Save money by extending the shelf life of your store bought groceries with these one dozen tips to longer lasting groceries:
1. Freeze green onions in a plastic bottle ( re-use empty water bottles) – Avoid freezer burn by making sure the green onions are completely dry before storing them.
2. Longer lasting berries – try washing your berries in a vinegar solution. This vinegar water solution destroys bacteria and mold spores. Combine 3 cups water and 1 cup white vinegar in a bowl. Place your berries in and wash. Drain and rinse well. Place berries in salad spinner lined with paper towels and spin until dry. Store berries in paper towel lined container and leave lid open for moisture to release. Now you have berries that will last longer!
3. No more sprouting potatoes – Store your fresh potatoes with apples to keep them from sprouting.
4. Frozen Herb Cubes – Freeze your fresh herbs in olive oil. When cooking and you are in need of herbs they are ready to use. This simple tip only takes minutes to create. Fill empty ice cube trays with your choice of herbs filling each opening with desired amount of herbs then pour olive oil into each section with the herbs and place in your freezer
This is great for Basil and Rosemary. You can also use cooking oil, butter and soup stock as your liquids to freeze. You might also like to mix your herbs into one compartment for those recipes that call for more than one herb.
Once they are frozen sold pop out and place into labeled Ziploc bags.
5. Long Lasting Bananas – Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
6. Fresh Bakes Goods- If you add a slice of bread to a bag of homemade cookies the moisture from the bread keeps the cookies fresh! You can also use this for cakes, muffins, cupcakes, etc. to keep them from going stale. Make sure to replace the slice of bread every few days with a fresh one.
7. Avoid Ice Cream Freezer Burn – Have you ever re-opened a carton of ice cream only to find it looking fuzzy and frost bitten? Not very appetizing if you ask me. End the fuzzy frost bite with this simple tip.
After you scoop out a dish or two of ice cream take a piece of plastic wrap and place it over the left over ice cream pushing it down directly on top of the ice cream covering it entirely. Then place the lid back on. Then when you are ready for another bowl of ice cream no more fuzzy frost bites.
8. Re-Crisp Your Soggy Lettuce – Is your lettuce soggy? You can make it crisp once again by squeezing the juice from half of a lemon into a bowl of cold water then add your soggy lettuce and place bowl in the fridge for one hour. Remove lettuce from bowl, dry leaves and enjoy.
9. Restore Marshmallow Freshness – I keep finding stale marshmallow’s in my kitchen cupboard. Couldn’t believe all you need is a slice of white bread and an airtight container to restore marshmallow freshness.
10. Double Frosting – Save money by doubling your store bought can frosting with the use of your mixer. Dump the can of frosting into a bowl and use your mixer to whip it for a few minutes can double in size allowing you to frost more cupcakes or a larger cake with one can of frosting. This also means less sugar and calories.
11. Fresh Cheese – Keep your cheese fresher by storing your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil.
12. Fresh Celery – Rumor has it that if you you wrap your celery in tin foil before placing it in the fridge it will last for weeks, and be fresh and crisp when you need it. They say it also works for nearly 7 weeks for stored broccoli and heads of lettuce.