27 Ways To Make Your Groceries Last Longer……

1. Onions stored in pantyhose will last as long as 8 months.

Onions Photo Credit: oschene via Compfight cc

Onions Photo Credit: oschene via Compfight cc

Put onions in pantyhose, and tie knots between onion. Plus it makes a freaky wall art installation!

Source:seriouseats.com

2. Freeze green onions in a plastic bottle.

Green Onions  Photo Credit: tanakawho via Compfight cc

Green Onions Photo Credit: tanakawho via Compfight cc

 Make sure the green onions are completely dry before storing or they’ll get freezer burn.

Source:lunchinabox.net

3. Get an ethylene gas absorber for the fridge.

ethylene  absorber

ethylene absorber

 A set of 3 costs $16. These little pods absorb the ethylene emitted by fruits and vegetables to keep them fresh up to 3x longer. Here’s a handy list of ethylene-producing and ethylene-sensitive foods. Source:savvysugar.com

4. Store delicate herbs like flowers, then cover with plastic, secure with a rubber band, and refrigerate.

 Store                                                            delicate herbs                                                            like flowers,                                                            then cover                                                              with plastic,                                                            secure with a                                                            rubberband,                                                            and                                                            refrigerate.

 This is the best way to keep delicate herbs like parsley, basil, cilantro, and chives fresh the longest.

5. Treat oily herbs differently.

 Treat                                                            oily herbs                                                            differently.

Oily herbs like thyme can be tied loosely together with string and hung in the open air.

6. If you use a lot of fresh herbs…

 If you                                                            use a lot of                                                            fresh                                                            herbs...

by CouponDropDown”Invest in an Herb Savor. Supposedly, it’ll make your herbs last up to three weeks. Source: amazon.com

7. Use a vinegar solution to make your berries last longer.

 Use a                                                            vinegar                                                            solution to                                                            make  your                                                             berries last                                                            longer.

 Prepare a mixture of one part vinegar and ten parts water. Swirl the berries around in the mixture, drain, rinse, and put them in the fridge. The solution is diluted enough that you won’t taste the vinegar. Raspberries will last a week or more, and strawberries go almost two weeks without getting moldy and soft.

Source: passionforsavings.com

8. Spray leftover guacamole with cooking spray before putting it back in the fridge.

 Spray                                                            leftover                                                            guacamole with                                                            cooking spray                                                            before putting                                                            it back in the                                                            fridge.

There are a number of ways to keep avocado green, and oil is one of them. You should also keep the pit in the guacamole.

Source: onegoodthingbyjillee.com

9. Don’t store onions with potatoes.

 Don't                                                            store onions                                                            with                                                            potatoes.

 They’ll spoil faster. In a cool dry place with good air circulation, onions will last 2-3 months. Source:thevspotblog.com

10. Store potatoes with apples to keep them from sprouting.

 Store                                                            potatoes with                                                            apples to keep                                                            them from                                                            sprouting.

 Source: homesteadsurvival.blogspot.com

11. One rotten apple can spoil the bunch.

 One                                                            rotten apple                                                            can spoil the                                                            bunch.

It’s not just an old wives’ tale. Source: thedailymeal.com

12. Add a dab of butter to the cut side of cheese to keep it from drying out.

 Add a dab                                                            of butter to                                                            the cut side                                                            of cheese to                                                            keep it from                                                            drying out.

Source: thedailymeal.com

13. More cheese rules:

 More                                                            cheese rules:

 Wrap in cheese paper or wax paper (NOT plastic wrap) and then place in a plastic baggie. Keep in the warmest part of the fridge (vegetable or cheese drawer). Source: thekitchn.com

14. Freeze and preserve fresh herbs in olive oil.

 Freeze                                                            and preserve                                                            fresh herbs in                                                            olive oil.

 The herbs will infuse the oil while freezing, and the ice cubes are very handy for cooking: just pop one out and use as the base of a dish. Works best with rosemary, sage, thyme, and oregano. Dill, basil, and mint should always be used fresh.

Source: thekitchn.com

15. Follow these rules on where to place items within your fridge:

 Follow                                                            these rules on                                                            where to place                                                            items within                                                              your fridge:

Source: squawkfox.com

16. Store asparagus like cut flowers.

 Store                                                            asparagus like                                                            cut flowers.

 Sort of. Cut the stems, place in water, throw a plastic bag over ’em and refrigerate. They’ll stay crisp for a week or longer, and you can use this trick on cilantro and parsley as well. See here for more details. Source: alwaysorderdessert.com

17. Wrap the crown of a bunch of bananas with plastic wrap.

They’ll keep for 3-5 days longer than usual, which is especially helpful if you eat organic bananas. Bananas also produce more ethelyne gas than any other fruit, so keep them isolated on the counter.

 Wrap the                                                            crown of a                                                            bunch of                                                            bananas with                                                            plastic wrap.

Source: snapguide.com

18. This trick using a paper towel will keep your salad lettuce fresh all week long.

The paper towel will absorb the moisture. Get more info here.
Also, you might want to invest in a salad spinner. It’ll get rid of moisture, which is the culprit of wilting leaves.

This                                                            trick using a                                                            paper towel                                                            will keep your                                                            salad lettuce                                                            fresh all week                                                            long.

Source: img.gawkerassets.com

19. Wrap celery, broccoli, and lettuce in tin foil before storing in the fridge.

It’ll stay crisp for 4 weeks or more.

Wrap                                                            celery,                                                            broccoli, and                                                            lettuce in tin                                                            foil before                                                            storing in the                                                            fridge.

Source: preparetodaywardnewsletter.blogspot.com

20. Mason jars are your friend.

They provide a healthier and longer-lasting alternative to plastic tupperware, which deteriorates and stains easily. Produce will keep a few days longer if stored in a jar.

 Mason                                                            jars are your                                                            friend.

Source: easyst2.blogspot.com

21. Clean your fridge.

Clean                                                            your fridge.

 Once something goes bad in your fridge or cupboards, it leaves behind a nice gang of mold ready to eat up your new food. Disinfect the fridge — it’ll make everything last a little longer.

Source: google.com

22. How to store tomatoes:

 How to                                                            store                                                               tomatoes:

 Don’t store tomatoes in plastic bags! The trapped ethylene will make them ripen faster.                       Unripe tomatoes should be kept stem side down, in a paper bag or single layer in a cardboard box in a cool area until they turn red in color. To ripen faster, store with fruit. The gases emitted will help ripen the tomatoes.

Perfectly ripe tomatoes should be kept at room temperature, on the counter away from sunlight, in a single layer, not touching one another, stem side up.                                                           Overly ripe tomatoes should be put in the fridge, but let them come to room temperature before eating them.

Source: yumsugar.com

23. Reuse plastic bottles to close up your plastic bags.

Reuse                                                            plastic                                                            bottles to                                                            close up your                                                            plastic bags.

 Make sure your produce is absolutely dry before putting the cap on. Source: media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com

24. Keep ginger in the freezer.

 Keep                                                            ginger in the                                                            freezer.

 It grates much more easily, and the peel grates up so fine that you don’t actually need to peel it. Plus it lasts way longer.

Source: lowcarbdiets.about.com

25. Roast nuts as soon as you get home from the store, then store them in the freezer.

Roast                                                            nuts as soon                                                            as you get                                                            home from the                                                            store, then                                                            store them in                                                            the freezer.

 Nuts that are roasted have more flavor, keep longer, and can always be used in recipes that call for nuts, roasted or otherwise. Spread them in a single layer on a sheet pan, bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant. Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com

26. Keep mushrooms in a paper bag, not a plastic bag.

 Keep                                                              mushrooms in a                                                            paper bag, not                                                            a plastic bag.

 A plastic bag will trap moisture and cause them to mildew. Put them in a paper bag in the fridge or in a cool, dry place.

Source: 123rf.com

27. Follow this handy guide on what to store on the counter, and what to put away in the fridge.