Are Food Saver Machines Worth It?I would like feedback on the food saver machines. Do they really do what they say? Is it frugal or expensive to use the bags, canisters, etc.?
Preserving Carrots Through the Winter?Hi! I just harvested about 20 lbs of carrots from a home garden. Should I blanche them and place them freezer bags, store them in a cool, dark basement area or what? I'd like to be able to use them throughout the winter months. This is the first time I have tried growing carrots and am a little startled (pleasantly though!) at my success. HELP!!! What do I do now??
Dennis from Milwaukee, WI
Looking For Advice On Vacuum Sealer Bags?I bought a new vacuum sealer to store and freeze meats and leftovers, but after I cut the bags, I have a hard time opening the two layers of the bag. I got so frustrated the last time I just threw the bag away and went to the store and bought freezer bags. I'd really like to use the vacuum sealer, though.
Food Saver Advice?I recently borrowed a friends "food saver" to freeze some meat. The food saver worked great, and I insisted on replacing the roll of bags that I had used. To my surprise, the roll cost me $10.00 at Walmart.
Storing Peanuts?Tips for storing peanuts. Post your ideas.
Shelf Life of Pasta Flour?Does anyone know the shelf life of pasta (semolina) flour? It is in its original wax-coated paper packaging - no tears or holes in the bag. I have had it well over a year. It doesn't have an expiration date. There is only an address for the company, no phone number or web address listed.
FoodSaver Reviews?Reviews of FoodSaver Vacuum Packaging Systems. If you have one of these, please post your feedback below and be sure to mention which model you have in your post and how much it cost.
Making Vacuum Sealer Bags?How do I cut a straight line to make bags using the foodsaver roll or any other vacuum bag roll? I have the roll cutter in the machine, but don't want to have to swap rolls in and out every time I need a different size.
Storing Mayonnaise?Tips for storing Mayonnaise. Post your ideas.
Storing Coffee?What is the best way to store coffee (both for unground beans and for already ground)? My DH and I don't drink it up very fast, and I've heard keep it in the freezer; I've heard keep it in the refrigerator; I've heard oh, no, don't do either of those, that'll dry it out, just keep it in an airtight container.
Storing Potato Flakes?I was wondering if anyone knew how long potato flakes would be good for. I have a bag of flakes in the cupboard and I think they are 2 years old. I could make instant potaoes for the dogs if need be, I suppose, to use them up. Any suggestions for using them besides thickening stews and soups?
How Long Does Spaghetti Sauce Keep Once Opened?Once a jar of tomato/spaghetti sauce has been opened, how long will it keep in the refrigerator?
Storing Olive Oil?I have several glass bottles and a few metal containers of very expensive olive oil that were purchased a few years ago and have never been opened. They are kept on a shelf in my basement that is dry, cool and no significant moisture. Is there a deadline that the oil must be used or does it keep indefinitely?
Storing Bagels?What's the best way to store bagels? I am wondering if I should just keep the bagels on the counter in the original bag or should I perhaps keep in the refrigerator? I don't think I need to freeze them as we will probably use them up fast enough.
Storing Yeast?Tips for storing yeast. Post your ideas.
Storing Cherries?How long should an unwashed bag of cherries last in the fridge, assuming typical freshness when purchased at grocery store?
Keeping Celery Fresh?Keeping Celery Fresh. I recently read something about keeping celery fresh much longer by wrapping it in foil. What I missed was. Do I take the plastic cover off of it? And do I wash it before wrapping it?
Storing Watermelon?How do you store watermelon? When storing watermelon in a covered container in the refrigerator and a piece of paper towel is placed in the bottom of the container and also on top of the watermelon, what does this do to the watermelon?
Canister for Vacuum Packaging?Has anyone used a canister from vacuum packaging (like Seal-A-Meal) for food storage? We have gone through so much expensive salad in a bag (my daughter likes it) before its time that I am seriously thinking about purchasing the larger canister just for bagged salad storage in the fridge.
Preventing Moisture Buildup When Storing Cheese?I stored some cut up cheese chunks in a vacuum sealed bag for a week. There were droplets of water inside the bag in a few places (minimal). Do you suggest I place a paper towel in with the cheese chunks to prevent mold from building up due to excessive humidity?
Keeping Oil From Solidifying in the Fridge?How can I stop the oil in marinated feta solidifying when placed in fridge?
Substitute for Orange Liqueur?What may I use for a substitute for Orange liqueur. Could I use orange flavoring?
Storing Cut Avocados?Does anyone have any tips for storing avocados after they have been cut into? Should they be refrigerated? Is it best to leave the pit in, or take it out?
Storing Pancake Mix?I bought some boxes of CarbSimple pancake mix which were already out of date. So far, the mix is still quite tasty and not spoiled. As this product is no longer manufactured, I want to keep them. What is the best method?
Storing Garlic?How do you store garlic?
Storing Mushrooms?How do you store mushrooms?
How long will mushrooms keep in the refrigerator?How long will mushrooms keep in the refrigerator?
Preparing to Vacuum Seal Vegetables?Do you need to blanch vegetables when vacuum sealing them? if so, how do i go about this?
How Long Do Plastic Food Storage Containers Last?I have plastic storage containers that I have used for food for many, many years. And I am curious if the plastic has been used too much and if it is so old that it is time to replace them with newer ones.
Storing Potatoes In The Fridge?Can I store potatoes in the fridge?
How To Preserve Soymilk?Hi, I want to know how to preserve soymilk for a period of time. I will like to go into large scale production of soymilk in my vicinity.
Vacuum Seal and Freeze Fresh Vegetables?Can you freeze corn on the cob and banana peppers fresh from the garden? Also, can you vacuum seal those and if so, how long will they keep?
Long Term Storage Of Chewing Gum?I recently got a bunch of chewing gum for free after coupons. Should I keep it in the freezer to keep it fresh or how should I store it? Will freezing it change it's chewing consistency? Thanks for any help!
Does Watermelon Have To Be Kept Cold?I'm going on a picnic and I forgot to get a disposable cooler for my watermelon, which will be cut off the rind and cut into serving size pieces. Do I have to keep watermelon cold? I have two foil pans, 3 empty ice cream buckets and ice.
Best Way To Store Tomatoes?What is the best way to store tomatoes? I have been told never to refrigerate because tomatoes lose their taste.
How To Prevent Lettuce Rotting In The Fridge?How can I keep lettuce form rotting in fridge?
Can Green Tomatoes Be Preserved in Newspaper?Can I preserve green tomatoes from my garden by wrapping them in newspaper and putting in a cool dry place and use them in winter?
Milky Residue in Pickle Jars?I have a question about making dill pickles. Some of my jars stay real clear while others get this milky substance on the bottom of the jars. Is this just fermentation and is is safe to eat them?
How to Store Marshmallows?What is the best way to store marshmallows?
Storing Leftover Nacho Cheese?Is there a way to "can" nacho cheese? I bought a gallon can of it and we can't eat it all at one time. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
How long will Penuche fudge keep?How long will Penuche fudge keep?
Storing Fresh Apricots?I was just given a large bag of fresh apricots. They are all slightly bruised. I need some really easy storing ideas? How to freeze, cook, etc. without ascorbic acid, as I am allergic to it! Thanks guys!
How Long Are Dried Spices and Herbs Good For?How long can spices be kept?
Storing Garlic In Cellar?Can I store fresh garlic in a brown paper sack somewhere other than the refrigerator, such as a cellar?
Reusing Vacuum Freezer Bags?Can the Reynolds Handi-vac vacuum freezer bags be reused?
Storing Oil After Frying Food?What do you keep your oil in after deep frying chicken? I deep fry in a heavy cast iron dutch oven. After I am finished and the oil is cool I transfer the oil to an empty clean milk jug for keeps. However, trying to lift and hold a heavy cast iron dutch oven while pouring the oil out is beginning to hurt my arms and hands. I didn't know if it was okay to just leave the oil in the dutch oven. Do you have a better way of deep frying and storing the oil?
Storing Sweet Potatoes?How do I store sweet potatoes?
Storing Homemade Bread?Does anyone have ideas on ways to store homemade bread? I'd like to make one loaf per week for my 2 person household. Normally I keep it on the counter, covered with a towel and slice as we use it. But my partner is slightly OCD and seeing a towel-wrapped loaf of bread, on otherwise clear counters day after day, week after week, unnerves him. So, other than ziploc bags in the fridge, any ideas?
Storing Canned Goods on Unheated Porch?Is it ok to store canned goods on a back porch that is not heated? Or would they freeze?
Food Container Ideas?What can I use for food containers without buying ones?
Storing Corn or Flour Tortillas?What do you store your corn tortillas in?
Storing Roasted Red Peppers?I have a bunch of red bell peppers that I want to roast. After I roast them what type of liquid do I use to store them in the fridge?
Storing Capsicums in Oil?How do I freeze capsicums without them going soggy after defrosting? I just bought capsicums in bulk. I bought carrots in oil and they were crisp. Will this work for my capsicums if I put them in oil. What is the most frugal way to keep them?
Refrigeration of Cucumbers?What is the best way to refrigerate sliced cucumbers, in water or dry?
Storing Fresh Ginger?What is the best way to store fresh ginger?
Using Green Plastic Produce Bags?Has anyone tried green bags for produce?
Using Lock and Lock Containers?Has anyone used the Lock and Lock containers to keep potatoes? I just bought an assortment of them after reading a review in TF and I can't wait to start having my veggies stay fresh longer. Thanks to everyone who posted tips about these containers.
Storing Produce?Is there a better way to store produce in the frig? I have a "thousand" plastic produce bags, it's getting confusing. I have an older type of side by side frig, and have run out of room way too fast this time of year.
Storing Food in a Winterized House?We have a home in upper Michigan and this year we are winterizing it for the first time. Can we leave our canned goods, dry foods, laundry detergent or personal bath items in the home during the winter? Or do we have to remove everything from the home that is boxed, canned or liquids?
Shelf Life of Sour Cream?When I buy sour cream it is usually on sale, and I use coupons if I have one. It isn't something I use often, and sometimes I forget it is in the frig.
Long Term Food Storage?Regarding the removal of all oxygen from foodstuffs, would that not leave the dead bugs and their waste matters still in the food?
Storing Carrots in the Refrigerator?How do I store fresh carrots in the fridge?
Vacuum Sealing Fresh Onions?I have just purchased a food vacuum sealer and I have just tried to seal a heap of sliced fresh onions, but I can't get a good seal on the bag, because it keeps sucking juices from the onions. Does anyone know whether I am doing something wrong here?
Storing Lettuce in a Crisper?What setting should I put my crisper on for storing lettuce?
Making An Above Ground Root Cellar From a Freezer?I am making an above ground root cellar out of an old deep freezer. It will be so far in the ground with two sides between a cliff. I am putting 3 feet of gravel on the other sides with an insulated cover plus bags of leaves. Will this work; or do I need more dirt?
Keeping Mint Leaves Fresh?How do I keep the mint leaves fresh?
Storing Strawberries in the Refrigerator?What is the best way to keep strawberries in the refrigerator?
DIY Garlic Keeper?I would like to make my own garlic keeper. Does anyone have suggestions?
Storing Cucumbers in the Refrigerator?Does anyone know a good way to store cucumbers in the fridge? I've been putting them in paper towels and then a vented plastic bag and they just don't seem to last.Thanks.
How To Store Brown Sugar?What do I do with brown sugar when I make it?
Shelf Life of Yogurt?How long is yogurt, plain or flavored good for after the expiration date?
Storing Soy Milk Without Refrigeration?How do I preserve soy milk without refrigeration?
Shelf Life of Ground Ginger?I have a jar of ground ginger which is "old". It has a dark spot at the very bottom of the jar.What is the shelf life of bottled ground ginger? Thanks for your help.
How Do I Store Bell Peppers Until I Am Ready to Cook?How do I store bell peppers until I am ready to stuff and have enough to stuff?
Shelf Life of Bisquick Stored in the Refrigerator?Since my husband and I don't finish a box of Bisquick very quickly now that the kids are gone, I wonder how long it is safe to use. I started keeping it in the refrigerator, thinking that would keep it good past the "Best by Date".
Shelf Life of Fruit Fresh Produce Protector?I was wanting to know how long can you use or keep Fruit Fresh Produce Protector and it will still be good for freezing? I have some that expired in 2008, is it still good?
Preserving Rice With Diatomaceous Earth?How do you use diatomaceous earth to preserve rice?
Keeping Coffee Mate from Getting Hard?We use Coffee Mate in our church kitchen, but it gets hard as a rock when the air conditioner is turned off. What can we use for the creamer? I have already contacted Coffee-Mate they had no suggestions other then to keep it out of humid areas.
Creating a Root Cellar Indoors?I grew up with a root cellar. My current home is in an old house that has no basement, I can't get into the attic, and no garage. Although there areas of the house that don't have heat sources they can not be isolated so as to assure the proper low temperatures.
Storing Cranberry Sauce?How long can you store cranberry sauce in Mason jars?
Storing Potatoes?How long can I keep fresh potatoes?
Keeping Sugar From Becoming Hard?How do I keep my sugar from going hard in the bag?
Why Did My Dried Home Grown Onions Rot?Why did my home grown onions mostly all start to rot from the top? They were well dried.
Best Airtight Food Canisters for Dry Storage?What is best airtight canister/storage container available to store things like, flour, rice, and meal in? I am looking for something that is airtight.
How Long Can Canned Goods Be Stored?I have found 2 tins of sardines expiration date Dec. 2006. The tins are not dented or blown. I have also found a tube of anchovy paste with a June 2006 expiration date. Can they be used or should they be thrown away?
Storing Cooked Meats?Can I store cooked turkey and cooked ham in the same Ziploc bag?
Shelf Life of Wilton's Candy Melts?I bought Wilton's Candy Melts last year. Is it still good today as the bag has not been opened yet?
Shelf Life of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables?How long does it take for these following fruits and vegetables to decompose: strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, cherries...
What are the Most Cost Effective Leftover Food Storage Products?I was wondering if any of you have ever done a cost comparison on which product is the least expensive to use for leftovers: aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or plastic storage bags?
What is the Best Way to Preserve Fresh Chives?I grow chives in the summer and I always have more than I can use. Is it better to dry them or freeze them for future use? One year I chopped some chives then froze them in a plastic food bag, but when I thawed them out they were wet and kind of mushy.
Keeping Brown Sugar Soft?How do you keep brown sugar soft and fresh, not hard?
How Can I Store Mashed Potatoes at Ambient Temperature?How do I increase the shelf life of boiled, peeled, and mashed potatoes by 7 days in ambient temperature? What packaging material should be used?
Using Ziploc Food Storage Bags with Renyold's Vacuum Pump?Does anyone know if the Renyold's vacuum pump can be used with Ziploc food storage vacuum bags?
Increasing the Shelf Life of Homemade Caramelized Onions?How do you make caramelized onions that can be kept like chutneys or relishes? I would like to make small jars for a fete.
Keeping Lettuce from "Rusting"?How do you keep lettuce from "rusting" in the frig and for how long?
Keeping Coffee Grounds Fresh?The coffee can recommends refrigeration for unused coffee grounds. I have been letting the can sit in the pantry. I don't have room in my frig. Can I freeze the grounds to keep them fresh? A can lasts me a long time. Thanks in advance.
Storing Cucumbers?How should I store cucumbers while waiting to get enough out of my garden to make pickles?
Shelf Life of Cake Mixes?Is there a leeway on expired cake mixes?
Storing String Beans?What is the best way to store string beans?
Keeping Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Crispy?We love snacking on pumpkin seeds. So during Halloween we generally buy extra pumpkins just to harvest and freeze the seeds so they can be enjoyed throughout the year. However, after roasting, once we go to store them they lose their crispiness. Anyone have a way to keep them crispy during storage?
Storing Whoopie Pies?I'm planning on making Whoopie pies as Christmas presents. I want to make them earlier in the month if possible. How could I store them to retain their freshness?
Keeping Cauliflower Fresh Longer?When I buy fresh cauliflower, it seems to discolor fairly quickly (appears to spoil more quickly than say broccoli). If cauliflower is used in a salad with a dressing that coats it, would it "last" longer? How long would it be "good" if refrigerated?
