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When we start eating more fresh food, we realize how sensitive these products are. Potatoes turn green, bananas turn black, green leaves lose their life and when we realized it, only a few days have passed and the food is not so good anymore.
We also have solutions for that! In fact, I believe the problem is the solution!
Let's start! Look at some points below in your home, and see if it's something that could be improved!
Reducing food waste in our kitchen starts by frequently buying fresh, conscientious food when we really need more!
Ideally, we buy according to our capacity in the fridge, especially in very hot seasons, which ripen food faster.
Is it a case of buying food more often, rather than all at once?
Golden Rule: Go to the market or fair when your kitchen is almost empty! That's right. Consume everything in the fridge before buying more food. So, we use creativity and test other recipes!
KEEPING FOOD IN THE REFRIGERATOR
First, make sure your drawers are never more than 3/4 full. Placing too many products on the drawers decreases the air flow and will make them rot faster.
Second, take advantage of your drawers' humidity settings. Store your products that will rot in a drawer with low humidity and store your products that will wilt in a drawer with a high humidity setting. This control will depend on your refrigerator. If it doesn't have humidity control, constantly check how the food is in the drawers. Lining the drawer with a dish towel helps retain moisture and prevents water from getting into the food.
And lastly, remember that fruits can release high levels of ethylene, which is a ripening agent that can spoil certain vegetables if kept in the same drawer. It's important to know which fruits and vegetables thrive together.
In summary: it is important to avoid overloading the drawers, use the humidity settings and know which products are sensitive to ethylene and which products produce ethylene. I know it sounds confusing, but over time it will get easier and make a lot more sense! Once you've defined these three things, you'll make a big change in the shelf life of your products and help cut down on food waste. So let's get into some details...
High humidity drawer
This drawer is for products that are sensitive to ethylene gas and that are sensitive to moisture loss. Setting the drawer to high humidity closes the window and locks out moisture, which will help the product stay crisper and fresher for longer.
If your refrigerator doesn't have this humidity control option, that's fine. Just line the bottom of the drawer with a dish towel and store the items in the list below together. The important thing is not to mix foods that emit maturation gas with foods that are sensitive to it!
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Cucumbers
Aubergine
Green beens
Herbs (cilantro, dill, parsley, thyme)
Green leaves (kale, lettuce, spinach, chard, watercress)
Peas
Peppers
Strawberries
Zucchini
Watermelon
Low humidity drawer
This drawer is for products that emit ethylene gas and are not sensitive to moisture loss. This setting opens the window in the drawer, giving ethylene gas and moisture a chance to escape.
If your refrigerator doesn't have this humidity control option, that's fine. Just leave a gap in the drawer open at all times, line the bottom of the drawer with a dish towel and store the products in the list below together. Likewise, it is important not to mix products from the previous list with this one in the same drawer!
Apples
Avocado
Melons
Figs
Kiwi fruit
Mango
Papaya
Pears
Banana
Stone fruits (apricots, nectarines, peaches, plums)
Remember that some fruits are better out of the fridge. This includes banana, mango, papaya, persimmon, pineapple, pomegranate and stone fruits (peaches, nectarines, etc.).
When the kitchen temperature is high or the fruits are very ripe, then it is necessary to store them in the fridge.
We will have more information on the subject later! I think we already have a good guide around here!
Tell me what you have in the fridge that was mixed up until then and what you will modify at home!
