Financial Finesse: 4 Easy Tricks That Make Food Storage A Little Less Intimidating
Tuesday, August 29, 2017, 6:00 AM | Leave Comment
One of the things that you probably have as a part of your budget is food. When you enter the grocery store, it seems like food prices increase all the time.
You can start a garden and grow your vegetables, but you still need to get meats and other items for a healthy and balanced diet for the family.
Another option would be to shop at a farmer’s market for fresh fruits and vegetables. When you’re spending a good portion of your income on food and other necessary bills each month, it can be hard to save money for an emergency.
Fortunately, there are a few tricks to keep in mind that will make storing food less intimidating while saving you money in the process.
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Smaller Containers
If you don’t use a lot of condiments or dressings, then get smaller bottles. Things like olive oil and mayonnaise can quickly go bad after the container has been opened.
There are a few tips for foods that are in containers that you can use so that they last longer.
One is to flip them over. The natural oils will begin to move through the entire container instead of settling in one place.
You also want to get smaller containers of yogurt and items that you keep in the refrigerator, such as cheese or lunch meat, so that they don’t spoil before you can use them.
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Vacuum Seal
One way to save money is to buy foods in bulk. When you get home, separate the large packages into smaller ones.
Use products like myler bags to lock in the natural flavors of the items that you freeze.
If you can get foods that are on sale, then you can get enough meats and other items to last for most of the month without spending a large amount of your food budget. Before freezing the bags, write the date on the outside so that you know when it was purchased.
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Dry Foods
Any dry foods that you have in the kitchen will last longer if you store them in plastic containers.
White and brown sugar will also be easier to work with if they are sealed instead of being kept in a bag because it won’t be met with humidity in the kitchen that can make it clump together.
Cereal will also last longer in plastic containers instead of a box with the lid left open.
Another trick for keeping sugar from hardening is to add other items in the container, like marshmallows or a slice of bread at the bottom of the container.
You can also keep dry foods in the refrigerator. Most dry foods that are stored in a cooler environment will last about two to six months depending on the food, which means you won’t spend as much money on these items at the store.
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Organized Pantries
There are probably cans and boxes of all kinds in your cabinets in the kitchen.
Label the top of each item the day that you get it so that you can rotate older items with those that are new.
When you’re storing items that are of the same kind, like bags of rice or potatoes, take them out of their packaging.
Transfer the foods to a larger plastic or glass container with a scoop inside so that you have room in the cabinets for other foods that are used when you prepare meals. This idea allows you to see how much of those foods you have left before you go to the store to buy more.
Storing food can be tricky at times. Some items last longer than others while some seem to spoil right after the container is opened. Keep as much moisture away from foods as possible, and keep your food cool so that it will last longer.
Follow the tips above, as well as some you may find on your own, to help with your food storage.
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