Simple Food Storage Mistakes That Cost You Money

052009eggsfridge2 According to noted food researcher Brian Wansink, 12% of all food bought for home use is eventually discarded. For a typical family of four this represents a yearly loss of nearly $669 – hard earned money down the drain!

Avoid some common food storage mistakes and you’ll reduce the amount of food tossed in the trash and keep more money in your pocket.

Check the Temperature of Your Fridge

The very first place to start saving money is with your refrigerator. To keep food lasting longer its critical that the temperature inside your refrigerator remains below 40F. 37F is the optimal temperature. Once the temperature rises above 40 degrees you enter the danger zone where bacteria multiply rapidly resulting in food spoilage, or worse – food poisoning.

Yet few people know the inside temperature of their refrigerator. Many mistakenly believe the thermostat used to control the temperature inside the fridge is a thermometer. Unfortunately it isn’t.

According to one study by Tennessee State University and Kansas State University most home refrigerators tested exceeded 40F degrees for at least two hours a day.

A simple way to ensure your fridge is keeping food cold and safe is to purchase a special refrigerator thermometer. Most of these can be purchased for less than eight dollars. This small investment can keep you family safe from food borne illnesses and save you money by reducing the amount of food you have to throw out.

As the seasons change you may need to adjust the refrigerator thermostat to keep the temperature under 40F. The same thermostat setting that keeps your food cold during the winter may not keep the refrigerator below 40F during the summer.

Never Store Eggs or Other Perishables on the Refrigerator Door

In addition to keeping your fridge below 40F degrees, never store perishables like eggs, milk and cold cuts on the refrigerator door shelves. Refrigerator doors can be several degrees warmer than the rest of the fridge with their temperatures frequently rising to the danger zone above 40F degrees.

This may seem counter-intuitive at first since since many refrigerator manufacturers build egg storage units right into the fridge door. Be safe and extend the life of your eggs, milk, and other perishables by placing them on a refrigerator shelf instead of on the door shelf. Save the door area for more stable items like ketchup, mustard, and sodas.

Give Your Refrigerator a Little Help

Resist the temptation to jam your refrigerator full of of food. You need to leave some space around your items to allow for the proper air flow that keeps your food nice and cold.

Be careful with large hot items. These items can rapidly increase the temperature inside your refrigerator. Let large hot items cool slightly so you don’t burn yourself. Then divide them into smaller portions before placing in the fridge. Divide a large pot of soup, for example, into several smaller containers before placing in your fridge.

Be Careful on the Way Home from the Supermarket

Amazingly, some of your food may be on the way to spoiling even before you get it home. The longer it takes to get your perishable food items from the store shelf to your kitchen refrigerator, the longer your food stays in the temperature danger zone. Stop at the store, put your food in the hot car and then run several more errands and you have a recipe for some serious food spoilage.

If possible, make your grocery store the last stop on your errand list. Try to pick up dairy, meat, and other perishables just before you check out. If you have a particularly long drive consider using a cooler packed with ice or gel packs to make sure your food remains cold.

Taking just a few simple steps will keep your food fresh longer, helping you waste less and keeping more money in your pocket. If you have some food storage tips we’d love to hear them. Leave a comment below.