Handy Tips for Storing Food the Healthy Way

Storing food the wrong way can make it spoil surprisingly fast and even harm your health.

1. Eggs

DO: keep them in their original carton on a shelf inside the fridge. Stored this way, eggs will keep for 3-4 weeks.

DON'T: store eggs in the fridge door, where the temperature fluctuates the most.

2. Cold cuts

DO: keep them in the dedicated meat drawer, which is specially designed to stay cool and can keep cold cuts for 3-5 days from the date of purchase.

DON'T: forget to wrap them back up.

3. Hard cheese

DO: wrap it in moisture-proof plastic wrap or aluminium foil. This will keep the cheese for 2-4 months.

DON'T: throw it away if the outside has gone moldy. Simply cut off the moldy part, plus about 1 cm deeper, and discard it; the inside is then safe to eat. 

4. Yogurt

DO: store yogurt at around 4 degrees, the ideal temperature for your fridge. It will keep for 10-14 days. 

DON'T: worry if you see a layer of liquid on top of the pot; just stir it back in. 

5. Milk

DO: keep milk in a well-ventilated spot in the coldest part of the fridge to make it last longer. 

DON'T: put it in or near the fridge door, where the temperature changes easily and is usually warmer than elsewhere.

6. Nuts

DO: store them at room temperature if you plan to eat them within 1-2 months. Otherwise, keep them in the fridge, where they can last up to 1 year.

DON'T: keep them near a heat source, which can make the oils in the nuts go rancid quickly. 

7. Grains and flour

DO: grains you use often can be kept at room temperature, in as cool and dry a place as possible. Grains you rarely use are best kept in the freezer so they last longer. 

DON'T: forget to store them in airtight containers, the best way to protect grains from invaders like weevils. 

8. Oil

DO: limit its exposure to air, light and heat. Keep it tightly closed when not in use, ideally in a dark glass container (or wrap a clear bottle in foil).

DON'T: keep it near the stove or oven, as heat makes oil spoil faster. 

9. Leftovers

DO: make sure leftovers go into the fridge no more than 2 hours after cooking. Choose wide, shallow containers so the food cools quickly and evenly. 

DON'T: keep them for more than 5 days.

10. Fresh meat

DO: wrap it in 2 layers of bags or packaging.

DON'T: store it near cooked food in the fridge. Raw meat that isn't wrapped well can leak and spread germs.

11. Coffee 

DO: store it in a dark, airtight bag or container, away from heat.

DON'T: keep it in the freezer. Taking coffee in and out of the freezer every day exposes it to temperature swings that affect its flavor. The freezer is only ideal when you want to store a large amount of coffee you won't be using for a long time.