11 things that will keep well in your fridge for at least two weeks

Are you going on vacation soon and don’t want to come home to a full fridge? Then it’s time to eat your way through it! But before you throw everything away, it’s good to know that some products can easily stay in your fridge for a few weeks. We’ll tell you which foods you don’t have to throw away immediately and how to get the most out of your supplies.

I always make it a sport to empty my fridge as much as possible before going on vacation. But did you know that there are quite a lot of things you can easily leave in the fridge for two weeks (or even longer) without them spoiling? From types of fruit and cheese to vegetables: some items keep surprisingly well.

These 11 foods can be kept in your fridge for two weeks or longer

So before you take everything to the trash, read on and discover which foods you don’t need to throw away before you leave. Not only useful on vacation, by the way, but also handy if you want to build up a supply and don’t want to go grocery shopping too often.

1. Beets

If you cut off the greens and store them in a plastic bag, fresh beets can stay in the fridge for a few weeks. You can then roast them (for this roasted beet salad with stracciatella and hazelnuts, yum!), or turn them into a bright pink beet gazpacho. And don’t worry about pink hands after cutting beets: here’s how to get it off easily.

2. Carrots

Always a winner in your fridge. Store them in a plastic bag and they will keep for a few weeks. If they become a little limp, quickly make carrot soup before they spoil. It freezes beautifully.

3. Citrus fruits

Lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits: they all easily stay fresh in the fridge for two weeks. Ideal for instantly adding flavor to your dish, dressing, cocktails or desserts.

4. Cabbage

As long as it hasn’t been cut, cabbage sometimes seems to last forever. Okay, of course it doesn’t. But it does last a very long time. It stays crisp for weeks. Ideal for an amazing coleslaw or with braised pork belly. Or—always a good idea—with a bowl of noodles.

5. Cooked sausage

Smoked sausage, frankfurters and all their cooked-sausage counterparts stay good in the fridge for two weeks. That is, as long as the package is still unopened. Once opened, you need to eat them within five days.

6. Bacon

Just like sausage, bacon stays fresh for two weeks if unopened, and five days once opened. If you open the package and know you won’t eat it within those five days, wrap it tightly and put it in the freezer. You can keep it there for a few more months.

7. Eggs

They are of course best when fresh, but eggs can be kept in the fridge for up to a month. Quite impressive if you manage to reach that month, for a product that’s ideal for lunch, breakfast, dinner, baking and desserts. Try our favorite right away: Crispy Chili Eggs! Feta Fried Eggs and Pesto Eggs are also editorial favorites, by the way.

8. Yogurt

A bowl of yogurt can of course be eaten for breakfast, but it can also be transformed into a marinade, sauce, baking ingredient, smoothie booster or the base for a creamy salad dressing. Whether you go for low-fat or full-fat Turkish yogurt, it will keep for two weeks.

9. Hard cheeses

Parmesan, Grano Padano, Pecorino, Manchego, Gruyère and other hard cheeses will certainly keep for a few weeks. Ideal for salads, pasta, a cheese board or simply instead of dessert. Don’t throw away those Parmesan rinds; you can make an amazing snack with them.

10. Celery

If you always have a bag of carrots and a bag of celery in your fridge, you basically always have the makings of a soup, stew or braise. Just like carrots, celery will keep for a few weeks—as long as it’s stored in a plastic bag.

11. Apples

I usually prefer to keep my fruit outside the fridge, but apples are an exception. In the fridge, they stay deliciously crisp and fresh for two to three weeks.

How do you store these products optimally in your fridge?

For a longer shelf life, it’s important to store certain products properly in your fridge. Make sure your food is well packaged to prevent it from drying out or spoiling. We’ve already given you a few tips above. A few more obvious ones: use plastic wrap or airtight containers; this helps preserve freshness.

By following these simple tips, you can keep your food longer and prevent having to throw it away before your vacation. With grocery prices so high, that’s not only a shame but also unnecessary. Make it easy on yourself and enjoy fresh products, even after a few weeks. Happy Holidays!

Also read:

• 9 foods to eat after their best-before date
• 10 things chefs like to keep in the freezer
• How long can you really keep cheese?