The United States is home to between 30% and 40% of the world’s food waste. People often throw away their groceries before they are able to eat them. You can prolong the shelf life of your groceries with a few simple tricks. Your food will last longer if you organize your fridge and flip your tomatoes upside down. Continue reading for more tips to extend the shelf life of food.

1- Turn your tomatoes upside-down on the counter

In an interview with Epicurious Harold McGee, a food scientist said tomatoes are sensitive to temperature changes. Refrigeration can reduce flavour-producing enzymes. Instead of storing ripe tomatoes in the refrigerator, turn them upside down on the counter.

2- Place the tomatoes on a baking sheet, with their stems facing up.

The stem allows air inside the tomato. You can slow down the tomato’s ripening by turning the stem down. To revive tomatoes that are too ripe you can put them in the refrigerator for a while.

3- Organize Refrigerator Items By Temperature

Did you know food can spoil faster depending on the place it is kept in the fridge? The temperatures on the upper shelves tend to be the most unpredictable, while the lower shelves are generally colder.

Raw meats and other animal products can be stored on the lower shelves. You can keep your raw meats and other animal products fresh by storing them on the lower shelves. You can store leftovers, berries and hummus on the higher shelves. Push it towards the back if you want something to last longer.

4- You can only wrap the stems of your bananas.

Bananas, like other fruits, release ethylene gas which causes them to ripen. Did you know that the stem is where most of the ethylene gas escapes? Wrapping the stem can slow down the rate at which it ripens.
Use plastic wrap to cover the stems of your banana bundle. Each banana will last longer if it is separated and covered with plastic wrap. Cover the whole banana or it will spoil faster.

5- Put A Paper Towel In Your Veggies Bag

Vegetable bags, particularly those with chopped vegetables or leafy greens tend to mould more quickly. The ethylene gas produced by the pieces causes the bag to fog up and get too wet. You can prevent this by putting a paper towel in your vegetable bag.

The paper towel can absorb some, but not all, of the moisture. You can keep your vegetables fresh and dry them well. If the paper towel gets wet, you can replace it with a new one. This is particularly helpful when you are dealing with lettuce, peas, carrots, spinach, and other leafy greens.

6- How to Re-Seal a Chip Bag

When they are exposed to moisture, chips can become dry and brittle. Their molecules are hydrophilic and absorb water from the air. Instead of tearing the bag open and cutting it, seal it again. Your chips will stay crisp if you remove the air.

Place your chip bag flat onto a table and push out the air (without crushing the chips). Fold each corner inwardly, bringing them together in the middle. Then, roll the bag inwardly and clip the ends.

7- Hang Onions and Let Them Breathe

You should keep onions in a dry, cool place with lots of airflow. This can be achieved by hanging your onions in pantyhose or mesh bags. Hanging onions can prolong their life by up to six months.
Sugary juices are stored in the neck of onions, which is the thinnest part at the top. The neck of the onion will replenish its juices as it dries. These juices will spread faster if onions are hanging.

8- Increase Cheese’s Shelf Live with Butter

Slice into a block of cheese and don’t place it in the refrigerator. Apply a layered of butter to the sliced side. This will moisten the cheese slice and prevent hardening. This layer can be used as a seal to prevent mould growth.
This is a good idea, but make sure you properly store the cheese. Use parchment paper instead of plastic wrap. Cover the cheese with parchment paper and seal it in a ziplock bag.

9- To Preserve Potatoes, Add An Apple

You can’t eat potatoes once they sprout. You can slow down the sprouting process by adding an Apple to your potato bag. The sprouting process will be slowed down by adding an apple to your potato bag. On the other hand, onions will sprout if they are kept close to you.

10- Soak Asparagus in a Vase

Asparagus can be kept in the refrigerator for up to five days. This method can keep asparagus fresh for up to ten days. Place the asparagus in a measuring cup or vase with about one-two inch of water. As a plant, the water will help keep the asparagus hydrated.

Cover the asparagus with plastic wrap to protect the tops. Place the asparagus in the refrigerator. It will keep longer and stay fresher than usual.

11-Poke Holes in Plastic Bags

Plastic bags are great for storing vegetables but they don’t last as long. Plastic bags prevent the vegetables from breathing, so ethylene gas is used to fill the bag. The food will wilt or rot if the bag is full.
Make sure to poke holes in plastic bags before you use them. These will allow you to release some of the ethylene gas, which will make your food last longer. The holes will also get rid of any condensation that could otherwise grow mould.

12- Forcing Your Apple Slices Back into The Apple

Grab a rubber band if you don’t enjoy brown apple slices. The apple slices can be forced back to their original shape by using a rubber band. You can force the apple slices together by putting them face to face. Browning can be prevented by limiting air exposure.
You can also soak the slices in saltwater up to ten times. Browning is caused by bacteria and dryness. The salt will kill bacteria and the water will hydrate them.