stretch your food supply out for the duration. These are a few smart methods that will help you lengthen the time your food stays fresh so that you can have healthy meals at home or work.
Pay Attention to Expiration Dates
Your first line of defense when preserving freshness is to pay close attention to the expiration dates on your perishable items. Look for foods that will give you the longest stretch of freshness. For example, pull the milk or eggs from the back of the fridge at the grocery store if their expiration date is further back. The grocery store may not want you to do that, but you can save yourself time and money if you do.
Keep Your Refrigerator Serviced
You can also keep your foods fresh by ensuring that your refrigerator is always up to par from an operational standpoint. You should have a service person check it regularly to ensure that it doesn't need freon and that it doesn't have any wearing parts. You should also be sure to keep your eye on the freezer part of the unit, as it can affect the way the refrigerator cools your foods. Furthermore, you'll need to set the temp control in the fridge to one that will keep your foods above spoiling temperature. Many people never pay attention to the temperature, and they end up losing food freshness a lot sooner than they want to.
Invest in Air-Proof Bags
Ziplock and air-proof bags can be a godsend when you're trying to keep your food fresh for when you need to go to work. You can find them at your local grocery store or dollar store. They're great for making sandwiches beforehand and taking them to school or work to eat later. You can even use the bags in conjunction with other freshness-locking devices if you want to ensure that you get the most of your food. A sandwich can stay fresh for many days in one of those bags if you keep it in the refrigeration unit until you're ready to eat it.
Buy Special Containers for Your Food
Consider investing in some high-quality foam and plastic containers for your food if you want to keep it fresh. These items will provide you with an air-tight space that will prevent bacteria from growing. The amount of time you can keep your food fresh with it inside such a container can be lengthy. Additionally, you should place all items into such containers after you cook and prepare them. They're excellent for making leftovers last as long as you want them to. You might be able to keep something fresh for an entire week just by using those quality containers.
Use the above-mentioned tips to ensure that all of your meals are fresh. Try each one to see how long you can benefit from the meals you make. You'll save money and feel much healthier in the end.