How to Store

Garlic is such a big culinary superstar that it is impossible to imagine any kitchen without it. But did you know it also has many curative properties, including helping to regulate your blood pressure? So, here's how to store garlic properly in order to get the most out of its flavor and health benefits.

How to store garlic

Can garlic be kept at room temperature?

The best way to store garlic at room temperature is in a cool dark and dry place with good air circulation, such as inside an open paper bag in the pantry.

Garlic can also be kept at room temperature after drying or dehydrating it. For this, you can use either a food dehydrator or an oven. Before drying the peeled garlic cloves, slice them up or mince them through a garlic press. Then, bake the garlic at about 140°F/60°C for a few hours. Once the garlic becomes crisp, take it out and allow it to cool. Afterward, the dried garlic can be kept at room temperature for many months as long as it is kept in a sealed airtight container.

Can you store garlic in the fridge?

Chopped garlic or peeled leftover garlic cloves can be kept for a few weeks in the fridge in an airtight container. Make sure you use refrigerated garlic as soon as possible. Do not use the refrigerator for long-term storage, as it stimulates garlic sprouting.

Can garlic be kept in the freezer?

Indeed it can.

Although freezing fresh garlic will change its stability, texture, and flavor, it's a great way to use leftover garlic that you don't want to waste.

One option is to peel the cloves, chop the garlic finely, and then wrap it in a plastic freezer bag.

Another method is to freeze unpeeled garlic cloves wrapped in either aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Doing so will keep it as dry as possible during the freezing process.

How long can you keep fresh garlic?

	At room temperature	In the refrigerator	In the freezer
Whole garlic bulb expires in…	6 months	-	-
Unpeeled garlic cloves expire in…	7-10 days	-	-
Peeled garlic cloves expire in…	-	1 week	-
Fresh chopped garlic expires in…	-	1 week	10-12 months

How can you tell if garlic has gone bad?

Look. If garlic has brown or yellow spots on it or other signs of discoloration, then it has gone bad. Mold growing on the skin is also another sure sign that garlic is no longer good to use.

Also, if the outer layer looks dry or has dents or bruises, you should throw away the affected cloves as the damage done to the flesh will make it go bad quickly.

Sprouting garlic, however, isn't a sign that it has gone off. In fact, it's still good to use. Just chop off and discard the sprout, and then use it as you normally would. However, when sprouting it does mean that the garlic will have a milder flavor.

Touch. Garlic should always be nice and firm when picked up. If it feels soft, mushy, or has come significantly come away from the skin, it has gone bad and should be chucked.

Smell. If the garlic has become rotten or mushy, it will release a pungent odor. So, if you get a whiff of any unpleasant smells that aren't the usual strong garlic aroma, it means that this is the right time to bid farewell to your garlic.

Other Useful Tips

How to Make Your Own Garlic Oil

Garlic can be used to infuse your favorite oil, such as olive or linseed oil, to make your very own garlic oil.

First, peel the garlic cloves before adding them into a glass jar or plastic container filled with oil. Alternatively, you can make a puree by mixing the two ingredients together in a blender or food processor. Next, directly pop the mixture into the freezer. Leave it to infuse for at least a week. The longer the garlic stays in the oil, the stronger the flavor of the oil will be. Be sure to keep the garlic oil in the freezer. This is because if it's kept at room temperature it increases the risk of botulism, which can be fatal.

How to Roast Garlic in Olive Oil

Roasted garlic is easier to digest. Therefore, roasting garlic before adding it to your food is a great way to incorporate it into your dishes if you are sensitive to raw garlic.

What Are the Health Benefits of Garlic?

Garlic helps lower cholesterol levels because of its high antioxidant content. What’s more, garlic contains a high amount of sulfur that is good for cleansing the digestive system and extracting toxins. Garlic extract is also believed to relieve some illnesses like the common cold and flu.

The anti-cancer properties of garlic, like inulin, saponins, and flavonoids, help fight some kinds of cancer, such as colorectal. Consuming garlic also slows down the growth of cancer cells and minimizes inflammation. These powerful elements can also help reduce blood pressure in people with high blood pressure.

How Do You Store Fresh Garlic Cloves?

To keep them fresh, put in an open paper bag or wire-mesh basket at room temperature in a place out of direct sunlight. Doing so will protect garlic against moisture and light, both of which trigger mold growth.

Do You Need To Refrigerate Garlic Cloves?

That depends.

You can keep unpeeled garlic at room temperature for up to 6 months. However, it is still wise to use it as soon as you can. That’s because it can still be exposed to moisture and light, even when stored properly, increasing the chances mold will grow.

However, peeled or chopped garlic cloves should be refrigerated in plastic wrap or in a sealed container.

Once called “Italian asparagus”, this green vegetable, with its distinctive look, taste, and texture, boasts many beneficial properties. This makes broccoli a top choice for dieters all over the world. However, this fact should not make it limited to only those who want to lose weight. Consumed fresh and in high amounts, it can help prevent some diseases, like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and age-related diseases. So, you should definitely learn how to store broccoli appropriately to ensure it stays fresh for as long as possible.

How to store broccoli

Can broccoli be kept on a counter?

Yes, but…

It can only be kept the counter for up to 2 days. Storing it at room temperature means it will quickly turn yellow and go bad. Therefore, it’s not recommended to store it on the counter.

Can broccoli be kept in a fridge?

Yes, and this is definitely the best place for it when fresh.

For this, you’ll need to wrap fresh broccoli loosely in a damp paper towel instead of a sealed container or plastic bag. This is because fresh broccoli needs to have good air circulation in order to keep it fresh. However, make sure there isn't too much moisture around broccoli. This might cause mold to grow on it. Therefore, there is no need to wash the vegetable before refrigerating it, because this will speed up the rotting process.

However, it should only be washed when you're ready to use it to make sure it's completely clean. If properly stored, it can stay fresh for about 4-5 days. When it comes to storing cooked broccoli, make sure you have either aluminum foil or plastic wrap to cover up the vegetable before refrigerating it. Make sure that what you wrap it in is as airtight as possible, too.

Can broccoli be kept in a freezer?

For sure.

To do so, the first step is to cut washed broccoli into florets and slice off their stalks. Then, steam them for about 4 minutes before chilling in ice water. Finally, pat them dry and place them in sealed bags. Frozen broccoli prepared and stored in this way can be added directly into a dish while cooking.

However, don't be tempted to thaw it and use it raw. This is because the freezing process destroys the vegetable's cell structure, meaning it'll be mushy once it's thawed. When stored appropriately in the freezer, broccoli stays edible for about 1 year. To keep cooked broccoli in the freezer, place it in an airtight container or freezer bag.

How long does broccoli last?

	On the counter	In the fridge	In the freezer
Fresh broccoli expires in…	1-2 days	4-5 days	1 year
Cooked broccoli expires in…	-	4-5 days	1 year

How to tell when broccoli has gone bad?

To tell whether how broccoli has gone here are a few things to look for.

Look. To tell if your broccoli is still edible, simply check its color. If broccoli florets have changed from its typical dark green into a yellowish color, this means that it has started to spoil.

Touch. When spoiled, broccoli stems become soft with a slimy texture. What’s more, you can see brown moldy spots on the broccoli head, meaning it needs to be thrown out.

Smell. One of the reliable signs to tell whether broccoli has gone bad is to see how it smells. If its odor is more bitter than normal, simply get rid of it. Fresh and healthy broccoli should smell as fresh as possible.

Other Useful Tips

How do you keep broccoli from turning yellow?

When broccoli turns yellow, it is a reliable sign of age or improper storage. When its color changes, the vegetable loses its crispness and will start to wilt. When this happens, it means that it has lost most of its nutritional value.

To avoid this, it's best to keep broccoli frozen or chilled in the fridge. When storing it in the fridge, be sure your head of broccoli is wrapped in damp paper towel and is placed in the produce drawer. However, don't wash it until you are ready to use it. Doing so will prevent excess moisture, ensuring that broccoli will not go moldy and inedible afterward.

Are broccoli stems edible?

Absolutely.

Broccoli stems may not be the more aesthetically pleasing part of the vegetable, but they contain a lot of vitamins and nutrients that are essential for the human body. So, make sure you eat them up along with the florets.

Is it possible to use a plastic bag for storing broccoli in the fridge?

Yes, it is.

Although wrapping broccoli in damp paper towel is optimal, plastic bags can be used to wrap the broccoli for its storage in the fridge. However, make sure it is loosely wrapped and perforated. This is because broccoli needs fresh air to circulate around it when being stored in order to keep it fresh.

Which part of the broccoli is the most perishable?

The florets.

Broccoli florets are the most perishable part of the vegetable. They are more likely to lose their green color first than other parts do. Yellowing happens due to chlorophyll breaking down which is triggered by ethylene produced as the vegetable begins to go bad.

In general, broccoli is a highly perishable product and does not keep for long. Yellowing, water loss, and off-odors are obvious signs of its spoilage, meaning it has lost its nutrients and is not fit for consumption.

Do you have a digestion problem? Or, are you someone looking for something that might reduce high levels of blood pressure? If so, eat some ginger! Although originally used as “folk medicine”, nowadays, ginger is an everpresent element of the culinary world, especially for adding spicy flavor to dishes like stir-fry. Therefore, if you fancy using this miraculous herb, it will be necessary to know how to store raw ginger in proper conditions.

How to Store Ginger & How to Keep Ginger from Going Bad

Can ginger be stored at room temperature?

This is the best option if you intend on using all your ginger within a week of buying it. Simply place it on the countertop or in the pantry unpeeled until you need to use it.

But what about peeled or cut ginger? Once peeled or cut, wrap any exposed area of flesh with aluminum foil, and then place in a plastic container. This will keep it from going bad too quickly.

How long does ginger root last in the refrigerator?

Up to 1 month.

The refrigerator is actually the best place for storing ginger. But how do you do that?

Simply transfer the peeled raw ginger into some paper towel and place it in the fridge.

What about unpeeled ginger root? What you should do is place it in a resealable plastic bag, and pop that into the vegetable drawer of your fridge. This will prevent it from picking up flavors from other food as well as keep it fresh.

Can I freeze fresh ginger?

There are 2 ways that you can store fresh ginger in the freezer to keep it super cool and super fresh.

1 way is to soak it in alcohol!

Simply pop the peeled ginger into one of your favorite spirits, such as vodka or whiskey, and then let that sit in the freezer. The high alcohol content will preserve the ginger, and alcohol's low freezing-point means it won't turn into a ginger alcopopsicle anytime soon.

When you need to use your ginger, simply fish it out of the bottle, dry it off, then use it as you need. You'll find it's as fresh and as moist as the day you peeled it. Then, put in back into the bottle, and back into the freezer.

What's more, the ginger will infuse its flavor into the alcohol it's placed in, meaning you can make ginger-flavored cocktails.

If you're not much of a drinker or do not drink alcohol, the freezer is still a great place to keep ginger.

Simply peel the raw ginger, wrap it in plastic wrap, and then seal it in a plastic container. It's super effective and a lot less boozy.

When making a smoothie, you can use frozen ginger directly in the blender. However, you’ll need to thaw it first for cold dishes, or if it requires preparation like for stir-fry or baked goods. Bear in mind that once thawed the texture will become a bit mushy and soft. However, it is still edible and healthy.

How long does raw ginger last?

	At room temperature	In the refrigerator	In the freezer
Raw ginger expires in…	1 week	1 month	5-6 months

Does Fresh Ginger Go Bad?

Unfortunately, yes.

To find out if your raw ginger has gone bad, here are three things to look for.

Look. If you see a few tiny spots of mold, it's time to get rid of your ginger. Because of the mold, the ginger will have lost its nutritional value and will become rotten quickly. If you see any spots of mold on your ginger, it's best to through the entire piece of ginger out. The roots of mold go surprisingly deep into food and can cause you to become ill if consumed.

Smell. Sometimes the outer skin can still appear normal and you think your raw ginger is completely fine. However, by smelling the flesh inside, you can determine if the raw ginger has gone bad. Typically, rotten ginger will not smell as strongly of ginger and will be accompanied by a sharp unpleasant smell.

Touch. Another reliable sign is a change in the texture. If raw ginger turns out to be soft or mushy, then toss it out.

Other Useful Tips

Should you wash ginger root?

It doesn't make much sense to wash it if you're only going to peel the outer skin off anyway.

However, if the ginger is young, its skin will be soft enough that there's no need to peel it. In this case, you should wash it to get rid of any possible remaining dirt.

Is ginger tea good for insomnia?

Yes, it is.

Mixed with honey, ginger tea can be the best choice to fight the inability to sleep. The hormone, melatonin, which can be found in ginger, helps to calm people down and trigger sleep. Try to have ginger tea before bedtime. This will mean that the melatonin will be at its highest levels in the bloodstream at night, allowing you to sleep better.

Can I use ginger for hair masks?

Yes, ginger goes very well in hair masks.

Ginger contains fatty acids which are good for hair growth. It also helps to fight dandruff as it is a natural antiseptic. For people with dry hair, ginger can be an effective and natural way to make hair shiny by mixing it in a hair mask.

Bananas are possibly the most popular fruit in the world. Indeed, it’s the most popular fruit of our users in Canada, the USA, and the UK. But did you know they’re not technically a fruit? They’re actually a herb. Either way, they’re delicious, healthy, and packed full of . If you can find a fruit that’s bendier or tastier, then please let us know! In the meantime, why not find out how to store bananas in order to keep your bananas fresh for longer.

How to Store Bananas

Can bananas be kept on the countertop?

Unripe bananas - if your bananas are green and unripe, the countertop at room temperature is the best place for them to ripen. The best way to store them is to place them in a bowl, or hang them off of a specially made “banana tree”. This will prevent bruising of the fruit from where they rest. To speed up the ripening process of a banana:

• Store them with other ethylene producing fruit and vegetables - other such fruit and veg are avocados, potatoes, and apples. But bananas will also speed up the ripening of these, too.

To slow down the ripening process of a banana:

• Cover the stalk with clingfilm/plastic wrap or tin foil - the stalk is where the ethylene that ripens bananas is released. Covering it will decrease the amount of this gas released and therefore keep bananas fresher for longer.

Ripe bananas - these can be kept on the countertop, but only if you intend to eat them as soon as possible. Otherwise, they will become overripe in a couple of days.

Unfinished bananas - these should be stored in the fridge (see below)

Can bananas be kept in the refrigerator?

Unripe bananas - the refrigeration process will severely slow down, or even stop, the ripening process. Whilst it will prevent them from turning brown, it means that unripe bananas placed in the fridge may never ripen. They will still be edible, but the riper the bananas are, the sweeter and tastier they will be.

Ripe bananas - once your bananas have reached the desired level of ripeness, you can store bananas in the fridge to stop them from ripening too quickly.

Unfinished bananas - to keep these for a little longer, cover them in plastic wrap/cling film, or a sealed plastic container. Try to keep as much of the peel intact as possible to expose the least amount of the flesh to air. Be aware that, after any fruit or vegetable has been partially eaten or prepared, it will rapidly lose its water-soluble nutrients, such as vitamin C.

Can bananas be kept in the freezer?

Unripe bananas - there’s technically nothing to stop you from putting these in the freezer. But, as this will completely halt the ripening process, it’s not advised.

Ripe bananas - this is the best way to keep any excess ripe bananas. When storing them in the freezer, make sure all the peel is removed. If you freeze them with the peel attached, you won’t be able to remove it afterward.

Once you’ve peeled your bananas, you might want to consider cutting them into smaller sections or slices. This will not only make them thaw quicker once taken out of the freezer but will make them easier to use straight from frozen, such as in smoothies. Place the prepared bananas into a zip-lock bag or a plastic container and place in the freezer.

Thawed bananas and banana pieces will be very soft once thawed as the freezing process destroys their cell structure. Therefore, these will be best for cooking and blending rather than eating.

Unfinished bananas - you can store unfinished bananas in the same way as ripe bananas.

How Long Do Bananas last?

	Countertop	Refrigerator	Freezer
Unripe bananas expire in...	2-5 days	-	-
Ripe bananas expire in...	1-3 days	5-7days	2-4 months
Unfinished bananas expire in...	-	2-3 days	2-4 months

How to Tell When Bananas Have Gone Bad

Touch- a banana should be fairly firm to the touch. If the flesh beneath the skin feels very soft, it is likely to have gone bad.

Look - bananas are best known for being completely yellow. But developing brown spots, or even the skin turning black, is not a sign it has gone bad. It is mostly a sign of how ripe the banana is. Indeed, very dark and overripe bananas are ideal for use in cooking, such as in muffins or banana bread.

To tell if a banana has gone bad, look for mold growing on the skin. Also, if there is liquid underneath the bananas, it’s a sure sign that they have gone bad.

The best way to see if a banana has gone bad is to unpeel it. If the flesh is a brown color and is very mushy, it has gone bad and should not be used.

Go Bananas!

Now you can get even more out of your bananas by knowing how to store bananas properly. Try out some methods and see which one works best for you. Keep those bananas nice and yellow!

You say tom-ay-to. I say tom-ah-to. Who cares! They’re delicious. Whilst most of us will probably buy the more often than not, there’s still something great about taking the time to make a homemade tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes, or slicing up some nice big juicy ones to put straight into your salad. Regardless of how you want to use them, you should still beef up your knowledge about how to store tomatoes to get the most out of them.

How to Store Tomatoes

Can tomatoes be kept on the countertop or in the pantry?

Unripe - the countertop at room temperature or a cooler pantry is the best place to ripen your tomatoes. Unripe tomatoes are usually green or have patches of green skin on them. They will also be hard when lightly squeezed.

To ripen naturally, first remove any stalks or stems. Then, rest the tomatoes “scar” side down. Removing the stems stops moisture escaping via the stem. Storing them upside down helps to prevent air and extra moisture entering the tomato via the scar which would cause mold to grow and make them go bad.

If you want to ripen them quickly, place them in a breathable bag. Ideally, this will be a paper bag. But a plastic bag with some holes punched in it will suffice. This will trap ethylene gas that tomatoes produce whilst they ripen. This will then get reabsorbed to make them ripen quicker.

You can also store tomatoes in a paper bag with other ethylene-producing produce such as or bananas.

Ripe - if ripe, tomatoes are best eaten as soon as possible, or stored in the fridge (see below)

Can tomatoes be kept in the refrigerator?

Unripe - unripe tomatoes should be stored on the countertop or in the pantry (see above). This is because putting them in the fridge significantly slows down the ripening process. In some cases, the ripening process will be stopped all-together, meaning the tomatoes will never become ripe.

Ripe - if you have ripe tomatoes that you are unable to use immediately, you should put them in the fridge. This will significantly slow down or even halt the ripening process, keeping them from going bad too quickly.

Some advice says that you should take refrigerated tomatoes out of the fridge and place them on the counter for 24 hours before you wish to use them. This will help them regain some flavor lost during the refrigeration process.

Can tomatoes be kept in the freezer?

Unripe - the freezer is not a good place for storing tomatoes that are unripe. They are best stored on the countertop or in the pantry (see above).

Ripe - if you have a lot of ripe tomatoes that you aren’t going to use for a while, you can freeze them. To do this, first, wash and pat them dry. Then, place them on a baking sheet, making sure they don’t touch each other, before putting them into the freezer. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag or container.

Because the freezing process damages the cells, the tomatoes will be soft when thawed. This means that they will only be good for cooking with. They will not be good to use or eaten fresh. However, the freezing process does loosen the skin, making them much easier to peel.

How long do tomatoes last?

	Countertop or pantry	Refrigerator	Freezer
Unripe tomatoes expire in...	3-7 days	-	-
Ripe tomatoes expire in...	-	1-2 weeks	2-3 months

How to Tell When Tomatoes Have Gone Bad

Look - the most reliable sign of whether a tomato has gone bad is mold. This mold will look like dark green or black spots on the skin of the tomato, as well as a fuzzier white kind.

If the skin shows sign of wrinkling, it has also gone bad.

Bad tomatoes also tend to leak fluid. If you pick up a tomato and notice that there is fluid underneath it, then it has gone bad.

Feel - if a tomato is soft or mushy when given a light squeeze, it has gone bad.

Smell - if you find that a tomato is producing a bitter or putrid smell, then it has gone bad.

We already extolled the virtues of canned goods and why it can be just . We also gave you a list of . Now we’ll give you the lowdown on how to store canned food. Will you discover that you’re doing something wrong? Or is there a way for you to improve your canned food storage technique?

How to Store Canned Food

Can canned food be kept in the pantry?

Unopened - the pantry, or the pantry space you have in your kitchen, is absolutely the best place for you to store unopened cans. However, that is dependent on the condition of the can prior to storage. Make sure the can has no dents in it. Dents can cause microscopic holes in the can, letting air into the otherwise sealed environment, causing the contents to spoil.

If you find a can with a dent in it, it may still be good to use. Open the contents and check to see if it’s gone bad (see below). If it is still good, use immediately. However, dented cans are not recommended for long term storage.

If you’re unsure about what space in your kitchen would make for a suitable makeshift pantry, it needs to meet the following criteria:

• Cool
• Dry
• Out of direct sunlight
• Unlikely to go below freezing (0c/32f)

Once placed in this optimal canned goods storage environment, you should be able to use them up to, or even past, the printed date on the can.

Opened - once opened, the contents of any can should be emptied and stored in the fridge or freezer (see below)

Can canned food be kept in the refrigerator?

Unopened - there is really no need to keep canned food in the fridge. These are best stored in a pantry (see above).

Opened - if you’re not using a can’s full contents at once, then you need to make sure you store the remaining food safely. One thing you shouldn’t do is put the tin with the leftovers still in it straight into the fridge. However, this advice is not because doing so can make you seriously ill.

Yes, , a potentially fatal disease that many people still link with commercially canned food, is still a possibility. But it is only a likely threat from canning facilities that maintain poor hygiene standards, or home canned food. In the UK, EU, and the USA, food facilities are kept to very high safety and hygiene standards.

The best way to reduce the risk of exposure to botulism is to not only ensure that the canned goods you buy are undamaged (see above) but to also check to see if the contents have gone bad (see below).

The main reason for not storing open cans and their contents directly in the fridge is because some of the can’s coating may be corded by the food making it taste bad. This is particularly the case with food of high acidity, like tomatoes. Also, once opened, leaving the contents exposed to air can make it spoil quicker, putting you at risk from general food poisoning.

Therefore, empty the remaining contents along with any residual water, syrup, or brine, and place in an airtight container or jar. Then, place this at the back of the fridge to keep it extra cool and lasting longer.

Can canned food be kept in the freezer?

Unopened - placing unopened canned food in the freezer is a bad idea. Any liquid in the cans will expand causing them to burst. The pantry really is the best place for them.

Opened - whilst this is possible, it is not generally advised to do so this.

How Long Does Canned Food Last?

	Pantry	Refrigerator	Freezer
Unopened canned food expires in...	up to 3 years after printed “expiry” date*	-	-
Opened canned food expires in...	-	2-4 days	-

*It is recommended you consume canned food no longer than 1 year after the expiry date. Although, canned goods are likely to still stay good for longer.

How to Tell When Canned Food Has Gone Bad

Look - a very reliable way to know if canned food has gone bad is to look at the can. If the can is bulging, then it’s incredibly likely the contents have gone bad. The bulging is caused by gas that is produced as food rots and mold grows.

When opening, if liquid spits or foams out of the opening, it is very likely to have gone bad.

Lastly, if there is any visible mold on the food inside the can, throw it out.

Smell - canned food that has gone bad will also have developed an unpleasant odor which will release once the can is opened.

Taste - if you suspect the contents to have gone off, we do not recommend tasting. Even tasting a small bit of canned food can put you at risk of contracting botulism. If there are no other signs of spoilage, if the food doesn’t taste as expected, then it’s likely to have gone bad.