Smart Ways to Store Your Groceries and Save Money

Looking for ways to make your groceries last longer? Check out these smart food storage tips:

Store Potatoes with Apples

Apples emit a chemical that helps keep potatoes fresh and prevent them from sprouting. Store them together to extend the shelf life of your potatoes.

Keep Oil in Small Bottles

Buy oil in bulk but keep a small bottle filled for regular use. Store the main oil container in a cool, dark place away from the kitchen heat to prolong its shelf life.

Reuse Old Jars

Save jars from jam, sauces, applesauce, and use them for storing other foods like rice, lentils, spices, etc. Glass jars are transparent, making it easy to see their contents, and they help keep food fresh.

Avoid Overloading the Fridge

A crowded fridge restricts air flow and efficiency. Overloaded with groceries, it consumes more energy, and the food is at a higher risk of spoiling.

Freeze Leftovers

Got leftover dishes? Don’t toss them away. Almost anything can be frozen and used again.

Use Reusable Containers

Many foods keep better in reusable containers than in their original packaging. Purchase a variety of container sizes to store grains, legumes, dried fruits, flours, and spices.

Store Nuts and Almonds in the Freezer

Nuts can spoil quickly if exposed to heat and sunlight due to their high fat content. Freezing them preserves their quality for months. You can buy in bulk and store them this way.

Smart Freezing

It's easier to freeze all the meat you buy, but dividing it into usable portions before freezing is much more efficient. Freezing too large a quantity may lead to waste if it spoils before you use it.

Proper Storage for Hard Cheeses

Hard cheeses like cheddar, parmesan, or kashkaval can dry out and lose flavor if not stored properly. Wrap them in parchment paper to let them "breathe" and retain their taste.

Not Everything Needs Refrigeration

Some fruits keep better in the fridge, while others do well at room temperature. Tomatoes, avocados, and citrus fruits, for example, last longer outside the fridge, while cucumbers, carrots, and peppers are better refrigerated. Apples and pears can be stored both ways.

Freeze Seasonal Fruits

Love strawberries or cherries? Freeze seasonal fruits to enjoy them when they are out of season or the price doubles.

Keep Spices Away from the Stove

Heat and sunlight diminish the taste and quality of spices. Keep them away from the stove and direct sunlight. Some can even be stored in the fridge.

Organize Groceries by Category

We often buy things because we don’t see that we already have them. Store groceries by categories. For example, baking goods, canned goods, pastas, legumes, etc. Items like coffee, tea, sugar, and honey can be stored together as they serve similar purposes.