Fresh food should be the standard when serving it. That’s why we should keep them fresh as possible by properly storing them. However, not all of us know how this. Luckily, we have some tips and suggestions on how to keep food fresh in simple yet effective ways.
Tips to Keep Your Food Fresh as Long as Possible
First, let’s give you some tips on how to keep your food fresh at all times. Just do this, and you can already notice a huge difference:
● Store Food in Their Ideal or Air-Tight Containers
Certain foods have their ideal containers. Most of the time, air-tight containers or zip locks are the best ones to go for. Vegetables like beets, carrots, cabbages, and turnips do well in air-tight environments. For foods like cheese, you can just lightly wrap them in dry parchment paper, and opt for tin foil with vegetables like celery to retain their crispness.
● Store Your Produce Separately Depending on Their Freshness
Sometimes, we can’t do away with purchasing produce on separate days. That’s why they come in different levels of freshness. So, when we start storing them, don’t combine them in one container because the less fresh ones would taint the new ones and fasten their spoilage process.
● Consider Canning Your Food
One of the most effective ways to lengthen the shelf life of your food is to can them. Canning is one of the best methods to preserve any produce. What makes this a good way to retain the freshness of your food is that it’s air-tight and the heating process kills the microorganisms that cause spoilage.
● Position Your Food Strategically in the Fridge
Did you know that where you position your food affects the freshness of your foods? The bottom or the middle part of your fridge is where you should place your dairy. Since dairy spoils easily, putting them on the fridge door is not ideal since this is where the temperature is most inconsistent due to us opening and closing it. It’s better to put canned items on the door of the fridge instead.
● Keep Food Frozen
For the meats, you can guarantee their freshness when you fully freeze them. Since you’re freezing them, the spoilage process slows down. This is also applicable to other food types like fruits and vegetables. When you start to notice them losing freshness, cut them into pieces or store them entirely in a separate container in the freezer.
● Take Note of Food Expiration Dates
This is a no-brainer, but some of us forget about the expiration date too often. When purchasing items, pick the ones with the most recent manufacturing date. It’s also important that you plan how you use them so that you consume your foods according to their expiration dates. This way, you’ll have fresh food always.
● Don't Wash Your Produce
Moisture is one of the biggest factors when it comes to food spoilage. The more moisture there is, the faster the microorganism spreads, which causes spoilage. So, when storing your product, don’t wash them at all. Just wipe them off instead, and just fully wash them on the day you start using them.
Consider the Conditions Surrounding Your Food
Now that we have those tips shared, let’s discuss the importance of the conditions surrounding your food. There are 3 main conditions you should consider, and these are:
Ethylene
Ethylene is the gas naturally produced by some fruits like bananas and apples. This gas speeds up the decay of other Ethylene-sensitive fruits and vegetables like leafy greens, cabbage, lettuce, and broccoli. So, keep them as far away as possible and seal them well.
Airflow
Next, you have to consider the airflow surrounding your food. Some fruits and vegetables do well in air-tight containers but others like onions, bananas, and potatoes are better off stored outside the fridge in the open air.
Temperature
Lately, we have the temperature. Products like dairy need a more consistent temperature, so place them at the back part of the bottom or middle parts of your fridge. Meats and other frozen goods need to be frozen at all times. The other fruits and vegetables can be stored outside.
Things to Consider for Your Fridge
Temperature plays a key role in retaining the freshness of your food, which is why it leads to the last part of our article. How should we prepare our fridges and what are the things to consider to maximize the freshness of our foods when using them?
What Should be the Ideal Amps a Refrigerator Use?
Do you know how many amps a refrigerator use? On average, it’s ideal to get one with 3-5 amps when the voltage is 120. Luckily, most household fridges already have this as the standard, so you’re assured that you’re getting a decent fridge for your foods.
Have a Backup Generator for Outages
We can never do away with outages, that’s why we should have a backup generator to keep our food fresh at all times. Even slight temperature changes can already affect the freshness of fruits and vegetables, so it’s best to invest in a generator as it doesn’t only benefit your food storage quality, but you can also benefit from it generally by providing you electricity during these times.
Related: How to Choose The Best Solar Generator for Your Refrigerator?
Why Having a Solar Generator for Your Refrigerator is a Good Idea?
An advanced solar generator with a UPS/EPS feature can ensure that your food remains fresh via your refrigerator even if you can't get power from the grid. When you leave home for days, the 24/7 UPS/EPS can help the refrigerator keep running even when a sudden outage occurs.
When picking one, learn the refrigerator’s wattage. Find how many watts a refrigerator use so that you can choose the most fitting solar generator for your fridge. One excellent option is the INFINITY 1500. It comes with a 1512Wh capacity and 2000W output. Plus, it only needs to be charged under the sun for 2.5 hours. It comes with 12 diverse and convenient outlets, which you can benefit from 24/7 because of its emergency power supply feature. Lastly, it has an intelligent app control, which makes monitoring it easier and more convenient. With it, you can already control and upgrade your firmware easily and enjoy emergency power outages.
Overall, you can rely on this solar generator to supply you with the power you require at any moment. Whether in an emergency situation or outside appreciating the beautiful scenery, the INFINITY 1500 will provide you with clean, quiet electricity.