Keeping Foods Fresh

Keeping Foods Fresh

by Jyl Steinback

  • Freeze foods at peak quality; they will taste better than foods frozen after several days of refrigeration.
  • Immediately freeze foods you don't plan to use within 1 to 2 days.
  • Slightly undercook prepared foods; they will finish cooking when reheated.
  • Most casseroles can be prepared and refrigerated up to 24 hours in advance. Add 15 to 20 minutes to cooking time if casseroles are chilled.
  • To test egg freshness: Immerse egg into a pan of salted, cool water. If the egg sinks, it's fresh; if it rises to the surface, throw it away.
  • Most canned foods, when properly stored at normal room temperatures, will stay good for several years.
    • Low-acid canned goods, including canned meat/poultry; soups and stews (without tomato base); pasta products; vegetables: 2 to 5 years
    • High-acid canned goods, including tomato products, fruits and foods in vinegar-based sauce or dressing: 12 to 18 months
    • Canned meat and poultry: 2 to 5 years

Best Freezing Supplies

  • Heavy-duty aluminum foil, plastic wrap, plastic freezer bags and vacuum-packed FoodSaver bags
  • Food-grade plastic containers made of moisture-and vapor-resistant material
  • Freezer-to-microwave or freezer-to-oven containers in a variety of sizes:
    • Quart containers hold 4 to 6 servings.
    • Pint containers hold 2 to 3 servings.
  • Select containers with wide top openings so food can be easily removed without thawing.
  • Foods can be frozen in supermarket wrappings if they are used within a month or two. For longer storage, overwrap packages with moisture-and vapor-resistant materials.

Previous:

Next:

  • What Are the Dangers of Children and Hot Tubs?
    Many people enjoy the use of both private in-home and public hot tubs. It is important to keep in mind that the use of hot tubs does pose various health risks and other dangers for small children. Bacteria Growth The heat of the wat
  • Scary News: Number of Kids Killed by Guns Is Rising Again
    Nearly 1,300 children die and 5,790 are treated for gunshot wounds each year, according to a new study, Childhood Firearm Injuries in the United States, published in the July 2017 issue of Pediatrics. This makes firearm-related deaths th
  • 9 Things That Interfere With Kids Sleep
    School-age kids may not need as much sleep as they did when they were toddlers, but their bodies still require plenty of rest. Kids ages 6 to 13 need approximately 9 to 12 hours of sleep and preschool and kindergarten kids ages 3 to 5 need as muc