According to the United Nations, about 957 million people in the world don’t have sufficient amount of food to eat to live a healthy life. In a world that’s stricken by hunger, people who can afford it waste 1.4 million tons of food every year. Most of it is because they don’t have viable solutions for food storage. However, there are many solutions for food storage using eco conscious products, made possible with technology.

Reason for Food Wastage

So, why do we squander this much food? Improper storage is the prime reason for a huge amount of food waste. There is a shelf life for every kind of food item, which indicates how long it will be useable and safe to consume.

The way a product is stored has a significant impact on its shelf life. An apple, if not cut, will keep for 1–2 months if refrigerated but just 2–4 weeks if left outside at room temperature.  Similarly, every food item has its optimal habitat and many factors that affect its life.

These factors include oxygen exposure, storage temperature, moisture accumulation, and the kind of container used to store it. All these elements play their distinct roles in ensuring the prolonged consumption life of food items and help them to stay fresh.

Why Store Food?

Wastage of food has a massive influence on the environment and your bank account. There is an increasing need for everyone to endeavor and limit their household’s impact every day. Here are a few food storage strategies and waste prevention hacks that you’ll find useful and that will encourage you to discover answers to your individual needs.

Tips & Tricks for Food Storage

Fruits and Vegetables

• Carrots should be kept immersed in water. Simply change the water every 2–4 days to keep them sharp. This method may also revive weak carrots if the water is changed every two days. Make sure to put the spent water to good use by watering your houseplants.
• Green vegetables such as spinach, celery, and lettuce may be freshly kept in storage by thoroughly washing them and then drying them fully with a clean towel. If you store these greens in an airtight container, they will keep fresher for much longer.

 

• Apples survive longer in the refrigerator. They must not be washed until ready to consume, as with many vegetables and fruits, because moisture may aid the process of decomposition.

 

• Until they’re ready to be eaten, bananas must always be kept in a cluster on the counter. Wrapping the stems with plastic wrap also helps inhibit the production of ethylene gas as fruit ripening begins. If the bananas turn brown, put them in the freezer and use them in banana pudding, smoothies, bread, or any other sweet dish.

 

• Potatoes and onions must be stored in baskets or dry pots in room condition, away from too much moisture, in a cool place with minimum light. However, most people place these two together in one basket, which can cause them to rot—as the gases they release separately can affect the life of the two veggies.

 

Storing Berries is tricky as they often get moldy in a very short time. It is always good to wash the berries thoroughly with some water and vinegar. Before storing them, make sure to dry them up. Wash the berries before eating.

 

 

Dairy & Bread

• Allow your cheese to circulate air and properly store it. Keep your cheese wrapped in wax paper or parchment before storing it in the veggie drawer. Hard cheese can be eaten for up to six weeks and soft cheese for two weeks.

 

• Separate the whites and yolks from fresh eggs and freeze them in a tray to keep them fresh. When frozen, egg whites keep far longer than egg yolks and stay fresher for much longer, but a two-month guideline applies to both.

 

• Ice cream should be kept in the freezer’s main compartment. Store ice cream away from the freezer’s door, where it may be subjected to greater changing temperatures due to the door’s frequent opening and closing.

 

• When bread is kept in the fridge, it loses moisture and rapidly gets stale. Bread may be kept on the table away from direct sunlight or frozen for longer storage. You can slice as required if there’s a complete loaf of bread.

 

Buy Eco-Friendly Products to Preserve Food

If you’re looking to adopt a sustainable lifestyle, switching to biodegradable products is the way to go. Buy non-plastic disposable products online at TP Green.

TP Green is a store that offers eco-conscious products online. Whether you’re looking to buy non-toxic tableware, disposable bin liners, or a home food composting machine, they have you covered with affordable prices.

Contact them and check out their range of affordable products online.