KEEP IT FRESH
You’re storing food in your fridge all wrong and it’s adding to your weekly shop -five tips to help you save cash
We explain how to avoid unnecessary food waste
AN expert has revealed the foods you should never put in the fridge if you want to prolong their lifespan.
Storing your food correctly could reduce the chance of you being sick, improve the quality of your meals, and help you save money.
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Plumbworld, the bathroom and kitchen expert, has highlighted the top five foods which should never be stored in the fridge.
The foods they listed were tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic, and bread which should be kept elsewhere to prolong their life-span.
The expert said: “Storing food correctly isn’t just about taste—it can also save you money and prevent waste - the less often you have to replace spoiled items, the more you can stretch your grocery budget.
"Proper storage keeps your food fresher for longer, meaning fewer trips to the supermarket and more value from what you buy."
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Knowing which foods to keep at room temperature could therefore cut your food bill by a huge sum across the year.
For example - if your food was to last two weeks rather than one you could slash your spending by half.
You should also remember that prices will depend where you shop, and food will last different amounts of time based on its quality, country of origin and sell by date.
You should always check the sell by date on your items before you buy so that you're not disappointed by food that goes off quickly.
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It always helps to reach for the items at the back of the shelf as these are usually the most recently stocked and the most fresh.
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To learn how to make your cash stretch further, read the expert's top tips below.
Tomatoes
Plumbworld revealed that tomatoes kept in the fridge can lose their flavour and texture.
This is because cold temperatures stop them from ripening and developing their sweet flavour and causes them to develop a wrinkly texture.
The best way to keep them fresh is by storing them at room temperature and away from sunlight.
You can place them in a cooler spot in your kitchen if they are very ripe, but you should pretty much avoid the fridge at all costs.
Tomatoes can typically last up to two weeks when stored correctly.
A pack of tomatoes usually costs around £1, with six classic round tomatoes selling for 95p in Tesco and a family pack from Aldi costing £1.29.
If you bought tomatoes every week you would spend approximately £52 a year - whereas if you did this every two weeks you'd spend £26.
It also helps not to cut open a tomato unless you plan to use the whole thing, as exposing it to air can cause it to expire quickly.
Plumbworld recommended: "If you’ve got a batch of tomatoes that are almost too ripe, make them into a sauce or soup straight away."
This will mean you don't have to throw anything out and provide you with meals for the week.
Potatoes
According to Plumbworld potatoes are best stored in a cool, dark and dry place - like a pantry or cellar.
The expert said this was because: "Storing potatoes in the fridge can cause their starch to turn into sugar more quickly."
This causes them to develop a dark colour and an overly sweet and gritty texture.
You should also make sure you put them in a breathable bag (such as a paper or mesh) to prevent any moisture building up causing them to sprout.
A bag of potatoes typically lasts one to two months and costs £1.35 for 2KG in Tesco and Sainsbury's.
But left in the fridge they last only one to two weeks, according to Eatingwell.com.
Onions
Plumbworld warned that onions tend to absorb moisture which means they easily become mushy and mouldy in the fridge.
It said: "To keep onions fresh and crunchy, store them in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area."
The expert also warned not to store them near potatoes as the gases and moisture they release can cause each other to spoil.
Onions stored correctly in a cool dry place typically last two to three months.
And according to Allrecipes.com they can last up to eight months in the freezer.
You can buy 1KG of brown onions from Aldi for 99p and 1KG of red onions for 71p in Lidl.
This makes it a cheap option for your dinners, but doesn't also mean you shouldn't also save each week where you can.
Garlic
A garlic can cost as little as 24p in Sainsbury's and will last up to six months.
However the moist environment of the fridge can cause garlic to sprout, develop mould or become rubbery, according to Plumbworld.
The expert recommended: "The best way to store garlic is in a cool, dark place with good air circulation.
"A dry spot in your pantry or a garlic keeper works well to maintain its flavour and texture for longer."
A garlic keeper is a pot which allows airflow and provides the perfect conditions for storage.
You can buy one from Dunelm for £8 or Amazon for £9 - which is more expensive than just finding a cool place but can also be a stylish addition to your kitchen.
Bread
Keeping your bread fresh in the fridge might seem like a good idea, but Plumbworld said this isn't the case.
It said: "The reality is that cold temperatures cause bread to go stale much faster.
"The fridge accelerates the process of starch crystallisation, which dries out the bread and makes it tough and hard."
Instead the expert recommended storing bread at room temperature in a bread box or a paper bag to maintain its softness.
It also recommended freezing bread if you have more than you can eat within the few days of its life-span.
It said: "The freezer will preserve its freshness without the texture changes caused by refrigeration."
A bread bin is a useful investments and costs £15 in Tesco - which over the year would save you money on bread waste.
According to the charity Love Food Hate Waste, UK households waste approximately 20 million slices (equivalent to around one million large loaves) of bread every day.
The 'right' way to store food
1. Use Airtight Containers
This helps to prevent exposure to air which can cause your food to go off. A glass container can help to be more hygienic and a sustainable option.
2. Label Everything
By labelling your food it helps to keep track of expiry dates and avoid food waste.
3. Store Like Items Together
This makes it easier to find what you are looking for. Use fridge dividers or reusabale bags to help section your fridge.
4. Use the Fridge and Freezer Wisely
Keep raw meat on the bottom shelf to avoid contamination, and use the freezer for longer-term storage.
5. Rotate Your Stock
Place newer items at the back and bring the older ones forward. This will mean you will be able to notice the foods that need eating first.
Other ways to keep your food fresh for longer
These aren't the only foods which can be stored efficiently.
Plumbworld also recommended: "To avoid waste, try creating a rotation system for all room-temperature foods.
"Keep newer items behind older ones so you use up what's ripest first."
In August The Sun wrote an article on the best ways to store food according to Robert Morris, managing director of food safety consultants, Complete Food Safety.
Salad items (besides tomatoes) should be kept in the drawer at the bottom of your fridge.
Whereas anything which grows in soil is more susceptible to bacteria so should be kept separate from salad ingredients.
Meanwhile it always helps to keep food in its supermarket packaging before you use it to keep it thriving for longer.
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And placing certain foods in zip lock bags or wrapping up the end of a cucumber will prevent it from spoiling due to contaminated air.
To learn more tips read the article here.
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