How to keep eggs fresh and other top food storage hacks
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Essential tips for storing food
Do you keep your ketchup in the cupboard? Or maybe your onions and potatoes are huddled up together in your pantry? If so, you might want to rethink where you store your food to make it last longer. From produce that should always be kept in your fridge to foods that you should never freeze, these are the storage rules you need to know.
In the cupboard: potatoes
Cold temperatures turn starch in potatoes into sugar, which can make them discoloured and bland. Potatoes should be stored unwashed and in a well-ventilated spot well away from any sunlight. If possible, keep them in a burlap sack or a wicker basket.
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In the cupboard: aubergines
Aubergines don't need to be kept in the fridge, but be careful not to leave them somewhere too warm, or they'll shrivel up. It's important to find a happy medium if you want to get the best from this ingredient: house them in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight.
In the cupboard: pickled veg
So long as you’ve not contaminated the jar with a dirty spoon, the preservatives used in manufactured pickles mean they should last just fine in the cupboard, freeing up precious fridge space. Make sure the lid is tight and check the use-by date (and any specific instructions on the label). However, if you're storing fermented pickles or you've pickled your own veg, these are best kept in the fridge.
In the cupboard: soy sauce
Labels on bottles of soy sauce may state it should be refrigerated, but restaurants safely leave the condiment on tables all day. The truth? The high salt content means it can be stored at room temperature for up to six months.
In the cupboard: Champagne
If you’re not planning on opening a bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine within five days of putting it in the fridge, don’t keep it stored there as the fluctuating temperature of the door opening and closing will wreak havoc on it. Champagne is best stored on its side, away from light, in a room with a consistent temperature. Chill a couple of hours before you want to open it.
Here's everything you've ever wanted to know about Champagne
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On the countertop: tomatoes
Fridge temperatures damage tomatoes' membranes, causing them to become watery and mealy. Storing them in the fridge will also permanently dampen their flavour. The best place to put tomatoes is out on a counter or worktop.
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On the countertop: fresh soft herbs
Soft herbs like basil, coriander, mint, parsley and dill should be treated like bunches of flowers – trim the stems and keep them in a glass with fresh water. If confined to the fridge, the leaves will wilt and quickly become soggy. However, hard herbs such as rosemary, thyme, sage and oregano should be wrapped in a paper towel and stored in an airtight container in the fridge crisper drawer.
On the countertop: butter
Butter is virtually unspreadable straight from the fridge and it’s perfectly safe to store a block (or stick) in a covered dish on a worktop for a day or two, says the USDA's FoodKeeper App. However, you don’t want it to melt or go rancid so transfer it somewhere cooler, out of direct sunlight in the hot summer months. If you don’t plan to use the butter within a few days, it’s best kept in the fridge.
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On the countertop: peaches
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On the countertop: bananas
Warm temperatures, around 15–20°C (59–68°F), are needed for a banana to ripen correctly, and this process is halted when the fruit is put in the fridge. The skin may also eventually turn black in the fridge because of the impact the temperature has on a banana's cell walls.
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Don't store together: onions and potatoes
With similar shelf life and storage requirements, you might be tempted to store potatoes and onions together, but it's a bad idea. Onions produce a small amount of ethylene, which has a very significant effect on potatoes. Spuds will start to sprout and can even grow a decay-causing fungus. Separate the two vegetables and they'll last up to a month in your pantry. It's worth noting that it's fine to store garlic with onions though.
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Don't store together: pumpkin and fruit
Pumpkins and other types of squash might be hardy on the outside, but they're very susceptible to ethylene produced by fruit. Keep them apart and your pumpkins (as well as both summer and winter squashes) will keep for significantly longer – pumpkins can last as long as three months in the pantry, if stored on their own.
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Store on its own: cucumbers
Store on its own: cauliflower and broccoli
More veg that will start to yellow prematurely in the presence of ethylene, broccoli and cauliflower are also highly sensitive to the gas. The leaves will start to detach from the stalks and go limp if they're kept close to apples, melons and tomatoes. These brassicas also have a relatively short shelf life so keep them in the fridge away from other produce and they'll keep for up to five days.
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Store on its own: carrots
Carrots are also sensitive to ethylene. The popular root vegetable is quite hardy and will last up to three weeks if refrigerated, but if you keep them close to ethylene-producing foods like apples, potatoes or tomatoes, they'll start to develop a bitter taste rather quickly.
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In the fridge: dates
You might be surprised to find out that dates are best stored in the fridge, despite the fact other dried fruit is fine the cupboard. This is because dates are not as dehydrated as other dried fruit, like cranberries or apricots. As they still hold a bit of moisture, it's best to keep them cool in an airtight container to preserve their flavour. If you store them outside the fridge, they will progressively become drier and lose their flavour.
In the fridge: apples
One of the few fruits that benefit from refrigeration are apples. This is because apples release ethylene gas, which speeds up the ripening of any nearby fruit and veg. If kept in the fridge, the production of ethylene is slowed down, making them (and other fruit) last longer. Just make sure you don't keep the apples together with other vegetables, and cover them with a damp paper towel or store in a plastic bag with holes.
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In the fridge: pure maple syrup
Despite its high sugar content, pure syrup can and will spoil, if not refrigerated. There are no preservatives in pure maple syrup so over time it will develop a layer of mould on the surface, if kept at room temperature. For long-term storage, you're better off keeping it in the fridge.
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In the fridge: ketchup (but only after opening)
Whether ketchup should be stored in the fridge or in the store cupboard is somewhat of a contentious question. While it would be safe to assume that due to the ketchup's high vinegar, salt and sugar content it's safe to store at room temperature, it isn't exactly the case. Heinz has confirmed that thanks to its natural acidity, Heinz Ketchup is shelf-stable. However, as soon as you've opened your bottle, the storage conditions can affect that stability. "We recommend that this product, like any processed food, be refrigerated after opening," says Heinz.
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In the fridge: eggs (but only in the US)
In the US, eggs are sterilised after production to kill bacteria, which also weakens the eggshell. This means they should be kept cool to prevent the bacteria from returning. In most of Europe, disinfecting eggs is illegal and the EU recommends that eggs are kept cool but not refrigerated.
Check out these excellent eggs recipes
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In the freezer: tomato or vegetable sauce
One way to preserve produce – especially watery vegetables such as tomatoes, courgettes and green beans that can go soggy – is to turn them into a healthy sauce which can be frozen, then defrosted and cooked when required. Ratatouille and vegetable-packed tomato sauce are two great options.
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In the freezer: dough and raw pastry
Similarly, any excess dough and raw pastry can be frozen if wrapped tightly in cling film. It’s best to do this soon after preparation so it doesn’t dry out. This also applies to fresh yeast, and dough that contains yeast and has risen. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
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In the freezer: scrambled egg
Scrambled eggs are one of the best ways to freeze eggs because the mixed-in yolk prevents the whites from becoming too rubbery. First cook so the eggs are slightly under, then allow to cool and freeze portions in a cupcake tin for no longer than half an hour. Remove and put into individual freezer bags, squeezing out any air before closing. Allow to defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating in the microwave or a frying pan.
In the freezer: pancakes
Cooked pancakes can also be frozen for a couple of months. To store, allow the pancakes to cool down then put greaseproof paper between each one before wrapping tightly in cling film. You can reheat from frozen in a microwave, the oven or in a toaster – just keep an eye on them so they don't go too crispy or burn.
Take a look at the foods you should always have in your freezer
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Never freeze: raw eggs in their shell
Eggs frozen in their shell will explode because liquid expands as it becomes solid. However, you can freeze raw egg white. Just add a sprinkle of salt or sugar to prevent the eggs from turning rubbery and ensure there’s enough space in the container for the eggs to expand slightly when frozen.
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Never freeze: cooked rice
Storing cooked rice in the fridge or freezer is the cause of much debate, but you have to be aware of the risks. Cooked rice left at room temperature is a breeding ground for bacillus cereus, a bacterium that causes food poisoning. If you do want to keep rice, make sure it cools quickly and keep in the fridge no longer than a day. When reheating it, make sure it’s heated through thoroughly and is piping hot.
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Never freeze: raw potatoes
Potatoes have a high water content so if they're frozen, that water freezes, causing ice crystals to form which affects the taste and texture once thawed. One way around the problem is to part-cook or completely cook the potatoes before freezing, but it’s generally better to avoid.
Take a look at our best-ever potato recipes
Never freeze: salad and salad leaves
Cucumber, lettuce, radishes and salad greens have a high water content, which causes this produce to turn limp and mushy when defrosted. Buy and eat fresh is the only rule you should remember when it comes to salads.
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