4 Tips to Make Your Food Last Longer: Grocery Storage Tips, Best Ways to Freeze & More

May 22 2020
Whether you're trying to make fewer trips to the store or just attempting to lengthen the shelf life of your food -- who doesn't want that? -- here are four top tips to make your groceries last longer. Take notes...



Buy frozen and shelf-stable versions when possible.

Here we have the longest-lasting foods at the supermarket! Fruits and veggies are actually flash frozen at peak freshness, so they're FULL of nutrients. Just watch out for added sugar and salt. It’s also a great idea to stock up on lean protein and condiments… Combined with those veggies, you’ve got a three-ingredient meal!

Frozen Favorites: fruits, veggies (especially riced and spiralized!), shrimp, chicken breast, meatless patties

Shelf-Stable Staples: almond milk, salsa, salad dressing, sauces, canned beans, pouched/canned tuna

Don’t wash & chop produce until you're ready to use it.

Rinsing your produce introduces extra moisture to the environment, making it likely to spoil faster if not fully dried. (This is especially true for salad greens.) Instead, store whole produce in your crisper drawer, and rinse it just before using. If advance prep is a must, store those fruits or veggies in an airtight container with paper towels to help wick away moisture. 

Freeze thoughtfully.

Keep an eye on fresh ingredients, and freeze them before they start to turn. It’s also a good idea to freeze single servings of leftovers in airtight containers like these: They’ll thaw more easily, so you’re more likely to eat them. Meat, poultry, fish, baked goods, soups, and stews all freeze and thaw well. Another great tip: If you’ve got a bunch of tortillas, don’t just throw the whole bag in the fridge. Lay them in a sealable bag with parchment between them so they’re easy to separate once frozen. Click here for more freezer tips & tricks!

Store smart.

Invest in containers designed to keep produce fresh, like this set by Rubbermaid. It has over 2,400 Amazon reviews, with an average of 4 1/2 stars! Also, pay attention to your fridge temperature and adjust it as needed: You want it cold enough to preserve your food without causing icicles on your lettuce or running up your electric bill.

Major Motivation: A One-on-One Hungry Girl Podcast!

Prepare to be inspired and informed as Lisa welcomes back special guest Ilana Muhlstein, M.S., R.D.N.! Ilana is the creator of the mega-popular 2B Mindset weight-loss program and the author of the brand-new book You Can Drop It! Tune in for…

⭑ how Ilana lost 100 lbs. and has kept it off for years
⭑ strategies to avoid weight gain during quarantine
⭑ ways to overcome self-sabotage
… and so much more!

CLICK TO LISTEN! And subscribe so you never miss an episode.
HG Heads Up: There won’t be a Hungry Girl email this coming Monday (Memorial Day), but we’ll be back on Tuesday with an easy air-fryer recipe you’ll flip over!



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