How to Keep Fruits and Veggies Fresh

Storing fresh produce is a little more complicated than you might think. If you want to prevent spoilage, certain foods shouldn’t be stored together at all, while others that we commonly keep in the fridge should actually be left on the countertop. To keep your produce optimally fresh (and cut down on food waste), use this handy guide.

Counter top Storage Tips
There’s nothing as inviting as a big bowl of crisp apples on the kitchen counter. To keep those apples crisp and all counter top-stored produce fresh, store them out of direct sunlight, either directly on the counter top, in an uncovered bowl, or inside a perforated plastic bag.

Refrigerator Storage Tips
For produce that is best stored in the refrigerator, remember the following guidelines.

* Keep produce in perforated plastic bags in the produce drawer of the refrigerator. (To perforate bags, punch holes in the bag with a sharp object, spacing them about as far apart as the holes you see in supermarket apple bags.)
* Keep fruits and vegetables separate, in different drawers, because ethylene can build up in the fridge, causing spoilage.
* When storing herbs (and interestingly, asparagus, too), snip off the ends, store upright in a glass of water (like flowers in a vase) and cover with a plastic bag.

What to Store Where: A Handy Chart
Use this color-coded key along with the chart below:


*More about Ethylene: Fruits and vegetables give off an odorless, harmless, and tasteless gas called ethylene after they’re picked. All fruits and vegetables produce it, but some foods produce it in greater quantities. When ethylene-producing foods are kept in close proximity with ethylene-sensitive foods, especially in a confined space (like a bag or drawer), the gas will speed up the ripening process of the other produce. Use this to your advantage if you want to speed up the ripening process of an unripe fruit, for example, by putting an apple in a bag with an unripe avocado. But if you want your already-ripe foods to last longer, remember to keep them away from ethylene-producing foods, as designated in the chart at the top.

Food is expensive, and most people can’t afford to waste it. Print off this handy chart to keep in your kitchen so you can refer to it after every shopping trip. Then you’ll be able to follow-through with your good intentions to eat your 5 to 9 servings a day, instead of letting all of that healthy food go to waste.

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Kitchen Tips by Sadia


 

* After you cut your apple soak it in salted water so the colour will stay.

 

* If you make fresh lemon juice put a little bit of salt to make it  taste nicer.


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Kitchen Tips

  • When shrimp curl into a semi-circle they're done. When They're tightly coiled,they're overdone.
  • To make ketchup (tomato sauce) come out of the bottle easier,insert a drinking starw and push it to the bottom,then remove. The air that is admitted will start an even flow.
  • Add two (2) tablespoons of vinegarwhen boiling eggs to keep them from cracking.
  • To prevent black rings from developing around the yolk of boiled eggs,immerse the eggs immediately in cold water after boiling.
  • To keep creamy salads, dressing or fillings from becoming watery or soupy, add 1 1/2 tsp. unflavored gelatin to every 2 cups mixture.
  • If zucchini is not available, increase the quantity of the other vegetables like caulyflower,eggplant, and carrot.     
  • Clams, crabs, shrimps, and other shelfish have their own cooking time. They should be cooked quickly to preserve the sweet delicate flavor.
  • To remove fishiness and to add flavor to chicken,shrimp, and fish, soak or simmer in pineapple juice or syrup for a few minutes,or add to your marinade.
  • Boil potatoes with a little vinegar in the water to form a light crust.This helps potatoes hold their shape when combined with other ingredients.

Take note: This is just a sharing folks,true or false you are the judge              

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1. Don't spending time soaking and scrubbing that old cheese grater, apply a thin layer of cooking spray before using it. That way, you won't have to deal with trying to scrub dried cheese off every time you use it.

2. If you accidentally drop a glass, don't panic and run for the broom. Instead, use a piece of bread to pick up the smaller shards -- that way, you won't cut your foot on a barely-there piece of glass.

3. Vinegar is also a quick-fix for any cleaning disaster. It will disinfect any surface, but if you can't stand the smell, try using white wine or cheap vodka instead.

4. Cleaning a microwave can be a drag. Getting the dried food off with a sponge is enough to drive anyone crazy! For a safe and easy method, simply zap a bowl of lemon juice and water for five minutes, then let the microwave cool before wiping down the walls.

5. Cleaning the toilet has to be the nastiest chore ever -- no one likes sticking their hand in there! Drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets in a dirty toilet, and watch them work their magic -- no scrubbing required!

6. Clean as you work so dirty dishes don’t pile up.

7. Don’t forget to preheat oven when you start putting a recipe together!

8. Store popcorn in the freezer & pop while still frozen.You’ll have fewer unpopped kernels
.
9. Placing a few drops of lemon juice in a water in a cup & heating in the microwave will remove the smell of burned popcorn from the microwave.

10. Never ever pour water on flaming fat oil you’ll spread the fire.If the fire’s inside a pan,slap on the lid.

11. Read the recipe through from beginning to the end before you start.Do you have all the right ingredients?Utensils?Appliances?

12. Cut food up small before stir frying, so it cooks quickly.

13. Make sure you have turned off all the elements & the oven whe you have finished cooking.

14. Assemble all the ingredients in one place before you stat cooking.

15. Microwave lemons for about 10 seconds before squeezing them.That helps release the juice.

16. To clean a blender jar fast,squirt a little detergent & a half fill with water.Whizz for a 30 seconds & rinse out.

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