[winter]

Storing Foods ...... How to do them !!!!!
Spice storage
Always store your herbs and spices away from heat and moisture in an airtight container. This will prevent moisture from collecting in the herbs and causing mold and mildew which can harm your family. It will also ensure they stay fresh and that they do not overdry if in extreme heat. The heat and direct sun can also cause bleaching of the herbs. You want your herbs to be fresh in taste and sight so you can create the best dish possible. So move that spice cabinet to the other side of the kitchen.


Bread in the Refrigerator

Cooking tips: Don't let bread go to waste, use smart food storage techniques. Bread will keep up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator if you wrap it in foil and store it on a low shelf

Storing Bananas
Cooking tips for storing foods:
Cool Food Storage is very effective! You can save ripe bananas for baking later, just mash them and freeze in the amounts needed for your recipes. If you are short on time just put them in the freezer, unpeeled, and when ready to use let them defrost and peel. You barely have to mash them, because they are already very soft.
Grated Cheese
Put a teaspoon of baking soda in your container of grated cheese. Shake well before freezing and your cheese will not stick together
Apple Storage
If the apples have been stored in your refrigerator, they should be fine to eat for up to 2 months.
Ground Meat Safety
Ground meat will keep safely in the refrigerator for only 1 to 2 days. If you don't plan on using it immediately, put it in the freezer where it will keep for 3 months.
Tough Tomatoes
The most effective Food storage for tomatoes is in a brown paper bag or closed container. Adding an apple or pear to the container can also hasten ripening. Store the tomatoes in a single layer and with the stem ends up to avoid bruising.
Cucumber Storage
To extend the life of a cucumber once it has been cut open, wrap it in a paper towel and keep it in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator.

Got Milk?
Healthy cooking tips: Expiration dates on milk are usually very conservative. If the milk is properly stored, it should be fine to drink up to a week after the date on the carton.
Chicken Safety
Use smart food storage techniques to protect yourself from Bacteria in raw chicken.

-Marinade in which raw chicken has been soaking should never be used on fully cooked chicken.
-Thaw frozen chicken in the refrigerator, not on the countertop.
-Freeze uncooked chicken if it is not going to be used within 2 days.
Nuts!
If I am not planning to use nuts immediately, I like to store them in the freezer to preserve their freshness. They will also crack more easily after freezing.
Saving Sauce
Place any extra sauce or broth into a plastic ice cube tray. When they are frozen, pop them out and put them in a ziploc bag for smart food storage. If you measure out the sauce or broth before you freeze it, you won't even have to defrost it when you need to use it, just toss it into the pot
Fresh Fish
The best way to keep fish really fresh is to place the fish in a double plastic bag filled with water and place near the freezer wall. Fish should never be refrozen