It can be incredibly frustrating – and wasteful – when uneaten food starts to go off before you’ve had a chance to eat it.
That’s why it’s great to know how to make your food last longer to avoid waste.
Offering some sound advice, the money-saving experts at PromotionalCodes.org.uk have revealed 15 clever tips to increase the shelf life of your groceries and avoid food waste.
“There are lots of simple tricks and hacks you can do to make food last longer and therefore save money,” said Darren Williams from PromotionalCodes.org.uk. “Brits throw away food on such a regular basis and many don’t realise just how much money they are quite literally chucking in the bin.
“Little things such as cleaning your fridge regularly and using porous paper for cheese could make a big difference.”
Here are 15 top tips…
1. Keep bananas separate from other fruit
It’s important to store bananas away from other pieces of fruit as they produce a lot of ethylene gas. Doing this will help stop them spoiling too soon. Another good idea is to wrap the crown of a bunch of bananas in cling film, which will elongate their shelf life.
2. Keep dry goods in air-tight containers
Dry foods, including rice and pasta, should be stored in air-tight containers. Jars and plastic boxes are perfect as they keep tiny mites and insects out.
3. Use a vinegar solution for berries
To make your berries last longer, mix one part distilled vinegar with 10 parts water and wash your berries in the solution. You won’t be able to taste the vinegar on the fruit but it can make strawberries last up to two weeks longer.
4. Keep ginger in the freezer
The best spot to store fresh ginger is actually in the freezer. Not only will the ginger last much longer but it makes it easier to grate and peel as well.
5. Keep onions in a pair of tights
One of the more unusual techniques on this list is keeping onions in a pair of thin tights. Between each onion tie a knot, and hang in a cool dry place. They will then last up to a whopping eight months longer.
6. Store asparagus like a bouquet of flowers
Trim the ends of your asparagus like you would before putting flowers in a vase. Place them in a jar with some water and loosely wrap a plastic bag over the top before popping in the fridge.
7. Freeze fresh herbs with olive oil in an ice cube tray
To make your fresh herbs last longer, try freezing them in an ice cube tray along with some olive oil. When it’s time to add them to your cooking, simply melt the cube and voila!
8. Clean out your fridge regularly
Eliminate bacteria by regularly disinfecting and clearing out your fridge and cupboards. This will help foods stored there last much longer.
9. Use porous paper for wrapping up cheese
To increase the longevity of your cheese, you need to allow it to breathe. Rather than using plastic wrap or tin foil, opt for cheese paper or baking parchment for wrapping up your tasty cheese.
10. Paper towel with lettuce
The key to boosting the shelf life of lettuce is to keep it free from moisture. Water makes the vegetable wilt, so place a paper towel in the container with your lettuce after it has been washed, to soak up any excess wetness.
11. Wrap foil around refrigerated vegetables
Celery and broccoli will last up to a month longer if wrapped in foil and kept in the fridge.
12. Put syrup in the freezer
If you have a jar of maple syrup that you don’t plan to use that often, then store it in the freezer. This will prevent the food from spoiling and the high sugar content means it won’t freeze.
13. Revive stale bread
Did you know you can bring stale bread back to life? Just rub the loaf with an ice cube and then put in the oven for around 12 minutes. It should be soft and tasty once again.
14. Store apples and potatoes together
Always place your apples next to your potatoes – this can help them last up to eight weeks longer. The ethylene gas produced by the apples prevents the potatoes from going bad.
15. Lemon juice for avocados and guacamole
To slow down your avocados going brown, cover them with a light layer of lemon juice. They will last much longer.
