Genius hacks to make food and drink last longer
Preserve your produce

Don’t keep onions and potatoes together

Keep garlic out of the fridge

Ripen bananas slowly with a banana hanger

Don’t put bread in the fridge

Store cheese in waxed paper

Store fresh mozzarella in water

Freeze your fruits

Store asparagus like a bunch of flowers

After a while, asparagus can start to look a little limp. To keep it fresher for longer, trim the spears then place in water (not too much). Loosely put a plastic bag on top before refrigerating. This will keep them crisper for longer.
Store fresh herbs in water

Freeze leftover wine for sauces

While wine will last for a long time unopened, it will quickly turn once uncorked. There's no real way of keeping open wine fresh for long – but you can save it for cooking. Fill up an ice cube tray with any leftovers, freeze and defrost as needed to use in sauces or stews.
Don’t let a rotten apple sit with the rest

Buy an ethylene gas absorber

Freeze pesto as ice cubes

Pesto is a great partner for pasta but can start to spoil incredibly quickly. To keep it fresh, spoon the remaining pesto into an ice tray and freeze it, so you’ve always got some on hand when you need it.
Freeze veg to make smoothies

It's not just frozen fruit that works well in a smoothie. Leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach can be frozen and blended into a juice. In fact, this hack might just transform your mornings.
Put a paper towel on top of salad

Dry herbs in the microwave

If you’re struggling to use fresh herbs before they turn, you could dry them out and save them for a later date. To do this, place between two paper towels and zap in the microwave for one minute, followed by 20-second bursts until they’re completely dry.
Freeze fresh herbs or chilli in oil

Another way to preserve fresh herbs and chilli is to chop them up and pop into ice cube trays with olive oil or melted butter. The last step helps retain flavour and prevent freezer burn (damage caused by air reaching the food). Then they can be thrown into sauces, soups and stews when you need them.
Freeze fresh pasta for quick meals

Bought fresh pasta but struggling to use it before the best before date? Or had a go at making your own and didn't cook it all? Properly wrapped, it freezes well and can last for up to two months, defrosting quickly on nights you need a speedy dinner.
Freeze milk

Make yogurt ice lollies

Yogurt won't last forever but it can be saved from going in the bin by making ice lollies. Mix in fresh berries and honey, transfer contents into moulds, pop in sticks and freeze. Voilà – a refreshing and healthy snack.
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Transfer sugar into airtight containers

Transfer flour to an airtight container

Keep beer bottles upright

Rinse berries in a vinegar solution

Berries are delicious fresh but they don't last for long. To help preserve them, wash them in a mixture of one part vinegar and three parts water, then drain, rinse thoroughly and pop them in the fridge. Don’t worry, it won't make the fruit taste vinegary, it will just kill any germs and keep mould away longer.
Transfer coffee to an opaque container

Whether your coffee is whole or ground, light is its ultimate enemy. It impairs the colour and taste, and causes it to spoil faster. So, while it might be tempting to display coffee beans in a glass jar, it's best to keep them in an opaque, airtight container in a dark, cool cupboard.
Don’t wash fresh produce before putting it in the fridge

Squeeze lime juice over guacamole

Everyone loves guacamole but any leftovers always go brown if you store it in the fridge. Prevent this happening by squeezing over lime juice – the acidity combats the enzyme in avocado which makes it turn brown. When you get it out of the fridge, pour off any excess citrus liquid and give it a good stir.
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