5 Foods That Need Special Care To Preserve

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Properly storing your food ensures that the quality and nutritional value are adequately preserved.

With good storage techniques, you can prevent spoilage, thus reducing food waste. With so many different types of food, it’s essential to understand their unique storage needs to ensure they remain fresh, nutritious, and safe for consumption.   

Knowing how to store different foods allows you to keep them for a longer time and allows you to enjoy them anytime you’d like.

For instance, according to proper good, oatmeal has better shelf life when stored properly and can help you sleep better when consumed before going to bed.  

While most kinds of food are easy to store, some may require special care to preserve their quality. Luckily, this post explores five foods that need extra attention to maintain their freshness and flavor. With the helpful tips enumerated below, you can save money, reduce food waste, and enjoy fresh, delicious food daily.  

5 Foods That Need Special Care To Preserve

1. Fruits And Vegetables   

Fresh produce can quickly lose its flavor and texture if not stored correctly, so handling and storing them with care is essential.

Most fruits and vegetables should be stored in the refrigerator to slow the ripening process.   

Ethylene gas is a naturally occurring hormone that causes fruits to ripen. Some fruits release more ethylene gas than others, causing nearby fruits to ripen faster.

Apples, peaches, pears, and mangoes are great examples, so separately storing them is essential. 

Some fruits and vegetables spoil faster in damp and old environments, like bananas, avocados, tomatoes, potatoes, garlic, and onions. Hence, they are better-stored at room temperature.  

Lettuce, herbs, and mushrooms can benefit from being encased with plastic wrap or sealed in a plastic bag to retain their moisture and prevent spoilage.  

If you find storing fruits and vegetables challenging, try the plant-based ready-made meals offered by this website.

2. Meat And Poultry   

Meat and poultry are staple food items in many households, but they also require special care to preserve their quality. Raw meat and poultry are susceptible to bacterial growth. Hence it is best to store them at the correct temperature (below 40°F) to prevent spoilage.   

To avoid freezer burn, meat and poultry can be wrapped tightly in freezer paper or plastic wrap. Then, they can be kept frozen for longer-term storage. To have an easier time identifying them, label each package with the date and type of meat.  

Low-acid meats such as beef, pork, and poultry can be canned in a pressure canner to preserve them for long periods, while others can be preserved through smoking. This method uses heat and smoke to dry the meat to prevent spoilage.  

You can also choose to preserve them through salting and curing. This involves adding salt to the meat to draw out moisture and prevent bacterial growth. This method is commonly used to preserve bacon, ham, and other cured meats.  

Another method of preservation is dehydration. This involves removing the moisture to prevent spoilage, which is most commonly used to make jerky.  

3. Dairy Products   

Milk and dairy products are highly perishable and should be stored in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. Butter and cheese should be tightly wrapped in order to avoid air from reaching them, which can cause them to spoil faster.   

Cream and its varieties can be frozen for longer-term storage. However, other dairy products, such as milk and cheese, do not react well to very high temperatures and can undergo textural changes when frozen.  

Dairy products, such as yogurt and kefir, can be preserved through fermentation, which involves using beneficial bacteria to transform the lactose in milk and produce lactic acid. This process slows down spoilage and extends the shelf life of dairy products.  

An effective tactic in preserving dairy products is storing them in airtight containers to prevent contamination. Make sure to avoid copper and aluminum containers, as they’re made of reactive materials that can cause spoilage and unwanted changes in flavor. 

4. Tofu   

Tofu can be frozen to extend its shelf life. To freeze tofu, wrap it tightly in plastic or freezer paper; then place it in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Tofu can be frozen for up to six months.  

It can also be marinated to add flavor and extend its shelf life. To marinate tofu, cut it into desired pieces, place it in a shallow dish, and cover it with a marinade. Let the tofu soak in the mixture for several hours or overnight inside the refrigerator.

Some types of tofu, like silken tofu, are more delicate and should be handled with care to prevent breaking. To preserve the quality and texture of silken tofu, it’s essential to avoid exposing it to high heat, as this can cause it to become rubbery and lose its flavor.   

5. Coffee  

Coffee is highly perishable, and storing it in unfavorable environments can allow it to lose its flavor and aroma quickly.

The harmful elements that affect coffee are air, light, heat, and moisture. It should not be stored in the refrigerator because of temperature fluctuations and the risk of moisture exposure.   

Storing the beans is best in opaque and airtight containers. If you want your coffee to last, you can freeze them in resealable plastic bags, removing as much air as possible. It’s best to portion coffee before freezing them to avoid exposing them to undesirable temperatures.

Coffee can be frozen for up to six months. 

Conclusion   

Storing food and applying specialized techniques are crucial in maintaining a healthy diet and reducing waste. By understanding the specific storage requirements of foods, you can ensure they remain fresh, flavorful, and nutritious.   

The tips mentioned in this post can help you extend the shelf life of your food and enjoy its full potential.

So, next time you shop for groceries, take a moment to consider the special care each food item requires and store them accordingly. Your taste buds, wallet, and the planet will thank you later.

Julie Higgins
Author
Julie is a Staff Writer at momooze.com. She has been working in publishing houses before joining the editorial team at momooze. Julie's love and passion are topics around beauty, lifestyle, hair and nails.