With the cost of living rising, making the most of your food shop has never been so important.
It can be all too easy to forget about food in the fridge, leaving it to go off and go to waste. However, as reported by LatestDeals, one consumer expert has shared his expert tips on making food last longer, which could help you to save up to £182 a year.
Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals, said: "It's disappointing when you get some lettuce, bread or fruit out of the fridge, only to realise you can no longer eat it. However, with some simple preparation tips, you can increase the shelf life of your fridge staples - and in some cases, even double it."
Storing lettuce with a paper towel
Lettuce can go brown quickly, but according to Tom, there's a simple way to avoid waste and even make your salad staple last up to a month.
He explained: "First, take the lettuce head and break it down into small pieces. Then, wash it thoroughly. Make sure you get all the water off afterward - use a salad spinner or a tea towel.
"Next, place the lettuce in a glass container with a clean cloth or paper towel. Be sure to change it out every couple of days to save 50p a week on buying new lettuce heads - that's equivalent to £26 a year."
Washing strawberries with white vinegar
Strawberries can typically last between three and seven days in the fridge, but Tom has a tip to make them stay fresh for even longer.
He said: "Wash your strawberries with one cup of white vinegar to three or four cups of water. Then, dry them thoroughly and place them in a container with paper towels. Not only will this remove any pesticide residue, but you'll also be able to eat these strawberries for up to two weeks.
"If you were buying a £3 punnet of strawberries a week and halving your spending with this hack, you'd save £78 a year."
Take your milk out of the front door
Storing a bottle of milk on the fridge door shelf is a common practice that most of us do without giving it a second thought. However, according to Tom, this could actually be one of the worst places to store it.
Tom explained: "The coldest sections of the fridge are always the lower shelves, as the cold air sinks towards the bottom. The upper shelves and doors are actually the warmest - so by storing your milk in the bottom drawer or a lower shelf, you can slow down the spoiling process.
"If you bought half the amount of two pint cartons of milk as a result, you'd be saving just under £14 a year."
Wrap cheese in parchment paper
Cheese is a much-loved staple in most fridges, but the packaging it comes in may not be the best for keeping it fresh. Tom recommends switching the plastic for parchment paper in order to extend the shelf life.
Tom said: "This method works because the cheese will receive airflow without being subject to dehydration. Plus, it will remain humid without becoming soggy. Don't use plastic wrap, as this could actually make cheese go off quicker. Your best bet is parchment or wax paper - and if you really want to invest, you can buy special cheese paper online.
"If you only bought a block of £3 cheddar every other month instead of monthly by trying this hack, you'd be saving £18 a year."
Switch to salted butter
If you usually opt for unsalted butter but only use it for toast and sandwiches, Tom recommends making the switch to the salted variety.
He said: "Generally speaking, unsalted butter lasts around a month after the best by date, then two weeks once it’s opened. Meanwhile, salted butter should last for two months after the best by date, then a month once it’s opened.
"If a family of four is getting through a 225g stick of Lurpak unsalted butter every month, but switches to salted - the same price for both at £2.50 per unit - they will only have to buy half as much and save around £15 a year."
Make bananas last longer
It's all too easy to forget about bananas until they have turned brown, but wrapping tin foil or cling film around the stem could slow the ripening process.
Tom added: "By wrapping these black or brown sections of the fruit, you will reduce the release of ethylene gas - which is emitted from bananas and assists with its own ripening as well as that of fruit nearby. For the best result, separate the bananas from the bunch and wrap each individual stem."
Add celery to your bread
This hack may sound a little unusual, but according to Tom, placing a stick of celery in with your loaf can stop your bread from going dry and mouldy - therefore saving you money in the long run.
He said: "It may sound odd, but the bread will absorb the moisture provided by the celery and, in turn, remain fresh. Your loaf won’t become dry and mouldy at the same rate, so your chances of getting a sandwich together will increase.
"Plus, if you buy bread such as the £1.20 Hovis Soft White Medium weekly and only buy half as much due to this hack, you’d be saving just over £31 a year"
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