Proper food storage is critical to ensure that the food is safe and nutritious for consumption. It will prevent any harmful bacteria from growing and ensure that your food can last for a minimum period of time. Different products have different ways of storage and it is important that you store them correctly.
Vegetables
Green leafy vegetables should always be stored in the vegetable crisper compartment in the refrigerator. The crisper compartment comes with mechanisms to control the humidity levels to ensure that your vegetables remain tasty, fresh and crispy when you consume them.
Fruits
Different fruits need to be stored differently. Fruits such as berries and apples should always be kept in the refrigerator to ensure that they are always crispy whereas summer fruits such as watermelon and rock melons should be kept in room temperature until they are ripe before placing them in the refrigerator. Citrus fruits such as lemon and oranges can be left outside in room temperature. Bananas should be kept in a cool environment but not in the refrigerator as the temperature will cause their skin to blacken.
Dairy products
Before purchasing any dairy products, the first thing you should do is check the expiry date. Do not purchase any that is going to expire in a couple of days as it will start to smell even before its expiry date. Supermarket workers typically place milk that is going to expire soon in the first row, so always check the ones at the back of the shelves.
Frozen food
Whenever possible, only buy frozen food when you are heading home straight afterwards. Do not purchase frozen food if you are only going home many hours later. If the food defrosts before you reach home, consume it on the day itself as refreezing it will cause bacteria to grow and multiply when the food is thawed.
Meat products
Fresh meat such as fish, chicken, duck or pork should always be kept cold to slow down bacterial growth. Always store meat and seafood in the coldest part of the refrigerator and make sure that cooked and uncooked food does not get into contact with each other to prevent cross contamination which can be deadly. Fish and seafood normally have a lifespan of only a couple of days so be sure to finish them as soon as possible. Always store raw meat at the bottom layer of the refrigerator as their juices will cause contamination with other foods.
