Making The Most Of Grocery Shopping
When it comes to grocery shopping, regardless of whether you do it weekly or monthly, the odds are you stock up on some of the best – and healthiest – foods to make meal planning a breeze. Unfortunately, for some reason, the fruits and vegetables that have lasted several days in the store do not seem to last as long once you have brought them home.
Suddenly, your plan of having smoothies for breakfast and veggies with every meal become a thing of the past. So, how do you prevent your healthy dreams from going to waste, and more importantly, how do you stop wasting money on foods that do not last? We will tell you.
Table of Contents
Seasonal Shopping Is Necessary
Even though we can get most fruits and vegetables all year round, the best time to buy fresh produce is when they are in season. This means that they are readily available, lowering the price and making it easier to add to your diet. You could even channel your green thumb and plant your own veggie garden, reducing the time between picking and cooking.
Know What Needs To Be Stored Where
This can be split into two parts. The first refers to the temperature. Certain foods, like onions and potatoes, need to be stored at room temperature while leafy greens do best in the fridge. Some foods need to be ripened outside the fridge, and once ripe, need to be stored inside of the fridge. These foods include avocadoes and mangoes.
The second aspect refers to splitting certain foods when storing them. It can be tempting – and a lot less effort – to just throw everything into the vegetable drawer and call it a day. Unfortunately, this can lead to food spoiling as a result of fruits releasing ethylene gas. This gas speeds up the ripening process, which makes it great if you are looking to ripen things, however, it can be problematic if you are looking to store food for longer. Bananas are one of the common culprits that release this gas.
Clean Is Not Always Better
In a world obsessed with killing germs, it makes sense that we want to wash fresh fruits and vegetables as soon as we get home, but do not. By washing the produce, you create a breeding ground for bacteria and germs. Rather store them immediately after purchase and wash them off before you plan on cooking or eating them.
Resist The Urge To Cut Up Produce Before Cooking
By cutting up the fruit or vegetables, you shorten the shelf life. While this practice may save time, it is not helpful if the food spoils before you have a chance to cook it. Rather store them whole until you are ready to cook them.
On another storage-related note, airtight containers may seem like a safe option, however, they can suffocate the food, reducing the freshness and making it last a lot less long.
When it comes to the time spent in the kitchen, knowing how to save time and money is important. You can then us the free time and money to have fun at https://onlinebingoaustralia.co/online-bingo-real-money/ .It all starts by rethinking the way you do things and making a positive change.