Have you ever opened up the crisper drawer of your refrigerator only to find a bunch of limp, lifeless vegetables? Or maybe even worse…something so far gone it’s virtually unrecognizable?
We’ve all been there, in fact the average American throws away approximately 20 pounds of food each month according to a recent report from the United Nations Environment Programme. That amounts to about 30 to 40-percent of the U.S. food supply going to waste, and the second highest component in landfills is actually organic waste.
When you think about the amount of money that’s wasted as a result, things get even scarier. But before you start feeling shame, cheer up because there are several ways you can avoid the dreaded food spoilage with some crafty food storage tips…
While they may look tough, potatoes don’t respond well to extreme conditions. They’re sensitive to light and they don’t like it too hot or too cold. We can’t tell you how many times we’ve reached for our spuds only to find a sprouting colony of potato plants. This can be a big concern for those of us who don’t eat potatoes more than once a week or so.
To avoid sprouting and accelerated spoilage, keep your spuds in a dark place, away from hot or cold conditions. Also, many people store their onions and potatoes together which is a big mistake! While they both like dark conditions, they each give off gases and moisture that will cause the other to spoil much faster so keep these two well apart!