How to Keep Strawberries Fresh For a WeekIn the area we live in, strawberry picking season will soon be over. They have been so good this year.
Replacing Tupperware With GlassThis may not go over well, but I have been getting rid of all my plastics. Instead, I have been saving all the glass pickle jars, jam jars, etc. I just didn't like throwing out all that glass. We are now a 2 person household, my husband and I. The Mt. Olive jars are just right for us. They hold a 2 serving amount of spaghetti sauce or beans. I cook a pound of dried beans and fill up jars and freeze. I wind up with 6 to 8 ready-made dinners. Just my 2 cents. Thanks for reading.
Keep Potatoes Fresher LongerTake potatoes out of their plastic bag. Double-bag then in paper, and close with a clip. Store in a cool, dry place for maximum storage time.
Instant Label for Storage JarsI always store packaged dry foods (beans, etc.) in empty glass jars and for a quick label, I cut out the nutrition info I am interested in and put it inside the jar. Easy.
Keep Cucumbers Crisp and FreshTo keep cucumbers fresh and crisp, I wrap them in a paper towel before putting them in the refrigerator. They keep so much longer this way. This cucumber has been in the refrigerator for 5 days.
Keeping Green BeansI love the farmer's market in our little town but it is only open on Fridays. I purchased some green beans. As I was getting ready to leave, I saw some more green beans that looked even better so I bought them too.
Make Bananas Last Twice as LongKeep your bananas in the bottom crisper drawer of the refrigerator. They will keep for about 2 weeks. They will turn black and look utterly disgusting but inside the flesh will be white and firm. You get a perfect banana a week after everyone else has throw theirs out.
Wrap Banana Stems in PlasticCover the top of your banana bunch in plastic wrap will make them last a lot longer. The reason this helps is because most of the natural ethylene gas bananas use to ripen themselves is in the stem.
Masking Tape Tupperware LabelsHere is a way to really save food and money. No more guessing what and when food was put in tupperwares. Simply keep masking tape and a permanent marker in the kitchen to make and date labels on containers. It has made a major change for me in maintaining food freshness, and a waste free kitchen.
Be A Cheesy SaverI buy the presliced blocks of cheese. They are what restaurants use, easy to peel off a slice at a time. I have an airtight container I keep it in for easy access. I save money and don't have to unwrap every price I use. I keep about 2/3rd of a package at a time in my cheese container and wrap the remainder up good until time to refill the container.
Storing ButterWith the cost of butter these days, I have to find it when it's on sale. I recently had some butter go rancid. Yes, it happens. Especially when it's unsalted. Seems the salt is the curative that keeps it fresh longer, even if it's not as good for you.
Using a Cooler During the HolidaysWhen more refrigerator space is needed for the holidays, bring out the cooler. It will come in handy to store the extra food that needs to be refrigerated. I use jugs of ice that I have in the freezer to keep the cooler cold.
Keep Salt FlowingWe downsized and moved into a camper (which we love). One of my biggest complaints was because of the humidity, the salt would get clumpy up both in the shaker and also the salt container.
How to Store CucumbersPersian and English cucumbers are my absolute favourite from the entire cuke line, but they aren't the cheapest. In order to keep them from going mushy, it's best to keep them as dry as possible. I find they are very happy in paper bags.
Pop Your Plastic LidI have a hard time getting the lids off my Tupperware! Dollar store containers are a good buy but nearly impossible to pop the lid on. I save the rubber bands that come around broccoli and other vegetables for further use. Cut the rubber band and put it under the lid and snap the lid shut.
Proper Storage for Open Canned GoodsTransfer canned goods into a well sterilized jar or any clean container before storing them into your fridge. Never place cans of food in the fridge as it creates rust over time because of the moisture it creates, which tends to mix with the food.
Airtight Container to Keep Brown Sugar SoftI have seen questions on ThriftyFun asking how to soften hardened brown sugar. I believe the secret to keeping brown sugar fresh and soft is storing it in an air tight container.
Storing Chewing GumI buy individual packs of gum (sealed) and found that when I store them in a container, the freshness is sealed tightly. Be sure to store in a cool area in your home.
Store Flour in FreezerFreezing flour for 24 hours will kill any larvae, saving you a lot of work getting rid of pantry moths.
Store Sliced Cheese in Floppy Disc CasesIndividually wrapped slices of cheese fit in 5.5 inch floppy disc cases. We use an old case to store our cheese in the refrigerator!
2-Liter Bottle Pasta ContainerI always buy my pasta in bulk but the packaging that comes with them is not always the best. Huge amounts of spaghetti in opened flimsy plastic bags aren't always the best in my cupboards.
Keeping Lemons and Limes FreshIf you want to keep your lemons and limes fresh longer, just a grab an old newspaper. Cover the fruit with the newspaper before putting them in the fridge. The freshness of your lemons will last a long time.
Preventing SpillsFor containers that may be hard to open, I cover them with Saran Wrap before placing the lid. This will help prevent spills when you go to open the container. This works for soups also.
Use Ziptop Bags for Lidless ContainersI love the oval cream cheese containers but sometimes, I misplace the lids. Tonight, I had already messed up the bottom when I realized I didn't have the top. So, I slipped a cheap zipper bag over it and put the split pea soup in the freezer.
Sealing Food Packaging with a Drinking StrawHere's another way of using a drinking straw to seal a plastic cellophane bags. Grab 2 straws and clean them. Cut one vertically from top to bottom. The second one should be placed on the plastic cellophane bag and then fold the top over once.
Keeping Cookies SoftI have this big jar for cookies. Anytime my kids want to eat one they can just grab the jar and pick up those cookies, but there is one problem that bothers me. Sometimes the cookies can get hard inside the jar, and my kids will not eat those cookies anymore.
Marshmallows to Prevent Clumps in SugarIf you have marshmallows, put 3-5 inside the jar where you store sugar. The marshmallows will absorb the air inside the jar that causes the sugar to clump.
Microwave Onion Cooker for Storing OnionsI found this adorable onion-shaped microwave onion-cooker. I decided to purchase it and use it to store onions, which were cut apart, in the refrigerator. This way, by using an onion cooker for storage, it also serves to cook onions too when I need them cooked.
Filling Ziploc Freezer BagsWith the summer months around the corner, we will be filling our freezers with garden vegetables. I want to remind my ThriftyFun friends about using a large can for easily filling Ziploc freezer bags. I use a large tomato can.
Buy and Freeze Bread in BulkWhen our household purchases bread, it's just too much for our family to finish within the week, before the bread goes bad. Immediately after purchasing, we will set aside the bread that we know we won't finish and place it in the freezer.
Keeping Bacon FreshAir is the worst thing for turning bacon to an unappetizing color. Even if I had a bacon keeper, I couldn't squeeze all the air out. A bread wrapper is all I need. I can press all the air out and the bacon will keep its nice hoggy pink until I use it all. I like that.
Vintage Tins for Storing FoodstuffsKeep flour, sugar, and any other imaginable dry goods in these attractive collectible tins. They can be found at yard sales, Goodwill, and eBay.
Wrap Pasta to Prevent Bug InfestationAs careful and clean as you try to be, there is a possibility of bringing a bug-infested box of pasta home. If you don't have enough containers, wrap each box in a plastic bag and seal tightly. This will prevent the infested box from spoiling other foods in your pantry.
Pickle Jars as CanistersI wanted clear glass canisters and found them rather pricey as I try to avoid plastics. As I was emptying a pickle jar, it dawned on me that would be the perfect canister. I have now put three to work, and will use more as we eat more pickles. Since they are clear, I can see how much we have left.
Store Potatoes with ThymeSprinkle some dried thyme into the bag, and store in a cool dry place. I just got this bag for 99 cents, and want to use every single potato!
Nylon Potato KeeperBorrowed technology, that's what it is, People, borrowed technology. I got this idea from our ever clever fellow member, Miz Toosa (Attosa). She posted a great tip on keeping onions lots longer by hanging them in nylons.
Keep Your Leafy Greens Fresh and CrispTo keep leafy greens fresh and crisp (grocery or garden) in the fridge, take the leaves off the stalk and place them in a colander and run cold water over them to clean them. You may spin the leaves somewhat dry, but not all the way! Then leave them in your colander with a damp paper towel over them!
Keep Guacamole from Turning BrownAir is what turns guacamole and fresh avocados brown. After you open a package of guacamole or cut an avocado open, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Make sure no air can get in. If it came in a cardboard box as well, put it in there, too. No more unappetizing guacamole!
Granny's "Vacuum Sealer"Freezing things in plastic freezer bags is great, but vacuum sealing those bags is even better. Here's how this Granny does it without a pricey vacuum sealer: Use a straw!
Preserving Wine with MarblesA bottle of wine goes very slowly in my house as I generally only use it for cooking. In order to keep the wine fresh, I gently fill the opened bottle with sterilized marbles to keep the wine level as close to the cork as possible. The marbles take the space of the air that would be in the bottle, ensuring freshness.
Cleaning and Storing Romaine HeartsI eat a lot of salad and like to buy the big bags of romaine hearts at Costco. I find that bagged salad goes bad very quickly, but preparing it this way myself allows the lettuce to last over a week.
Keeping Celery Fresh and CrispSometimes for lunch, I just eat a few celery stalks stuffed with pimento cheese spread. After finishing up this bunch, which was still fresh and crisp, I looked back at my grocery receipt and saw that it had been in the refrigerator for 16 days.
Storing Cuties in Their BagDo you buy the bags of Cuties? If you do, turn the bag on its side and tear open the side of the bag. The wrapper/handle is rigid enough to create a bowl. You might want to place a plate underneath just in case an orange leaks. :)
Cake Dome Heat SaverWe occasionally purchase cakes from the grocery store deli that come with those plastic domed lids. I saved the last couple, sure I could figure out something useful to do with it. Well, I realized they make great heat savers for your plate of food if you're not quite ready to eat. Also, they would be great for summertime to place over plates and avoid bugs on your food. These are both things that have come in very useful for us, hopefully they will for you too. :)
Keep Onions Fresh for MonthsIf you keep your onions completely dry, separated and hanging, they will last you for months. Take a washed or new pair of pantyhose and stack your onions vertically, then store in a cool dark place. If you tie a knot in the hose between each whole onion, they will touch each other even less, lasting longer.
Keep Avocados from Turning BrownTo keep your avocados from turning brown, seal them together with a cut onion. I have a little plastic container, but you can also place them in a ziplock bag. The onion will keep the avocado green longer!
Have Vegetables Share Fridge SpaceWhen you don't have enough room for every veggie to have it's own container, you save a lot of space by sharing them. Trying to eat healthier and enjoy the bounties of summer veggies is a great idea, but with an older smaller fridge, it's tough.
Keeping Track of Egg CountI am staying with a friend while I save up for a big move. Her little fridge is a bit inadequate so things don't exactly get their own place.
Store Fruits and Vegetables in a Cool PlaceYears ago when our family started getting larger, we needed more refrigeration space so I purchased a small dorm type refrigerator without a freezer compartment. I discovered that this refrigerator was great for keeping potatoes, tomatoes, apples, blueberries, onions and even bananas longer.
Storage Box Keeps Produce Fresher LongerWhen I was at the dollar tree I picked up one of those plastic storage boxes for my crafts. When heading out of town, I threw as much of the produce as I could fit in the shoe box figuring that it's all going to spoil anyhow. That produce was still good after a month and I couldn't believe it!
Storing CheeseTo keep cheese fresh, upon arriving home from the market take out the cheese and wrap first in wax paper and use tape to make it snug. Then wrap in plastic wrap.
Secret Candy StashI picked up sale candy after Halloween and hid it in empty food containers. A coffee can, an onion soup box; containers my kids wouldn't ever bother with.
Buy Dry Staples in BulkWe make things from scratch and like to try new things, but we have limited space. I buy pasta, grains and dried beans in bulk, but I only buy one kind at a time, enough to fill up a half-gallon mason jar.
Store Lemons in SandFresh lemons can be stored long term by packing in sand. Just make sure no two lemons are touching.
Upcycled Bottle Top Bag SealerI don't always have spare containers or chip-clips handy so I make my own airtight enclosures for my goodies using empty plastic drink bottles.
Alternative To Freezer Bags For The Frugal MindedDon't throw away your cereal bags that contain cereal, they make great freezer bags when you run out of store bought ones or just to save money. Or you can use them with Dollar Store freezer bags for extra protection from freezer burn.
Separate and Turn Bread Slices To Keep FreshI live alone in central Mexico. As our "rainy season" has started again, I was fretting about my bread. The best I can buy is Orowheat sliced. I can only buy it once a month in the nearby big town.
Store Canned Goods in DrawersI have a drawer used for cans only in my kitchen cabinet. I took a permanent marker and labeled the top of each can. Now when I roll the drawer open, I can see what's stored in a glance.
Duct Tape To Label Food Storage ContainersI found myself wasting too much time, tape and energy placing labels on my frozen and fridge food containers. I bought WHITE duct tape and use a Sharpie to write contents on "labels" made from the tape.
Rainbow Sprinkles Mason Jar DispenserThe lids from Parmesan cheese containers fit nicely onto mason jars. Once I learned this, I began to look for items that would work well in these new storage jars.
Salt Spout Mason JarDon't throw that empty salt container away. You can remove the top with the spout and cut it down to fit inside a mason jar ring! Now you can put all kind of things in the jar and easily pour out the amount you want.
Powdered Sugar Mason Jar DispenserThe lids from Parmesan cheese containers fit nicely onto mason jars. Once I learned this, I began to look for items that would work well in these new storage jars.
Tip for Storing Fresh ApricotsI store fresh apricots in a used egg carton. This keeps them from getting bruised from hitting other apricots or rolling a round in the fridge drawer.
Prolonging the Life of CeleryAlthough I do not eat raw celery, I try to always keep it on hand for cooking. Lately I have noticed that another celery option is available in the grocery stores... pre-cut celery stalks.
Stop Potatoes From BuddingJust add an apple to your bag of potatoes to avoid growing eyes on them before you get a chance to use them up. Also you can use a cut up potato to remove stains from your hands.
Keeping Weevils Out of Dried GoodsMany people I know store their flour, corn meal, cake mixes, etc. in their freezer or refrigerator. While this does keep pests from showing up in the dried goods, it takes up a lot of room in the appliance.
Keep Store Bought Cakes Fresh LongerStore bought cakes will last longer if stored with 1/2 of an apple.
Save That Half OnionWhenever you have part of an onion left over from the recipe you are making, don't throw it away, instead wrap it up in some foil or put in a kitchen container and freeze it.
Basement ShoppingWe have a spare fridge in the basement where we keep sodas and the freezer is full. We keep bags from grocery shopping near the spare fridge so we can "shop" for what we need when we are down there.
Easy, Free Cheese WrappingIf you use cheese often, like I do, here is a decent tip! Cut straight through a block of unopened cheese, remove the portion you will use without demolishing package.
Keep Brown Sugar SoftBrown sugar will get hard in a heart beat if you don't do something to keep the moisture in the container or bag. Here is a tip I use that really works and is pretty much free.
Don't Refrigerate TomatoesDon't keep tomatoes or citrus in the fridge. The colder temperatures spoil the aroma and taste of these sensitive fruits.
Buy Spices In BulkWhen I use up a jar of herbs/spices, I wash the jar and remove the label. When I buy new herbs/spices, I buy the cheaper, bulk packaged brand. I put the herb/spice in the saved jar.
Keeping Bags ClosedIn our house we always seem to have half used bags of candy and other things. Although we own some "chip clips", our needs usually far exceed the number that we have. I am always looking for ways to seal these bags and keep the contents fresh.
Store Spaghetti in Pringles CanA great way to store spaghetti is in a full-sized Pringles can. I wiped out the empty can with a damp paper towel to remove any oil and salt. I was able to fit 2 whole bags of spaghetti into the can.
Carry Mini Cupcakes in Egg CartonsThe kids needed a treat to take to a church party. I had made mini cupcakes and I had saved a lot of egg cartons so I decided to put them in there. It was easier to cart them and they fit perfectly. Then you don't have to worry about getting your containers back.
Second Freezer For Leftovers And Bulk FoodsWe purchased a second freezer a year ago. Instead of getting rid of the old one, we now use it as a place to keep leftovers, extras such as flour, cornmeal, bird seed, and items we find on sale and buy in bulk.
Use The Vegetable Crisper For Storing OrangesI put citrus fruits in the vegetable crisper. I got oranges and grapefruit from Florida, this winter. I put the shredded paper they were packed in with them, to protect them from excess dampness.
Store Oldest Foods Right Side UpThe post about buying peanut butter reminded me of how I handle sale items. I store cans of coffee or jars of peanut butter upside down. The most recent item is right side up. When I open this one, I turn another one over.
Use Drink Pitchers To Store Dry FoodsDrink pitchers with tight sealing lids make great containers for dry goods like sugar and cereal. The top is wide for easy filling, and pouring out for measuring is less messy than scooping.
Freeze Ground CoffeeAfter trying various methods for storing the large canister of coffee (more thrifty), I settled on freezing it. I noticed the aroma from the un-brewed coffee deteriorated with all the other methods.
Storing MushroomsIt is supposed to be best to store mushrooms in a brown paper bag. The bag absorbs the excess moisture, but keeps the mushrooms from drying out. You can buy packages of lunch bags at most grocery stores.
Reuse Parmesan Container for Shredded CheesePut shredded cheese into a cleaned and dried plastic Parmesan cheese container with a dual lid. This makes sprinkling the cheese so much easier, with little mess. Great for salads, tacos, pizzas, etc.
Store Dry Spaghetti in Pringles ContainerUse an empty Pringles can to store dry spaghetti, no need to worry about keeping the opened bag or box closed. An added plus is that the lid is see through plastic so no need to open it, as you can see how much you have left.
Caution when Reusing Food ContainersI have a habit of re-using containers from food and drink items. This morning my visiting son yelled to me that the coffee creamer had gone bad. I knew immediately what had happened.
Store Container Upside Down When EmptyI put a lot of my staples in empty coffee tubs that I label, things like cookies, oatmeal, nuts, etc. When I am out, I simply turn the container over so I know to add it to my list.
Wrap Green Tomatoes to RipenOne year when I had planted my tomatoes late in the season I had lots of green tomatoes left on the vines when I needed to get them off or lose them all. I picked them all and wrapped each separately in newspaper.
Seal Stored Foods With Plastic WrapMy stored foods keep fresh two weeks longer by placing a 4 inch square of clear plastic wrap on top of the container before placing the lid on. This acts almost as well as a vacuum seal in preventing air from seeping in.
Food Safety with Bulk PurchasesAs part of my frugal shopping plan, I often buy products in large quantities to save money. That means I have to repackage some of those items once I get home.
Shower Caps in the KitchenI have been buying shower caps from the dollar store. You can get 15 caps for $1.00. They are great for covering bowls you put in the refrigerator and cheaper than aluminum foil.
Keep Zucchini/Banana Bread FreshThe end piece of cake bread tends to be dry anyway. I slice the end very thin and after I get the next piece, I put the end back on bread and wrap up. Next slice is always fresh.
Reuse Pasta Sauce/Pickle Bottles For Food StorageUsually every month, I ended up with 7 or 8 empty pasta sauce or dill pickle bottles. I started of thinking how efficiently I can use them, apart from their regular dry food storage. Here are the tips.
Keeping Vegetables and Fruit CrisperI had a problem with my cucumbers going bad faster than I thought they should but I wasn't sure why. They started smelling like they were being pickled, when saved in a container and sliced ready for my next snack.
Reuse Cardboard Packaging for Food StorageClean out cardboard containers, like the ones that held food. Cover them with contact or wrapping paper and use them to store leftover pantry food and small items.
Wrap Grapefruit In NewspaperI've lived in Florida for most of my almost 77 years, and we've shipped a lot of citrus to friends and family all over the other 49 states. Wrapping each piece of fruit in newspaper was the safest way to insure the fruit was good when it arrived at the other end.
Store Nuts in the FreezerNuts, both shelled and un-shelled should be kept in the freezer. They last longer and crack easier. Nuts and seeds of all sorts can be served directly from the freezer.
Storing BlackberriesThe best way to store blackberries for use at a later date is to rinse them and then put them on a cookie sheet in your freezer until they are frozen solid. Then transfer them to a Tupperware type container and keep in the freezer until you want to use them.
Storing BlackberriesI have found that if I store blackberries or raspberries in a airtight container, they last much longer than the ones stored in the paper pint container from the farmer's market.
Shower Caps to Cover FoodMy husband travels frequently for work, and when he does, he will bring home the unused, new, packaged shower caps. Whenever I have to cover a large food item, like a tray of brownies, I use the new shower cap to cover the top.
Storing Green OnionsI love green onions in my omelets and saimin noodles. The trouble is that it goes rather quickly. We found quite by accident how to store green onions.
Store Canned Foods Upside DownLiving in the South, it seems like dust will accumulate out of nowhere in no time at all, including inside my cabinets. No matter how diligent I am about dusting, before I can turn around, it's back!
Seal Plastic Bags with Water Bottle TopCut up a disposable water bottle and keep the neck and top, as in photo. Insert the plastic bag through the neck and screw the top to seal. The bag is made to be air-tight, such that water will not leak, the secret lies with the top and screw cap!
