Sprout

How to keep food fresher for longer

Sprout Admin -

By properly storing your fresh food you can save money and help the environment. You’ll be able to cut down on throwing away food that has spoiled and make the most of every item in your weekly grocery shopping.

Below, we’ve got some top tips to help you keep your food fresher for longer.

Check the temperature inside your refrigerator

Many people completely forget to check the temperature inside their refrigerators. However, storing fresh foods at the wrong temperatures causes them to spoil more quickly, either from becoming too warm or too cold.

Fridges should be kept at temperatures between 32°F and 41°F or 0°C and 5°C. You can find the manufacturer’s temperature recommendations in the handbook that came with your refrigerator.

Maintaining this temperature range ensures your food is kept in the optimal environment to stay fresh for as long as possible and prevents the growth of potentially harmful microorganisms. Correct environmental temperatures also maximize the number of nutrients that remain in your ingredients until you consume them.

Store Different Ingredients in Different Areas of the Refrigerator

It’s good practice to store different types of foods at different temperatures. Generally, the higher up a shelf is in the fridge, the higher the temperature. You can use the slight temperature differences between the top and bottom areas of the fridge to your advantage to keep your foods fresher for longer.

We recommend that you keep your foods as follows:

  • Raw meats and fish in the bottom half of the fridge
  • Dairy products nearer to the top of your fridge
  • Fruits and vegetables at the bottom of the fridge
  • Condiments toward the top of the fridge

Avoid Overcrowding Your Refrigerator

Overstocking your fridge means it needs to work harder to keep your foods cool. It may prevent cold air from circulating properly around the fridge's inside, inviting bacteria to grow on your food and causing it to spoil more quickly. The manufacturer’s handbook should state the maximum capacity for safe food storage of your fridge.