I love food but hate waste and while having three ravenous boys means that leftovers don’t last long in our fridge, keeping my farm fruit and veggies fresh became a challenge when I ditched single use plastic bags. So many of us have tuned into the impact we are having with our single use plastic habits and are seeking out alternatives such as the recycled PET reusable mesh produce bags for collecting our loose fruit and veggies. Supermarkets are a harbinger of masses of plastic packaging and if you are trying to avoid the prepacked food in plastic trays or packaged plastic then packing your own in reusable mesh produce bags is your best option. But then how do your store it in the fridge once you arrive home? Limp carrots pulled out of the crisper are not what I was wanting for my family. So I had to find a solution. My solution to many storage problems - not all, but many - is Bee-Tastic Beeswax wraps. I am sure most of the other beeswax wraps on the market are excellent, but I hope you will forgive me for promoting my own as they are the only ones I have ever used! Here are my top tips that I discovered or created for keeping food fresh or longer:
Bee-Tastic Beeswax wraps are ideal for wrapping cut pumpkin and cabbage as well as fruit like watermelon, rockmelon and pineapple. They are reusable over and over again and have anti-microbial qualities that help to keep produce fresh for longer.
Do your coriander and parsley going wilty, limpy, or dry after a few days? Herbs love to be kept in the fridge in jars with a lid. Parsley can last weeks in a recycled glass jar. I know this as I have tested it out and other herbs (NOT basil) are similarly happy in a glass jar. Herbs can also be kept in the fridge in a rectangular glass container between layers of slightly damp paper towel. Basil does not like it too be cold and is best used soon after harvesting so it may be best if you need to keep it for a day or two only in a glass jar with a little water in the bottom and kept out of the fridge. Alternatively, turn it into pesto.
If you want to keep the crunch in your lettuce, carrots and beetroot, pop them in a Bee-Tastic beeswax produce storage bag. These bags excel in keeping produce fresh more so than plastic bags ever did! They are quick and easy to use, reusable – over, and over and over for up to a year. They are all natural, washable and so very convenient.
Cheese keeps well in a glass container or for much longer if wrapped firmly in a Beeswax wrap.
Potatoes and onions are best stored loose in a cool dark place – potatoes in a paper bag and definitely NOT together or near one another as the gases from onions hastens the sprouting potatoes.
Sourdough bread loves being carefully and securely wrapped in an extra-large Bee-Tastic beeswax wrap or lovingly tucked into a Bee-Tastic beeswax storage bag. These are both good for using in the fridge or freezer meaning you have bread ready to eat at your whim.
Some people have success with calico bags for storing produce. Not all produce will survive using this method, for more details check out my storage guide. Simply dampen the calico produce bag before placing the wet produce filled bags in the crisper. TIP: For this method to work you must re-dampen them every day or so to keep the produce inside fresh and don’t forget what is in them.If you love food and hate waste as much as I do I hope these tips and suggestions help in you in your eco kitchen. How do you keep your food fresh for longer?