Storing Food Safely – Tips for Following Food Storage Instructions

Food manufacturers provide storage instructions based on rigorous testing to ensure products stay safe and maintain quality until their use-by or best-before dates. Following these guidelines can prevent harmful bacteria from developing, keep food tasting great, and reduce waste by extending shelf life.

Here’s how you can store different types of food safely:

Refrigerated Foods: Keep It Cold and Consistent

Refrigerated foods are often perishable items like dairy, meat, and pre-cut fruits and vegetables that require a cool environment to prevent bacteria from multiplying.

Tips for Storing Refrigerated Foods:

• • Check the Temperature: Set your fridge between 0-4°C (32-39°F). Warmer temperatures encourage bacteria growth, so monitor your fridge’s temperature regularly.

• • Keep it Closed: Opening the fridge frequently causes temperature fluctuations. Try to plan what you need and reduce the time the door is open.

• • Store in Airtight Containers: Foods like cooked leftovers, cut fruit, and salads stay fresh longer in airtight containers, which prevent moisture loss and keep out air.

• • Separate Raw and Cooked Foods: Store raw meats on the lower shelves to avoid cross-contamination and ensure that juices from raw foods don’t come into contact with other items.

Freezer Storage: Lock in Freshness

Freezing is ideal for extending the life of perishable foods, but there are still some key practices to follow to keep food safe and delicious.

Tips for Freezing Foods Safely:

• • Wrap It Right: For best results, wrap foods tightly in freezer-safe packaging to prevent freezer burn and moisture loss.

• • Use Labels: Label foods with the date they were frozen. This makes it easy to track how long items have been stored and use them before quality declines.

• • Defrost Safely: Thaw frozen food in the fridge, not on the counter, to keep it at a safe temperature. For faster thawing, use the defrost setting on your microwave or submerge sealed items in cold water.

• • Avoid Refreezing: Once food is defrosted, try to use it rather than refreezing it. Each freeze-thaw cycle can reduce food quality and increase the risk of bacteria growth.

Pantry Storage: Room Temperature but Organised

Pantry staples like canned goods, grains, and snacks have longer shelf lives, but they still need proper storage to prevent spoilage.

Tips for Storing Pantry Items:

• • Keep It Cool and Dry: Store pantry items in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and moisture. Ideal pantry temperatures range between 10-21°C (50-70°F).

• • Use Airtight Jars: For items like grains, flour, and pasta, use airtight containers to prevent pests and preserve freshness.

• • Rotate Stock: Use the first-in, first-out method by placing newly bought items at the back and older items at the front. This helps you use products before they reach their best-before date.

• • Separate Strong Aromas: Store foods with strong odours, such as onions and garlic, separately to avoid flavour transfer to other items.