At the Delish Test Kitchen we go through a lot of groceries. Because of this, we've learned some very important tricks to keep our produce tasting (and looking) its best. And, perhaps most importantly, to keep food waste to a minimum. Here are our best tips we practice both in the test kitchen and in our home kitchens.
Freeze Flour and Nut Flour
Store your flours and nut flours in the freezer to keep them fresher for longer. For baked goods you’ll want to bring your flour to room temperature before you get started on a recipe. Measure the amount you’ll need and set it out at room temperature with your butter and eggs.
Store Carrots In A Jar Of Water
To keep carrots fresher for longer, submerge them in a jar of water and store in the fridge. They'll stay crisper for longer.
Add A Paper Towel To Your Lettuce
Wash and thoroughly dry your lettuce then add a dry paper towel to your container. This will draw out moisture and keep your lettuce fresher for days longer. Replace the paper towels as it dampens!
Freeze (Don't Fridge!) Sliced Bread
Storing bread at room temperature means it will likely go stale (or grow mold) before you can eat all of it. Despite popular belief, refrigerating the bread causes it to go stale even faster. If you freeze the bread whole, it'll take forever to thaw. Frozen slices mean that you only need to thaw what you need. Rewarm them in the oven at 350° or in a toaster.
Store Basil At Room Temp With Stems In Water
This keeps them the freshest longest and helps them from turning brown. Plus, it's a pretty arrangement for your kitchen counter.
Store Tomatoes At Room Temp
Tomatoes have a much fresher and stronger taste when stored at room temperature versus the fridge. When they're refrigerated, they turn mealy and bland.
Wrap Banana Stems In Plastic Wrap
Separate your bananas and wrap each stem in plastic wrap. This will help contain the ethylene gas which ripens the bananas. Never refrigerate bananas! Of course, once the bananas do brown, they make the perfect banana bread.
Wrap Your Cheese In Wax Paper Or Beeswax
After opening cheeses it's best to wrap them in wax paper or beeswax paper. This best resembles the rind and will keep them from molding. Plastic wrap works too but can in some cases impart an unpleasant flavor onto the cheese.
Store Fruits and Vegetable Separate From Each Other
Storing fruits and vegetables together causes them to go bad faster. Store them in separated drawers in the refrigerator. Or, if the produce does better at room temperature, store the vegetables and fruit in separate bowls on the counter.
Store Fresh Herbs In Damp Paper Towels
When you buy herbs, first rinse them of excess dirt, then loosely wrap them in a damp paper towel before storing in the fridge. This will keep them hydrated and fresh for longer.
Store Apples In The Refrigerator
Apples will keep much longer in the fridge than on the counter. Plus, cold apples are crisper and taste less mealy.
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