These 5 things you may have always been storing incorrectly
For some people it’s crystal clear, while for others it may be mind-blowing news how certain products should be stored. You may need to store these things somewhere completely different from where you thought…
You probably already knew, for example, that you shouldn’t put bread in the fridge, but there are still people who do. It doesn’t make it taste any better; it’s best stored away from the light in a bread bin. And these five things also have their own ideal place to stay:
Coffee
Coffee is best stored in an airtight tin or container, again away from sunlight. Not in the fridge. If you really need to store coffee for a long time (ideally, use it within two weeks, as that’s when the quality remains best), you can optionally vacuum-seal it in special bags and store it in the freezer. Just like many coffee facts, this is also a grateful subject for conflict between baristas (haha), but if the coffee experts at Bocca say so, we dare to write it down.
Butter
Many people store butter (for immediate use) in the fridge, but that isn’t necessary. At least, not if you’ll get through a pack within a week. Otherwise, put the package in the fridge and cut off a piece every few days to keep in a butter dish on the counter. Incidentally, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre does advise keeping it in the fridge, but a little civil disobedience is quite permissible here. They also say you can quickly recognise spoiled butter by smelling it and checking whether it smells and tastes sour and has become darkly discoloured. For long-term storage, you can also freeze butter!
Tomatoes
Tomatoes don’t need to be stored in the fridge either. In fact, it’s better not to, because a cold, watery tomato really isn’t tasty—and it would be a shame to waste your beautiful summer harvest. On the counter, out of direct sunlight, is fine.
Cookies
Doing some baking these weeks? Great! Store your fresh homemade cookies in an airtight tin or Tupperware-style container with a slice of white bread. The white bread releases some moisture, which means the cookies dry out less quickly and don’t become hard or crumbly.
Peanut butter
We love peanut butter, and it’s more versatile than you might think. For example, you can easily cook with peanut butter! At home, I always buy ‘pure’ peanut butter, without dextrose and/or palm fat. There’s often a layer of oil on top, and it can be difficult to mix it all the way down to the bottom, leaving you with a dry residue at the end of the jar. The solution? Store the jar alternately upside down and right side up. One day upright, the next day upside down. Just make sure to screw the lid on tightly…
Read also:
- How long can you really store cheese?
- How long can you store garlic?
- How long can you store olive oil?
