15 food freshness hacks to save you money

Food freshness hacks to save you money

You've put hard-earned money into getting food for your family. Keep it, fresher, longer with these 15 food freshness hacks!

1. Revive stale chips or crackers in the oven.

This food freshness tip works especially well for tortilla chips, by the way. Place the chips or crackers in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Place in a 375-degree oven for 3-5 minutes, watching to make sure they don't brown. In a hurry or only have a few that need rescuing? You can also use the microwave. Zap them on high power for about 10 seconds.

2. Re-crisp French fries on the stove top.

Heat a heavy-bottomed pan to medium-high on the stove, and toss the fries in. Spread them out in a single layer, and be sure to flip and move them around until crisp again on all sides, and warmed through.

3. Never put tomatoes in the fridge and always store them stem-side-down.

Tomatoes last longer at room temperature, and by setting them on the side where the stem was, you minimize moisture and air getting into the tomato.

4. Make salsas, chutneys, stocks or spreads to use up produce getting past its prime.

Nearly endless combinations of fruits and vegetables can be given a delicious second life by being chopped up and mixed with spices and natural preservatives such as vinegar, salt, citrus juice or even sugar. Simply search the internet and input the produce you need to use to bring up plenty of recipe options.

5. Keep soda from going flat.

I love this food freshness tip: Divide up 2-liter bottles of soda into smaller, air-tight containers to keep the carbonation from escaping every time the bottle is opened. Bonus: Helps control portion size.

6. Revive greens with ice water.

If your lettuce, radicchio or Romaine is looking limp, separate the leaves and soak in ice water for 5-20 minutes; or until it looks fresh and is crunchy again.

7. Freeze greens like kale or spinach.

Have some greens you're not able to use soon enough? Chop them up, then freeze in a freezer-grade bag. Later, they will go great in things like omelets, soup, green smoothies, or stir-fry.

8. Save extra herbs by freezing in water or olive oil.

Dice fresh herbs and place in a standard ice cube try. Fill the tray spaces with either water or olive oil and freeze. Once completely frozen, pop from the tray, divide into small freezer-grade bags and accurately label. Then, when you need them for sauces, stocks, pasta or other cooked applications, just grab one or two from the freezer and drop them in.

9. Have crunchy celery a lot longer with aluminum foil.

Instead of storing celery in the bag it comes in, wrap it in aluminum foil before refrigerating for food freshness. Celery already gone limp? Cut off the bottom of the stalks and place in a large glass of water in the fridge. Over the next few days, the celery will draw up the water like a flower bouquet and be crunchy once more.

10. Keep ice cream soft and fresh with a freezer-grade bag.

Simply place the whole container into a large freezer bag, and seal before storing. It will keep the ice cream softer and freezer burn at bay.

11. Get more juice from your citrus fruit by microwaving and rolling.

To get the most juice from any citrus fruit, microwave it for about 20 seconds, then roll it on the counter, applying pressure to break up some of the individual fruit segments. Then cut and squeeze.

12. Keep bananas from browning too fast with plastic cling wrap.

Some say pull the bunch apart and wrap the individual stems; others say to wrap the whole stem. Either way you do it, only wrap the banana stem, not the whole banana.

13. Wash your berries with vinegar and water before storing.

Using a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water (like 1 tablespoon white vinegar mixed with 3 tablespoons water), gently wash your berries. Then make sure they are fully dry before storing in a clean container (with holes) in the refrigerator.

14. Store mushrooms in a paper bag for better food freshness.

The paper bag, rather than the usual plastic-wrapped plastic container they come in, will help keep them from getting slimy. Place them in a paper bag, then refrigerate.

15. Don't store fruits and veggies in the same refrigerator drawer.

They give off different gasses as they ripen and age, and storing them together can speed up spoiling. The only exception to this rule is putting an apple in with your potatoes. It will keep the potatoes fresh longer.