Put your avocados in a beer koozie plus 39 other surprising food hacks

When we grocery shop, we often buy more than we need—extra apples, more green beans, or an extra piece of meat. Unfortunately, much of this excess gets thrown away, wasting money.

Fortunately, there are tricks to keep your food fresh longer. Check out this handy slideshow for tips on extending the life of your groceries and saving money.

Wrap banana stems

As bananas ripen, they release ethylene gas, which softens the fruit and turns the skin brown. To keep bananas fresh longer, wrap the stems with foil or plastic wrap. This prevents the gas from escaping and helps keep the bananas firm and yellow.

Separate and hang onions

Onions stay fresh longer when stored separately by type. Since moisture is their enemy, keep them in a cool, dark place for optimal flavor. For the best storage method, place them in stockings and hang them inside your pantry.

Garlic likes the dark

To keep garlic flavorful and fresh, store it in a dark, dry place. Place bulbs and cloves in a paper bag in the pantry or a cupboard. Intact bulbs can last up to 2 months, while separated cloves can be stored for 3-10 days.

Parsley, cilantro, and basil

To maintain their potency and flavor, store herbs like parsley, cilantro, and basil in water at room temperature, just like you would with flowers. This way, they will stay fresh for around 5 days.

Keep potatoes out of the light

Potatoes don’t do well in sunlight or moisture. Instead, store them in a paper or mesh bag in a cool, dark pantry at temperatures between 44-51°F. This way, potatoes can last for 1 to 2 weeks.

Ripen avocados in paper bags or in koozies

To speed up the ripening of avocados that are still too hard, place them in a paper bag or a koozie. If you want to keep them firmer for longer, store them in the fridge.

Tomatoes don’t like the cold

“The more mature the tomatoes are, the more concentrated their flavors are. When they come into contact with the freezer and remain at that temperature, they lose their flavor. The best thing to do is to keep them at a temperature above 50ºF. Their storage time can vary from 3 weeks to 2 months, depending on how ripe they are when they are purchased,” says Brightside.

Mushrooms can team up with parsley

Keep mushrooms fresh by storing them in a paper bag with a sprig of parsley. The parsley acts as an antioxidant, preventing spots from appearing on the mushrooms. Place the bag in the fridge.

Wash your strawberries in vinegar

As soon as you get your strawberries home, wash them with a mixture of white vinegar and water, then store them in the fridge. This won’t affect their flavor and can make them last around 5-6 days.

Wrap leafy greens in paper towels

For lettuce, spinach, or collards, wash them in cold water and dry them off. Wrap the leaves in a paper towel and store the greens in a plastic bag or container. This way, you can enjoy those leafy greens for up to two weeks!

Hang on to halved lemons

Don’t toss out the other half of a lemon or lime if you only needed half. Instead, wrap it in aluminum foil or sprinkle a little salt on the pulp and store it in the fridge. Before using it again, rinse off the salt. This way, the half should last another 3 days without losing its flavor.

Keep cut avocados green

To prevent avocados from oxidizing and turning brown, squeeze a little lemon juice on the flesh or brush it with oil. Then, store them in the fridge to keep them fresh for another 2 days.

Preserve peeled potatoes

Prevent peeled potatoes from turning gray by placing them in a container with water and adding a couple of drops of white vinegar. Store the container in the fridge, and surprisingly, the potatoes will stay nice and crisp for up to 4 days without changing the flavor.

Save overly ripened bananas

If your bananas have become too ripe, don’t worry—you can still use them! Simply peel the bananas, toss them in a plastic bag, and put them in the freezer. Later, you can blend them up in smoothies. They can last for nearly 3 months this way!

Save herbs for weeks

“This is a great way to use your freezer to preserve herbs. Finely chop the herbs or plants you want to use and pack the wells of ice cube trays with them. Add melted butter (let it cool before freezing) or extra virgin olive oil,” says Brightside.

Line your crisper drawers

Keep your veggies crisp and fresh for a little longer by lining your crisper drawers with paper towels. They will absorb any moisture and prevent premature rotting.

Save rotting tomatoes

If your tomatoes are getting too mushy and soft, save them by roasting them in chunks or slices. Place them in a container with olive oil, and you can keep them in your fridge for about a week.

Hang on to celery, carrots, and radish

“To keep celery, carrots, and radishes fresh, chop them and store them in the fridge in a container of water. They’ll stay fresh for a surprisingly long time this way!” says One Good Thing by Jillee.

Coat your squash with oil

Extend the freshness of your squashes by rubbing the skin with a thin coat of vegetable oil. Store them in the fridge, and you can keep them for months!

Keep apples away from other fruit

To prevent other fruits from ripening too quickly, store apples separately, as they release ethylene gas, which can accelerate the ripening of other fruits.

Triple your green onion’s lifespan

Keep green onions in a jar of water on your countertop at room temperature. This way, their tops will keep growing, and you can simply snip off a bit whenever you need it!

Asparagus should be stored in water

If you’re not planning to use your asparagus right away, store it in the fridge with its ends in water. Stand the bunch upright in a glass of water.

Storing fish properly

When purchasing fish, it’s ideal to consume it promptly. However, if you need to store it overnight, place it in a bag on top of a bowl of ice in the fridge. For longer storage, freezing is recommended.

Eggs

It’s best to store eggs in their original containers or cartons. If you’re unsure about the freshness of an egg, here’s a simple test: place it in a cup of water. Fresh eggs will sink, while older eggs will float.

Keeping meat and poultry around

“Meat and poultry should be kept in its original packaging if you’ll eat it in the next day or two. If not, wrap it in tin foil or stick it in a ziplock bag, then store it in your freezer. Smoked meats like bacon, ham, etc. can be wrapped in a vinegar-dampened cloth, then wrap the whole thing in wax paper and freeze,” says One Good Thing by Jillee.

Keeping flour fresh

While you may not think flour goes bad, it does. To ensure it stays fresh, freeze your flour for 48 hours after purchasing it. Then, transfer it to a tightly sealed container and store it in a dark, cool place.

Be savvy about your coffee

Always opt for whole bean coffee to preserve its flavor. Grind the beans as needed and store them in an airtight, opaque container to maintain freshness. Aim to use the coffee within 3-4 days. If you have extra, consider freezing it.

Prevent weevils from invading

To prevent weevils from invading your flour, cornmeal, or rice, simply store a bay leaf in the container. The scent of the bay leaf will deter the bugs.

Keep your bread moist

“Storing bread in the fridge can actually cause it to go stale more quickly due to the moist environment. Bread is best kept on your countertop in a tightly sealed bag or container,” says One Good Thing by Jillee.

Don’t let dry goods go stale

Invest in airtight, see-through food storage containers for your dry goods such as cereal, pasta, and pretzels. This will help keep them fresh for much longer. Mason jars are also a great option!

Prevent salt from clumping

If you live in a humid area, you’re likely familiar with table salt clumping up in its shaker. Prevent this by adding a pinch of dry rice. The rice will absorb any excess moisture, eliminating clumps!

Prevent brown sugar from hardening

To prevent brown sugar from hardening, store it in your freezer. If it’s already rock-solid, add a piece of bread or a marshmallow to help soften it right up.

Honey tips

Honey never actually expires, but it can become cloudy or crystallized over time. To restore its freshness and viscosity, microwave it on medium heat in 30-second increments until you achieve the desired consistency.

Properly store your cheese

Before storing cheese in the refrigerator, wrap it securely with wax paper. Additionally, after cutting cheese, rub a little butter on the cut part to prevent hardening. For extended storage, cheese can even be frozen. If it’s shredded, add a little cornstarch to prevent clumping.

Watch where you put your milk

“Keep milk in the main part of your fridge rather than the door. Items stored in the door of your fridge are subjected to temperature fluctuations every time the fridge door is opened. Milk will stay fresh for longer if kept nice and cold!” One Good Thing by Jillee.

Extend the life of your sour cream or cottage cheese

To keep your sour cream and cottage cheese fresh for longer, store them upside-down! This creates a vacuum, reducing the chance of mold or bacteria growth.

Fresh butter

Always store your butter in its original packaging. Butter freezes well, so take advantage of sales and stock up, storing it in the freezer where it can last for up to 6 months!

Freeze berries correctly

Freezing berries is an excellent way to preserve their freshness. First, lay them out in a single layer on a cookie sheet and freeze them. Then, transfer them to a Ziplock bag and return them to the freezer for long-term storage. This method prevents the berries from clumping together.

Prevent cut fruits from browning

“To prevent browning on cut fruits like apples, pears, and avocados, apply lemon juice to the cut surface, then apply cling wrap directly against the surface, creating a seal to keep air out and prevent oxygenation,” according to the Diabetes Council.

Freeze the beef

If you don’t plan on eating ground beef within 24 hours, it’s best to freeze it to maintain freshness. Simply thaw it when you’re ready to eat!

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