Food Safety First: Proper Storage Tips to Keep Your Groceries Fresh

 

Everybody wants to enjoy the simple joy in the snap of leafy greens or the crunch of raw carrots that we buy from the store. The real challenge is how we keep these perishables fresh once we get them home. Food poisoning is mainly caused by bacteria from food that has been not properly stored, prepared, handled, or cooked. If you store the food incorrectly, the bacteria in it can multiply to dangerous levels. So, it is very important to keep the foods fresh and at peak quality for as long as possible. Given below are some of the tips to keep your food fresh and healthy.

Keep in Mind the Temperature Danger Zone

You have to keep high-risk food out of the temperature danger zone between 5 °C and 60 °C. The food-poisoning bacteria grow and multiply at this temperature.

Give Special Care to High-risk Foods

Food poisoning bacteria grow and multiply easily on some types of food. The key to keeping your food fresh is the temperature control. So, the best way to keep your food fresh is to go straight home after grocery shopping and place the fresh food in the refrigerator. Some of the high-risk foods are given below:

• Raw and cooked meat - such as chicken and minced meat, and foods containing them, such as casseroles, curries and lasagne
• Dairy products like custard and dairy-based desserts like custard tarts and cheesecake
• Eggs and egg products - such as mousse
• Seafood products such as seafood salad, patties, fish balls, stews holding seafood and fish stock
• Cooked rice and pasta
• Salads like coleslaws, pasta salads, and rice salads
• Ready-to-eat fruit salads
• Ready-to-eat foods like sandwiches, rolls, and pizzas include any of the food mentioned above.

The above-mentioned foods that come in packages, cans, and jars need to be stored correctly.

Food that comes in packages, cans, and jars can become high-risk foods once opened, and should be handled and stored correctly.

How to Store Food in The Fridge

You have to keep your fridge temperature at 5°C or below. Also, the freezer temperature should be below -15°C and ensure to use a thermometer to check the temperature in your fridge.

How to Store Cooked Food Safely

• You have to store hot food in shallow dishes or separate it into smaller portions to help them cool faster.
• Avoid putting hot food into the refrigerator. Wait for the steam to stop rising from the food before you put it in the fridge.

Check Storage Directions on Labels

Some of the items other than meats, vegetables, and dairy products must be kept cold. You have to follow the instructions properly to keep the food fresh.

Refrigeration Tips

Marinate food in the refrigerator

Bacteria can multiply quickly in foods left to marinate at room temperature. Don’t reuse the marinating liquid before bringing it to a rapid boil.

Wipe spills immediately and clean the refrigerator regularly

Cleaning the refrigerator will help you to reduce the growth of Listeria bacteria and prevent drips from thawing meat that allow the spread of bacteria from one food to another. So, it is essential to clean the fridge regularly.

Cover your food always

It is ideal to store refrigerated foods in covered containers or sealed storage bags and keep in mind to check the leftovers daily for spoilage. It is better to store the eggs in their carton rather than on the door, where the temperature is warmer.

Check expiration dates

A "use by" date means that the manufacturer advises using the product by this date for the best flavour or quality. The date does not indicate the food safety date. After the use-by date, there is a chance that the product may change in taste, colour, texture, or nutrient content. But the product may be safe long after that date.

The exception to this is infant formula

Infant formula and some babyfoods are unique and you have to use the foods by the use-by date that appears on the package.

Choose Strong, Non-toxic Food  Storage Containers

Your food storage containers must be clean and in good condition and make sure to use them only for storing food. Keep in mind to cover them with tight-fitting lids, foil, or plastic film to reduce potential contamination.

Tips for Non-Refrigerated Items

Make sure that your canned goods are not damaged. If the can is damaged you can see visible swelling, leakage, punctures, holes, fractures, extensive deep rusting, or crushing or denting simple enough to prevent normal stacking or opening with a manual, wheel-type can opener. You can return the newly purchased cans if it is damaged.

If You Lose Electricity

Make sure to keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible when you lose electricity. If the refrigerator is unopened it will keep the food cold for about four hours. If you keep the door closed the whole freezer will keep an adequate temperature for 48 hours.