HOW TO STORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Refrigerate

Apples 

Berries

Broccoli

Cabbage

Carrots

Cauliflower

Celery

Cherries

Grapes

Herbs

Peppers

Jalapenos

Leafy Greens

Room Temperature

Avocados

Apricots

Bananas

Coconut

CitruS

Garlic

Kiwi

Mangoes

Melons

Onions

Pears

Peaches

Pineapple

• Never wrap your cheese in plastic. Cheese likes to breathe. Instead wrap it in parchment or wax paper and then loosely in plastic wrap or baggie. Label and date always. 5

•  Keep oils and vinegars in a cool, dry and dark area away from sunlight and direct heat. This insures the oils stay flavorful and guards against staleness. 

• Keep grains in a cool and dry place as well along with sugars, spices, nuts and cans. 

• You can prolong the life of your herbs by snipping the ends and sticking it in a jar filled partially with water. Make sure the leaves are dry and cover loosely with a plastic bag. 

• Raw ground meats, poultry, seafood can be kept in the fridge for 1 to 2 days. Raw roasts, steaks and chops, poultry, seafood can be kept for 3-5 days and cooked meat, poultry and seafood can be stored for 3 to 4 days. 6

HOW LONG DO THINGS LAST IN THE FRIDGE AND FREEZER?

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR FRIDGE

A clean and organized fridge is important in keeping food safe and running a successful and effective home kitchen. Weekly wipe downs inside of the fridge are recommended and throw away any perishables that are unusable and spoiled. A deep clean should be done at least twice a year (taking out and washing all the shelves, scrubbing the insides of the fridge, discarding old food).  A great way to recycle perishables is through composting which you can learn more about under the gardening guide. 

Keep a box of baking soda in the fridge to help rid of foul odors and make sure the temperature is always at a cool 40F or lower.  It is absolutely crucial to effectively organize your fridge keeping raw ingredients away from cooked ingredients to avoid cross contamination.  Always date and label any freezer items or leftovers and keep an eye on expiration dates. Martha Stewart offers free printable freezer labels that are fun and useful. 

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR PANTRY

Divide your pantry space into the following areas -- keep commonly used items closer to eye level and easy to reach areas. See whattools I keep in my pantry. 

1. Commonly used items: favorite pastas and grains, favorite canned vegetables, canned broths, commonly used spices
2. Utensils, bags, ziplock bags, saran wrap, foil. 
3. Paper towels, paper plates, paper cups, tissues,
4. Drinks and alcohols: wines, liquors, canned drinks, bottled drinks
5. Breakfast foods -- oatmeal, cereal, grits, pancake/waffle mix, granola bars.
6. Baking Supplies: flours, sugars, baking powder, chocolate chips, nuts
7. Specialty Appliances - coffee maker, juicer, food processor, baking accessories, grilling accessories