You're Probably Storing These 10 Everyday Foods the Wrong Way

Most of us can’t finish a loaf of wheat bread or brown bread, or sourdough in a day. That's why it is important to store it properly to keep it fresh.

You shouldn’t store your bread in a refrigerator as the cold temperature can make the bread go stale faster.

The best way to store bread is to keep store-bought soft loaves in plastic bags at room temperature. For homemade bread, place the loaf cut-side down on a wooden board, or wrap it in a paper bag or linen bag to let the crust breathe.

Keep the bread in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight.

How to Store Bread in the Freezer:

For storing your bread for a long time, freezing it is a good option.

Cut the loaf in slices and place them in a freezer bag, press out the extra air and freeze for up to three months.

Fresh herbs like basil, kadhi patti, dhaniya or coriander and cilantro can lose their freshness quickly if they're left loose on the counter or in a refrigerator.

You can wash them before storage and let them dry completely on a paper towel before storing.

For coriander and cilantro, trim the stems and place them upright in a glass or jar with a little water, making a little bouquet. Cover the leaves loosely with a clean bag.

For basil, keep the stems in a glass of water at room temperature rather than putting in the fridge as cold temperatures can damage the leaves.

How to Store Herbs in the Fridge:

For herbs like coriander and cilantro, wrap them loosely in a paper towel and place them in a covered container or reusable storage bag.

For curry leaves, remove any damaged leaves and store them in an airtight container lined with a paper towel after making sure they are dry.

Onions are highly sensitive to humidity and temperature fluctuations and they can soften, sprout, or develop mold much faster if not stored correctly.

Whole onions should be kept in a cool, dry, and a well-ventilated place rather than a sealed bag or container.

Store the onions away from direct sunlight and damp areas such as underneath the kitchen sink or on the floor.

A mesh bag, wire basket, or an open storage basket can help improve airflow around the onions and prevent moisture from getting trapped.

It is also important to keep onions away from potatoes as both foods release gases and moisture that can encourage faster spoilage or sprouting.

How to Store Cut Onions:

To store a cut onion, place the unused portion in an airtight container in a refrigerator and use within a few days.

Most people store tomatoes automatically in the refrigerator after grocery shopping, but not all tomatoes need to be refrigerated.

Keep unripe tomatoes at room temperature until they ripen, away from direct sunlight.

Unnecessary cold temperatures can affect their texture and flavour, making them less juicy and more mealy.

How to Store Tomatoes in the Fridge for Long Time:

If your tomatoes are ripe, refrigeration can slow further deterioration.

Place them in a refrigerator in a container or produce drawer and allow them to come back to room temperature before eating.

For cut tomatoes, store them in a covered airtight container in the refrigerator.

Cheese should ideally be refrigerated, but simply leaving it uncovered can cause it to dry out or absorb odours from other foods.

Fresh cheeses such as cottage cheese and mozzarella contain more moisture and are more perishable, so they should remain refrigerated.

Harder cheeses like parmesan generally have a longer shelf life because they contain less moisture.

How to Store Cheese in the Fridge:

Keep the cheese properly wrapped or in a clean fridge storage container with a secure lid.

Avoid storing cheese directly against the back wall of the refrigerator, where temperatures can fluctuate or become too cold.

If you have different types of cheese, store them separately to prevent their flavours and aromas from mixing.

Your bottle of extra virgin olive oil may look perfectly fine beside the gas stove, that is actually one of the worst places to store it.

Heat, light and oxygen can gradually degrade the quality of your EVOO and accelerate oxidation.

Store your extra virgin olive oil bottle in a cool, dark cupboard, away from your stove, oven and windows.

A dark-colored glass or opaque container provides better protection from light than a clear bottle.

How to Store Olive Oil after opening:

Keep the bottle tightly closed whenever you are using it to minimise exposure to oxygen.

Once opened, try to use the oil within the period recommended by the producer and keep it tightly sealed.

Leftover food can be conveniently used for the next day’s meal, if stored properly.

Don’t leave cooked food on the kitchen counter for several hours as leftover food should generally be refrigerated within two hours, or within one hour when temperatures are above 32°C (90°F).

This is especially important for dishes containing cooked rice, dairy, pasta or other perishable ingredients.

Label containers with the date so you know how long they have been stored. Consume within 3-4 days of refrigeration.

How to Store Leftover Food in the Fridge:

Divide the food into small airtight containers and place them in the refrigerator within a few hours of cooking.

Use clean, covered food containers and keep your refrigerator at 4°C (40°F) or below.

Bananas continue to ripen after they are picked, which is why they can go from green to perfectly yellow and go overripe surprisingly quickly.

To keep bananas fresh longer, separate the individual bananas, wrap the stems tightly in plastic wrap or aluminium foil and hang them on a hook.

Once they reach peak yellow ripeness, move them to the fridge to extend their life further.

How to Store Banana in the Fridge for Long Time:

Once bananas have reached the desired ripeness, place them in the refrigerator to slow down further ripening.

Don’t worry if the peel becomes dark brown or black in the fridge as the cold can cause the skin to darken even when the fruit inside is perfectly edible.

If you have already peeled and cut the banana, store the pieces in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use them promptly.

For varieties such as Nendran banana, follow the same basic principle: allow them to ripen at room temperature and refrigerate ripe fruit when you need to slow the process.

Potatoes can last much longer when stored away from light, heat, and moisture.

Keeping them in a cool, dark, and dry place with good air circulation in a paper bag, mesh bag or ventilated basket is better than a tightly sealed plastic bag.

Light can cause potatoes to develop green areas, while warm and humid conditions can encourage sprouting.

How to Store Potatoes to Keep Them From Sprouting:

Keep potatoes away from direct sunlight and avoid washing them before storage as moisture left on the surface can encourage spoilage.

Most importantly, don’t store potatoes next to onions. Keep them separate to help both foods stay fresh for longer.

Because many nuts are rich in unsaturated fats, heat, light and oxygen can cause them to become rancid over time.

That’s why keeping a bag of nuts open on the kitchen counter isn’t ideal.

To store them properly, transfer them into a clean airtight container and keep them in a cool, dry and dark place.

Avoid storing them near the stove or other sources of heat.

How to Store Nuts Long Term:

If you buy nuts in bulk and want to keep them for several months, refrigeration or freezing is a better option.

Divide large quantities into smaller airtight containers to preserve their flavour and prevent moisture from affecting their texture.