How to Store

Apples are quite possibly the world’s most famous fruit. An apple is anecdotally responsible for the theory of gravity. One is even the symbol of one of the world’s most successful tech companies. They’re as well-known as they are tasty. In the USA, 2,500 apple varieties are grown. It’s no wonder apple pie is considered “the” American desert. Whilst they’re delicious and full of vitamin C, fiber, and even boron, do you know how to store apples to get the most out of their shelf life?

How to Store Apples

Can apples be kept on the countertop?

Whole apples - they certainly can. But this is only best if you plan on eating your apples within 2-3 days of buying them.

To store, make sure the countertop area is cool and dry. However, you absolutely must not store them close to other fruit and vegetables, especially oranges, bananas, avocados, and potatoes. The ethylene gas produced by these quickens the ripening process and will make them go bad very quickly.

You’ll also want to make sure other apples you store nearby are in good condition. The phrase, “one bad apple spoils the whole bunch” is true in both people and apples. This is because the riper something is, the more ethylene it produces. A bad or overripe apple will quicken the ripening process of other produce around it.

Also, try to make sure the apples don’t touch each other. In places where apples have touched each other, the area develops a soft spot, which can make them go bad quicker.

Another thing to be aware of is that apples tend to take on the flavor and aroma of any strong smelling produce nearby. So, if you don’t like your apples tasting like onions, keep them as far away from these as possible.

Sliced apples - these are best stored in the fridge or freezer (see below)

Pulped apples - these are best stored in the fridge or freezer (see below)

Can apples be kept in the refrigerator?

Whole apples - apples keep perfectly fine in the fridge. Indeed, they keep quite well here for longer than they do on the countertop. This is great if you’ve bought a few more than you can eat in 2-3 days. They can be stored inside or outside a plastic bag. If you’re putting them in a bag, puncture some holes in it to ensure decent air circulation.

Like storing on the countertop, keep them away from other ethylene producing fruit and vegetables. To prevent the skins from touching each other, you can wrap them individually in newspaper or baking parchment. But, as putting them in the fridge slows down any ripening and rotting, this isn’t as imperative.

Furthermore, make sure your fridge is clean. Just like apples can pick up the taste of nearby onions, you definitely don’t want your apples tasting of unclean fridge!

Sliced apples - the trickiest thing about storing apples once they’ve been sliced is to stop them turning brown. The most tried and tested trick is to soak them in lemon juice for 2-3 minutes. Then, put them in a ziplock bag and place inside the fridge. Some people say that salt water, or even citrus-flavored soda, works even better.

However, you should remember that once you start to prepare any fruit or vegetables, their nutrient levels start to decrease rapidly. So, if you’re not going to eat your apples as soon as possible after you’ve sliced them, they’re not going to be as full of nutrients as they would be if you eat them immediately.

Pulped apples - once pulped, these should be placed in a zip-lock bag or a plastic container before being placed in the fridge. You can combine the pulp with some lemon juice to prevent it from going brown.

Can apples be kept in the freezer?

Whole apples - whilst this is possible, it isn’t advised. This is because the freezing process destroys a lot of the apple's cells. This means it’ll be quite soft once thawed. This will make it unsuitable for eating, and also difficult to chop or prepare. You’re better off slicing or pulping apples before freezing them.

Sliced apples - arrange the slices on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment, and then place in the freezer. You can brush some lemon juice over the slices to prevent them from going brown. Make sure your freezer is on a high setting so that smaller ice crystals form within the apples, keeping their structural integrity as much as possible. Once frozen, remove them from the baking sheet and place them inside a plastic container or zip-lock bag to store in the freezer.

Pulped apples - place inside a plastic container or zip-lock bag and then place in the freezer.

Can apples be kept in the pantry?

Whole apples - putting apples in the pantry is more of a long-term storage solution. It’s mainly for those who might have quite a few apple trees in their garden and therefore will be harvesting a lot of apples.

The amount of time you can keep apples in the pantry varies between apple varieties. Thick-skinned apples, such as Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and Red Delicious, are far more suitable for long-term storage.

First, make sure you pick the best apples to store long-term. Avoid storing apples that are bruised or are a little soft. Not only will these individual apples not last as long, but they may also cause other apples around them to rot quicker. Next, to ensure they don’t touch each other. Wrap them individually in newspaper or baking parchment.

The best way to store them in the pantry is in a shelving unit. Also, you need to make sure the pantry is cool enough (between 0-2c/30-35f) to ensure they last the longest. Make sure the pantry temperature doesn’t dip below freezing as this will significantly damage your apples.

How Long Do Apples last?

How to Tell When Apples Have Gone Bad

Look - an apple has gone bad is that if there is visible mold on it. Another thing you should look for is small holes that are either caused by burrowing insects. Because the hole exposes the flesh inside, it is likely that the inside of the apple has started to go bad, even though the appearance otherwise looks fine.

The skin should also be smooth. If it is crinkly and dull, it means the apple has gone bad.

Make sure you don’t mistake a bruise for a bad apple. Bruises will make the skin in a certain area dark in color, and it will also look like a dent in the apple.

Feel - feel is probably the best signifier of a bad apple. Apples should be firm when squeezed. If it is soft, then it has definitely gone bad.

The apple flesh underneath a bruise will also feel soft. Check to see if it looks like a bruise (see above). If the apple is merely bruised, the flesh should only be soft in the affected area.

Avocados have become a food phenomenon over the past few years. Packed full of fiber, monounsaturated (good) fat, and plenty of vitamins, they’ve become a healthy lifestyle favorite. Not to mention they’re incredibly tasty. But knowing how to store avocados can be tricky, especially as the window between being ripe and usable, and mushy and unusable, can scupper a well-planned avocado toast and put some people off buying them.

Overview

Regardless of whether you’re planning to own a house or not, avocados are healthy, nutritious, and delicious. So, it comes as no surprise that you may be keen to have some about your kitchen. Let our guide help you store avocados better to increase their shelf life and also reduce unwanted food waste.

How to tell if an avocado is ripe and store it?

Can Avocados be Kept in the Pantry?

Unripe avocados - avocados in the shops are almost always under-ripe. This can be a bit of an inconvenience because it’ll mean you won’t be able to use them straight away. Whilst some stores specifically sell ripe avocados, you might have to rummage around to find something that’s close to ready to use.

Although it means you’ll need to plan your purchasing of avocados around when you want to use them, it does mean you can have more control over the ripening process in your home. Once back from the grocery store, you can leave your avocados on the counter or in the pantry untouched or modified to become ripe.

If you want to hasten the process, place them in a brown paper bag. This helps trap ethylene gas that the fruit produces when ripening, as reabsorbing this gas makes them ripen faster. To ripen avocados even quicker, you can keep them in a paper bag with another ethylene producing fruit such as a banana.

You will know when an avocado is ripe when it is uniformly dark green all over. When pressing against the skin, it should give way but not dent it.

Ripe - once avocados are ripe, it’s best to store them in the fridge to prevent them from going overripe (see below).

Half an avocado - after any fruit has been cut open, the decaying process starts to rapidly increase. Therefore, these will need to be placed in the fridge (see below).

Mashed avocado - like half an avocado, this will need to be stored in the fridge or freezer (see below).

Can Avocados be Kept in the Refrigerator?

Unripe avocados - It’s not advised to keep these in the fridge as the low temperatures will significantly lengthen the ripening time, or cause them to never go ripe. If you do have an excess of avocados that you wish the preserve, it’s best to let them ripen and then store them in the fridge, or prepare and freeze them.

Ripe - once ripe, the refrigerator is the best place to store avocados. This is because it significantly slows down any further ripening or decay.

Half an avocado - if you only need to use half a ripe avocado, you can keep the other half in the fridge. The best way to do so is to keep the pit (the large brown seed) inside the half you want to keep. This will leave the least surface area of the halved avocados exposed to air and moisture. Brush the flesh with a little lemon juice, lime juice, or oil to prevent it from browning. Then wrap airtight in clingfilm/plastic wrap and/or store in a plastic container or plastic zipper bag. This will prevent any extra oxygen and moisture speeding up the decaying process.

Bear in mind that you can only get one extra day out of avocados this way, so plan to use it the day after. If you want to keep it for longer, consider mashing and freezing it (see below.

Mashed avocado - make sure you mix some lemon or lime juice into the mash. This will prevent it from browning. Pack it tightly into a lidded plastic container. Make sure there are no air bubbles. Then, pour about ½ inch of water on top of this, and fix the lid to the container. When ready to use, pour away the water and stir well before using. This method also works well for guacamole.

Can Avocados be Kept in the Freezer?

Unripe avocados - it is not recommended to store unripe avocados here, as the defrosting process will badly damage the fruit’s cell structure and cause it to not ripen properly.

Ripe - simply place the avocado in the freezer. It’s best to use almost ripe avocados as the defrosting process will make it go a little soft.

Half an avocado - whilst this can be done (freeze the half without the pit face down on a baking sheet and then transfer to a container), it is recommended that you mash the flesh and preserve it that way.

Mashed avocado - after adding some lemon or lime juice into the mash to prevent it from browning, distribute the mashed fruit around a freezer safe container. This means it can be defrosted quickly and evenly.

How Long Do Avocados Last?

How to Tell When Avocados Have Gone Bad?

Look - it’s difficult to tell if an avocado has gone bad just from looking at its skin. This is because it remains a similar dark color as when it’s ripe. However, if you remove the stem, you can see if the flesh beneath it is brown or not. If it’s brown, then the avocado has gone bad.

Another indication that the avocado has gone bad is if there is mold growing underneath the bottom of the stem. But if you are unable to remove the stem easily, then it is still unripe and good to use once ripened.

The most surefire way to tell if an avocado has gone bad is to cut it open. If there are any black or brown colored flesh means the avocado has gone bad. However, any parts of the flesh that are still green can be used.

Feel - if the avocado feels soft or mushy when squeezed, this is a good sign that it has gone bad.

Smell - if an avocado has gone bad, the flesh will give off a musky smell when cut open.

Now that you know how to store avocados, you might want to check out how to store other products by checking out our .

It’s really difficult to think of a life without onions: and we’re not just saying that because we’re based in Poland! Onions are used in many recipes across the world. Chances are they’re on your shopping list more weeks than not. But once you buy them, do you know how to store onions optimally?

Overview

Even if you’re not aware of it, onions have pretty much been omnipresent. Originating from central Asia, they have been known to be used in prehistoric diets, revered by ancient Egyptians, and used as currency by Medieval Europeans.

But what’s the best method for storing onions? If you’re curious about how to store onions, or how to prolong their shelf life, then read our guide below.

How to Store Onions

Can Onions be Kept in the Pantry?

Whole onions - the best way to increase the shelf life and keep onions fresh is to store them whole. Place them in a well ventilated cool dark place: between 40-50f (4-10c). Onions will start to sprout and rot if exposed to too much moisture and light.

You can store them by tying their stalks to rope or string and hanging them. You can even put onions in plastic mesh tubing or old tights/pantyhose. Once, placed in these, tie a knot around each individual onion to allow the maximum amount of cool air to flow around each of them.

Do not keep them in a plastic bag as this is not breathable. Doing so will cause moisture to gather in the bag and speed up the rotting process. Alternatively, you can keep them in a woven basket.

Onions will last longer in climates or seasons that are cool and dry, due to the lack of moisture in the air. So, expect onions to have a shorter shelf life in the summer than they do in the winter, even when storing them optimally.

Half an onion - once cut, onions will start to decay quickly. Therefore, they’re not suitable for storing in the pantry and they should be stored in a refrigerator instead (see below).

Chopped/sliced onions - these should also be stored in a refrigerator (see below).

Can Onions be Kept in the Refrigerator?

Whole onions - it is not at all recommended to store whole onions in the refrigerator. This is because the air inside the fridge is very moist, causing them to rot quicker. Instead, they should be stored in a dark and cool dry place to make them last the longest, such as a pantry (see above).

Half an onion - place the half an onion cut-side down and wrap it tightly in clingfilm/plastic wrap or place it in an airtight plastic storage container or plastic zipper bag. This will make sure the onion doesn’t dry out, and also prevent oxygen and additional moisture getting to it.

It is not recommended to use the half an onion raw, such as in a salad or salsa, after storing it in the fridge. They should only be used in cooked dishes.

Chopped/sliced onions - do not wrap these in clingfilm/plastic wrap as it will be difficult to create an airtight seal around the onions. Therefore, we highly recommend a plastic storage container or a plastic zipper bag.

Can Onions be Kept in the Freezer?

Whole onions - these shouldn’t be frozen as the defrosting process will cause the cell structure to break down making them mushy. This will make it difficult to slice or chop.

Half an onion - like a whole onion, the defrosting process will mean the remaining half will be very difficult to prepare as it will be very soft after defrosting.

Chopped/sliced onions - this is perhaps the best way to store prepared onions as it increases their shelf life the longest. What’s more, it can save a lot of time during cooking as it’s possible to use the prepared onions straight out of the freezer and in the pan without defrosting them.

Store them in a plastic zipper bag or plastic storage container. When placing the prepared onions inside of these, be sure to spread them out as evenly as possible. This means that when you come to use them they’ll defrost quicker, or cook more evenly when cooking them without defrosting.

How long do onions last?

How to Tell When Onions Have Gone Bad

Look - whole onions that have gone bad may develop dark spots on their outer layer which will begin to grow mold. Furthermore, they will also start sprouting green shoots from the top. As for half, chopped, or sliced onions, you might see mold develop on them. This looks like thin white hairs.

Feel - whole onions should be smooth and firm. If they have soft areas it means they have begun to go bad. For a half, chopped, or sliced onions, they will have gone bad if they have a slimy texture to them.

Smell - onions that are starting to rot will also start to smell bad. Whilst many people find onions already have an unpleasant smell, anything that doesn’t smell like onions, or smells even worse, means that they’ve gone bad.

Now that you know how to store onions, you might want to check out how to store other products by checking out our .

Do you know how to store milk? Storing milk may seem pretty simple: pop it in the fridge and consume it within a few days, and you can’t really go wrong. Right? Well, let’s find out and give you some handy storage guidelines.

How to Store Animal Milk

When we talk about animal milk we usually mean cow’s milk. However, it can also refer to milk from goats and sheep.

Milk is usually sorted and sold according to the amount of fat there is in it: whole (3.25%), reduced fat (2%), low fat (1%) and skimmed or non-fat (0-0.5%).

However, neither the type of animal it has come from or its fat content makes any difference about where and how to store it.

How to Store UHT Milk?

The only difference is that UHT milk doesn’t need to be stored inside a fridge if it’s unopened. But putting unopened UHT milk in the fridge doesn’t do it any harm.

The most popular place is on one of the shelves in the door. But milk should actually be stored on the top or middle shelf in a fridge.

Why?

Because the temperature is more stable on the shelves rather than the fridge door.

How Long Does Animal Milk Last?

The shelf life of animal milk depends on whether it’s fresh or treated using Ultra High Temperature (UHT) treatment.

Fresh milk, either in plastic or glass bottles, needs to be stored in a refrigerator at 40℉ (4℃) at all times. Unopened, it will last for a maximum of 2 weeks.

UHT milk in cardboard may be stored up to 6-9 months when unopened regardless of whether it is stored inside or outside a fridge.

After opening any type of milk, either fresh or UHT, it should be consumed within a week and always kept in the refrigerator.

Can You Freeze Animal Milk?

Animal milk can indeed be frozen. Just be sure that the milk container has enough space for the milk to expand, otherwise it will burst and create a mess.

But what about defrosting it?

The best way to defrost milk is to keep it in the fridge or place the container in some cold water. It’s safer to thaw it gradually, so expect the defrosting process to take about 1-2 days.

Unfortunately, there are disadvantages to freezing and defrosting milk. When freezing and defrosting milk, the flavour and texture can change. However, its nutritional value . Therefore it’s better to use defrosted milk as a baking or cooking ingredient rather than served fresh, such as over breakfast cereal.

Freezing milk can make it last for between . Once defrosted, it should be consumed within .

How Do You Know If Animal Milk Has Gone Bad?

To test whether animal milk has gone bad, you should smell it and look at it. Bad milk has a distinctive sour smell and lumpy texture. Its color usually changes as well.

Do you always have to throw spoiled milk away?

If milk doesn’t have lumps or a different color, you may still consume it. However, not as a raw product. Such milk can be used for cooking, baking, frying pancakes or tenderizing meat.

How to Store Milk Alternatives

A number of milk alternatives are also available on the market:

• Soy milk
• Almond milk
• Rice milk
• Coconut milk

These types are vegan-friendly and suitable for people who are lactose intolerant. As these milks are plant-based, the rules for storage are a little different from those for animal milk.

If you’re going to store milk alternatives unopened in a pantry, you should make sure that the temperature stays between 50-70 ℉ (10-21℃). However, once opened, you should store it in a refrigerator, the temperature at 40℉ (4℃) or below.

The location for milk alternatives inside a fridge is the same as for animal milk: on the top or middle shelf of a fridge.

How Long Do Milk Alternatives Last?

For all four types of milk alternatives the expiration date is the same. When unopened and stored in a pantry, they will last about 1 month. However, they only last about 7-10 days in a refrigerator after opening.

Can I Freeze Milk Alternatives?

Although manufacturers don’t recommend it, you can freeze milk alternatives. However, it . However, when defrosted, milk alternative may be brought back to its original state by .

The rules for freezing soy, almond, rice, and coconut milk do not differ from those for freezing animal milk.

However, the shelf life is significantly reduced when freezing milk alternatives. You should consume milk alternatives within 2 months of freezing. Once you defrost and open it, use it within 3 days.

The best way to thaw milk alternatives is the same as for animal milk. You should put it in the fridge for slow, gradual defrosting. In this way, milk alternatives will not lose that much taste compared to defrosting it at room temperature.

How Do You Know If A Milk Alternative Has Gone Bad?

If you’re not sure whether soy, almond, rice or coconut milk has gone bad, the quickest way is to test it in a similar way as you would do with animal milk. Pour some into a clear glass and check whether it changed its color or texture, and give it a quick sniff to see if it’s developed a rancid sour smell.

How to Store Milk Like a Pro

Now you know all the best ways to store animal milk and its alternatives. The most important things to remember are:

• Fresh animal milk should always be kept in the fridge
• UHT milk may be safely kept outside the fridge
• The best place to store milk is the top or middle shelf of a fridge, not in the door
• When opened, all kinds of milk should be kept in a fridge in 40℉ (4℃) or below
• Milk alternatives should be stored in the pantry between 50-70 ℉ (10-21℃)
• When animal milk and its alternatives go bad they have a distinctive sour smell, their texture changes, and they decolorize
• You can freeze animal milk and its alternatives
• Defrost frozen animal milk or milk alternatives by leaving it in the fridge for 1-2 days, or placing it in a bowl of cold water
• Consume animal milk or milk alternatives within a couple of days after defrosting and opening

Keep all this in mind when storing milk, and it’ll be safer, tastier, and last that little bit longer.

For more information on storing food, see our other .

Butter and margarine are solid fats that should be stored in a fridge. But except from keeping them from melting, why should they be kept there? Have you ever really asked yourself how to store butter and margarine to get the most out of them?

First, a little information about the differences between butter and margarine.

Butter is made from churning milk or cream and is made of a cow’s, sheep’s, goat’s, yak’s, or buffalo’s milk. It’s about , 3% milk solids and 17% water.

Margarine is usually made from vegetable oil. Fat from skimmed milk is sometimes added but usually no dairy products are added.

But whilst they are both a little different storing butter and margarine is very similar.

Where Do You Store Butter and Margarine?

Both butter and margarine should be stored in a refrigerator at 40℉ (4℃) or below. By storing butter and margarine here you stop them from being exposed to light and high temperatures which can make them become .

You should keep them in their original containers or packaging, but should consider putting them in an airtight container as air is another contributor to making them go bad.

When storing butter and margarine, the best place to put them on the upper refrigerator shelves.

Does butter go bad?

When unopened, butter lasts for 1-2 months in the refrigerator. You should use it within 2 weeks.

Margarine may be kept for 3-4 months when unopened and 1-2 months when opened.

Can You Freeze Butter and Margarine?

Absolutely! What’s more is you can freeze butter and margarine before or after opening them.

Butter will last 6-9 months when frozen, whilst margarine will keep 6-8 months.

How Do I Know If Butter and Margarine Has Gone Bad?

To check if butter or margarine have gone bad, it’s best to smell and look at it. When butter or margarine has a sour smell and taste it has become bad. Other signs of expired butter or margarine are discoloration and mold.

However, it is worth noting that even after the expected expiry date, if there are no signs of butter or margarine having gone bad, it is still safe and good to use!

How to Store Butter and Margarine Like a Pro

Now you know all the best ways on how to store butter and margarine. The most important things to remember are:

• Keep them in the fridge in 40℉ (4℃) or below on the upper or middle shelf
• Butter lasts 1-2 months unopened and stored in the fridge, and should be consumed within 2 weeks of opening
• Margarine lasts 3-4 months unopened, should be stored in the fridge, and consumed within 2 months of opening
• Butter and margarine can be frozen: up to 6-9 months for butter and 6-8 months for margarine
• Butter and margarine have gone bad when they have sour smell and taste, have mold, or are discolored
• After the expected expiration date, if they don’t show signs of having gone bad, it’s safe to eat them

Storing butter and margarine in the best way possible will help it last for longer and help you to get the most out of it.

For more information on storing food, see our other .