Breaking
FoodNerdy Recipes Management System
Tag

food

Browsing
Food

Meal and Food Defrosting Guide

Defrosting meals can be one of the trickiest things of the time. Failure to remove the meal from the freezer in time to properly thaw before cooking can result in failure. So you’re dying to remember to take the bowls out of the freezer and put them in the fridge on time, but how long does it take?

Defrosting meals

There are three ways you can adequately defrost meals – in the fridge, it’s just one of several options. Here are the three recommended food-safe methods, so if you’re in a bind and forgot to get the meal out of the freezer – don’t worry. There are three methods you can use to defrost the meal. Also, note how to freeze food properly.

The problem of defrosting meals

Individual dishes will most likely defrost overnight, e.g. frozen bread can be defrosted in this way. Casseroles, bags of food, and roasts will not. They will probably thaw in the fridge for 24-48 hours. One of the biggest mistakes is thinking that a casserole dish will thaw overnight in the fridge. That’s not true. To effectively plan the week’s meals, I usually decide on Sunday what I’m going to do for the week and jot it down on a calendar. I also include in my notes the time it takes me to get the dish out of the freezer and put it in the fridge for proper defrosting. This helps me not to get caught in a quandary during the week and have the food on the table half frozen.

1. Defrost in the refrigerator

This method takes the longest but is the best for the quality and shelf life of the food. If you decide you don’t want to eat the meal or are going to a friend’s place for dinner instead, you can still refreeze the meal without worrying about its safety of the meal.

2. Thawing in cold water

You can wrap a casserole or freezer bag in an extra plastic bag and place it in the sink submerged in cold water. The additional bag is designed to protect the food from getting wet. This method is faster and usually only takes a few hours, but you should change the water every 30 minutes. You also risk water penetrating the product. I only recommend this method for thawing meat, marinated meat, soups, or items in plastic containers. It is not recommended to refreeze objects that you have unfrozen using this method.

3. Defrost in the microwave

This is by far the quickest method of defrosting food, but you must prepare the dish promptly. It also won’t work for you if you use foil baking pans (they aren’t microwavable). And you can’t refreeze the meals that have been thawed this way unless you cook them first.

Cook frozen food

Plus, you can cook these even when frozen. You just need to add about 50% more time to the listed cooking time. That means if it says cook for 1 hour, you should plan to cook it for at least 1.5 hours, maybe even longer. However, this does not apply to all foods. Because defrosting the spinach is usually quick. Also, note tips for warming up the spinach.

The instructions above for adding 50% are for stovetop and oven cooking. When it comes to the best time to get your meals out of the freezer in order to defrost them at the right time.

General guidelines for thawing

Here are some general guidelines for thawing.

  • Single servings – overnight or in the microwave
  • Casserole dishes, freezer bags, and medium-sized plastic containers – 24 to 48 hours
  • Meat (including marinated meat and roasts) – 5 hours per kilo
  • Ready Bread (already baked) – 24 hours (on the countertop)
  • Bread, uncooked – Overnight (in the fridge)
Keep Reading
By
Cooking Tips

Tips and Instructions for Freezing Food

Useful tips and a guide to freezing food and defrosting food. Freeze food without sacrificing flavor or freshness.

How long will they keep in the freezer at what temperature? Can it be preserved in the freezer without plastic? A clear list.

Groceries are too good to throw away

It still tastes best at home. The problem that can sometimes arise is that there are leftovers. Too bad to throw away, but nobody wants to eat the same thing again tomorrow. In addition, the freezer can be a supplier of quick, pre-cooked dishes. Not all foods are suitable for freezing and some lose their bite or freshness in the freezer. To ensure that the defrosted food tastes as delicious as the first time, there are a few things to consider, such as temperature and packaging. You can do it without plastic. Here is a list of top food freezing tips.

The best tips for freezing food

Properly frozen food will last an average of three months and up to a year. The temperature should always be between minus 18 and minus 20 degrees. If you like it clearly, you should use labels. In addition, the freezer, like the refrigerator, should be kept tidy. Keep foods with the shortest shelf life, like meat, on the bottom. It’s the coolest here. Prepared dishes, like sauces, go up. Surprisingly, a common mistake is not overfilling the freezer, but rather underfilling it.

Freeze food without plastic

The preservation in the freezer can be handled even more economically, environmentally friendly, and health-conscious. Unfortunately, the most common alternative to the freezer bag also comes in a plastic guise. However, reusable containers are a step in the right direction. But if you want to freeze without plastic, you can switch to screw-top jars. It is important here, especially for liquids such as sauces, not to fill the glass completely. One of the advantages of freezing jars is that the jars can be thawed easily and quickly in a water bath and can be filled in an uncomplicated manner.

Guide to Freezing Various Foods

How long frozen food can be preserved depends on the type of food. However, a lot can go wrong here. If, for example, vegetables are stored for too long, they become inedible but largely harmless for consumption. This is different from animal products. Freezing food, when done right, can save time and money and make the stressful everyday life of housewives and househusbands much easier.

Freeze Vegetables

In principle, it is advisable to always pre-cook vegetables in a water bath for 2-4 minutes beforehand. Firm vegetables like potatoes are best sliced ​​thinly and frozen airtight. Herbs or boiled spinach go great in ice cube trays. Seasonal vegetables in particular, such as special types of mushrooms, are ideal for freezing. However, soft vegetables such as mushrooms, zucchini, mushrooms, or eggplant should be frozen fresh. Then simply add the still-frozen food to the dish and the chanterelle sauce is ready in winter! However, if you let them thaw on the counter overnight, you may be in for a nasty surprise in the morning. Especially soft vegetables or fruit lose their cell structure when defrosting and can become mushy. Read our tips for freezing asparagus and the clever instructions for freezing beans.

Freeze dairy products

The most popular in this category is cheese. Especially with him, most people are unsure whether and how he can be frozen. The rule of thumb: raw cheese (cream cheese, goat cheese, or camembert) has high water content. This separates from the milk portion when it freezes. The same goes for yogurt or milk. If it is used for cooking or baking, it doesn’t do anything to it. After defrosting, it will have changed its structure. Cheese such as Gouda or mozzarella for baking is ideal for freezing. The taste is not affected by preserving it in the freezer.

Freeze Meat

Steaks or minced meat have a particularly short shelf life in the refrigerator. However, it is very useful to always have something in stock. So storing it in the freezer is a good idea. Raw meat can only be thawed once again. Therefore, it should be frozen in smaller portions. Ideally, a vacuum pack is used to freeze meat, but conventional freezer bags can also be used. The usual supermarket packaging is not suitable. It usually does not enclose the meat directly.

Consequently, it is advisable to pack it new and airtight. A rule of thumb for durability is the leaner, the more durable. Just seal it as airtight as possible.

Freeze baked goods

Bread and rolls and even dry cakes taste fresh from the baker after they have been baked for a short time. However, these foods should always be packed airtight. Cream cakes should be thawed slowly in the refrigerator and overnight. Slow, gentle thawing without violent temperature fluctuations is a tip that can be applied to all frozen goods. Read the article on freezing bread for more information.

Keep Reading
By
Food

Food and Recipes as Egg Substitutes

Food and recipes as an egg substitute at a glance. We have summarized numerous alternatives for the conventional chicken egg for you in this article.

Would you like to take the first step towards a healthier future and finally do without animal products? Then you will find various foods and recipes here as a substitute for eggs.

Pureed flaxseed as an egg substitute

Pureed flaxseeds are extremely good for binding multiple foods together. Simply put the desired amount of flaxseed with three times the amount of water in a bowl and mix it all together until a sticky, lively mass has formed. This mass can now simply be mixed with any other ingredients and then unfolds its binding effect. Alternatively, the same can be made with chia seeds, but these are not exactly cheap and should therefore not be used in large quantities. All in all, a perfect, inexpensive replacement for chicken eggs with the same properties!

Flea seed shells for binding desserts

What may sound a bit strange at first glance has a sensible background. Psyllium husks combined with water develop a jelly-like consistency that is extremely good for making desserts like pie fillings. Simply mix the flea seed shells with about twice the amount of water and then add to the cake dough. Thanks to its neutral taste and good binding properties, you get a perfect cake filling!

Ripe banana as an egg substitute for dough production

If you like the sweet taste of bananas, we have a rather unknown but good egg substitute here. Many people underestimate the many uses of this enchanting fruit that every household probably has. Just take a fork and mash the banana so you get a sticky substance. You then put this in your dough and that’s it. You will be amazed by this easy way to bake bread or something similar with it!

Applesauce for making dough

You’re probably wondering what all this nonsense is about, applesauce in the batter? But once you’ve tried it, you’ll ask yourself why you didn’t come up with this variant much earlier. Simply add the applesauce to the dough and then enjoy the excellent taste of your baked goods! It gives the whole thing a sweet note and is therefore well suited for biscuits or sweet baked goods. You can make the applesauce yourself or buy it from the supermarket.

Kala Namak

If you prefer the typical egg taste, but still want to do without eggs themselves, Kala Namak is just right for you! The sulfurous-flavored rock salt is perfect for seasoning egg-flavored dishes. Simply add a pinch of it to the desired product. A simple scrambled egg recipe consisting of chickpea flour seasoned with Kala Namak or a spread are just a few of the many uses of Kala Namak

Keep Reading
By
Food

Tips, Home Remedies and Food for Vitamin Deficiency

Many tips, natural home remedies, and healthy foods help with vitamin deficiency. Our ÜList of the best foods gives you a good overview.

Successfully combat vitamin deficiency

Vitamin deficiency can lead to accelerated aging of the body and susceptibility to diseases. However, taking vitamin preparations is not always the best remedy for this problem, because taking B2 vitamins in special preparations, for example, can lead to hypervitaminosis and intoxication of the organism. It is much better to eat foods rich in vitamins.

Suppliers of vitamin A

Vitamin A is important for healthy gums. Even nocturnal vision is only possible if the organism is sufficiently supplied with this vitamin. The main suppliers of this vitamin are carrots and eggs. Large amounts of vitamin A are also found in dried apricots, butter, camembert, milk, and liver. The easiest way to eliminate vitamin A deficiency is to drink a glass of carrot juice a day because it covers the daily need for this vitamin.

How to fight the lack of vitamin B1

A sign of vitamin B1 deficiency is increased aggressiveness. To suppress them, it is important to consume brewer’s yeast.

These foods contain a lot of vitamin B2

With milk and almonds, you can quickly cover your vitamin B2 deficiency. Typical signs of this are constant hair loss and an irritated scalp.

You can get vitamin B6 from these foods

Bananas, lentils, and salmon supply your body with this vitamin, which is immensely important for the immune system. This vitamin also controls the fat metabolism and amino acid metabolism, which is why there should not be a lack of it in the organism. And if you don’t like the products mentioned above or are not allowed to eat them, you can replace them with beef tenderloin, veal, or even chicken liver.

This is how you strengthen your immune system

Vitamin C is crucial for the normal functioning of the immune system. This is provided by citrus fruits, kale, kiwi, and peppers. Two oranges a day are enough to cover the daily vitamin C requirement.

Fight depression and weak bones

This is mostly caused by a lack of vitamin D. To combat the deficiency, you can expose yourself to direct sunlight for 30 minutes every day without sunscreen or eat foods rich in vitamin D. These include eel, herring, mushrooms, porcini, trout, and chicken liver.

Vitamin E is also not to be neglected

Because this ensures normal blood circulation in the human body. It also contributes to the normal functioning of the immune system. Nuts, wheat germ oil, eel, avocados, and red cabbage contain a lot of vitamin E. To cover the daily requirement, you can consume 20 grams of walnuts or 1 tablespoon of wheat germ oil, or 150 grams of eel per day. Alternatively, you are free to consume 50 grams of hazelnuts per day.

Keep Reading
By
health

Salt in Food is Harmful: Here’s How Cheese Can Protect Your Body

Cheese can be healthy? Yes! Many foods contain excessive amounts of salt, which is why many people exceed the daily recommended amount of salt. This can lead to kidney damage in the long term and damage the heart and blood vessels. According to a new study, cheese is the answer.

Too much salt excreted by the kidneys – significant water loss is associated

Too much salt in the body is primarily eliminated through the kidneys. There is a significant loss of water in the body. Over a long period of time, this puts a strain on the kidneys. Furthermore, the lack of water can lead to vasoconstriction and thus affect blood pressure and the heart. PennState University from Pennsylvania takes a closer look at this phenomenon.

Cheese is said to protect blood vessels from damage caused by excessive salt consumption

Accordingly, it is difficult to find a balance between delicious food and the right amount of salt, since a lot of food is characterized by a high salt content. Antioxidants in cheese have been found to help protect blood vessels from damage caused by high levels of salt in the body, in a new study from PennState University. Billie Alba, who led the study, confirms that the new findings could strike a balance between minimizing the risk of eating too much salt and eating tasty food.

Eleven adults follow four different diets for eight days

To support the theory that a diet containing cheese is good for blood pressure and heart health, 11 adults were included in the study. Each subject followed four different diets for eight days each: a low-sodium diet without cheese products, a low-sodium diet high in cheese, a diet high in cheese and sodium, and a high-sodium diet without cheese.

On the high-sodium diets, participants consumed 5,500 mg of salt per day, while those on the low-sodium diets only consumed 1,500 mg of salt. The cheese content in the high-cheese diets was about 170 grams, which translates to about four servings of different types of cheese per day. After each week-long diet, subjects returned to the lab for testing.

Drug acetylcholine helps with examinations

In order to obtain meaningful results, tiny fibers were placed under the skin of all test subjects and soaked with the drug acetylcholine. This ensures that the blood vessels relax. The blood vessels of each test person reacted differently to the drug – this allowed the function of the blood vessels to be measured. The subjects also had their blood pressure measured and urine tested to make sure they were consuming the right amount of salt.

Antioxidants in cheese have a positive effect on blood vessels

After the week-long high-salt, low-cheese diet, it was observed that the participants’ blood vessels did not respond as well to the acetylcholine and had more difficulty relaxing. This was not observed after the high-salt, high-cheese diet.

“While the participants ate the high-sodium chloride, no-cheese diet, you could see that blood vessel function dropped to levels seen in people at advanced cardiovascular risk,” said Lacy Alexander, professor of the cardiovascular system Exercise Science at PennState. “But when they consumed the same amount of salt and cheese was one of those sources of salt, those effects were completely avoided.”
While the test results cannot indicate that specific nutrients in cheese cause the effect, the antioxidants in cheese are considered contributing factors. According to Billie Alba, there is scientific evidence that milk-based nutrients, particularly peptides formed during the digestion of milk proteins, have beneficial antioxidant properties. This means they can scavenge these oxidant molecules, protecting them from their harmful physiological effects.

In the future, it is important to examine these effects in larger studies, as possible new mechanisms could help dairy products to maintain vascular health.

Keep Reading
By
health

Fast Food Can Trigger Dementia: Researchers Warn of Brain Atrophy Through Diet

Is there a link between eating fast food and dementia? Yes, say researchers from Australia. Accordingly, brain function can be significantly impaired by an unhealthy diet.

People would “eat their brains out” with fast food

The scientists at the Australian National University put forward the thesis that people who eat unhealthy food and do not exercise enough “the brain

The researchers presented the worrying results in the journal Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology. The Australian scientists evaluated around 200 international studies. They found that a person’s diet increases their likelihood of developing cognitive dysfunction.

Impaired brain function due to type 2 diabetes

Impaired brain function can result from type 2 diabetes, which is also triggered by fast food. However, there is also a direct connection between the performance of the brain and the diet – so the brain is damaged even without diabetes. ‘We found a clear link between brain deterioration and unhealthy lifestyle choices,’ the scientists explain.

Unhealthy Diet: Damage is irreversible

According to the researchers, anyone who had an unhealthy diet and exercised little up to their middle age can no longer reverse this damage – it is therefore irreversible. That’s why the Australians want to encourage people to think more about a healthy lifestyle and implement it as early as possible. This can protect you from dementia.

Keep Reading
By
Food

Vacuum and Preserve Food

Vacuuming food is made easy with lots of household tips. Food such as meat, fish, and vegetables can be sealed airtight in a bag using a vacuum sealer and thus be preserved for a long time. So use our clever step-by-step instructions for vacuuming.

What is a vacuum good for?

Especially if you want to go on vacation for a longer period of time and still have some fresh groceries in the fridge, it makes sense to vacuum them. This allows you to make food last longer and you don’t have to throw it away after your vacation. You can also save money by buying fresh fruit, vegetables, or meat on sale and then storing it longer. All you need for vacuuming food is a plastic bag and a sealing device with a vacuum function, which extracts the air from the bag contents and thus preserves the contents.

The pros and cons of vacuuming food

In addition to preserving food, another advantage of vacuum sealing is that you can store food in your fridge or freezer to save space. Accordingly, simply stack the individual bags on top of each other. There is no longer a need for bulky packaging material that takes up half your fridge. Read useful tips on how to store and preserve food properly. In addition, you can cook vacuum-packed meat with pinpoint accuracy and the food retains its shape, color, and taste. A disadvantage of vacuuming remains a large amount of plastic used, so this does not contribute much to environmental protection in the household. The time-consuming preparation of the food can also be annoying for some.

Tips on how to properly vacuum seal food

If you have decided on a vacuum sealer because you would like to stock up and want to make your food last longer, then you should heed the important tips below. Then you can use this type of food preparation sensibly:

1) Make fresh food last longer

In addition to freezing food, vacuum sealing is a good alternative to preserve as many nutrients as possible. The fresher the food you want to vacuum pack, the longer you can store it in the fridge or freezer. Therefore, first, remove the areas that no longer look so fresh. This means that the brown spots on the apple cannot spread any further.

2) Vacuum seal meat and fish

You can vacuum pack meat or fish with or without a marinade. You can then cook it in a water bath at the time of your choosing. In a sous-vide cooker, in particular, you can cook your vacuumed food with pinpoint accuracy. The advantage of low-temperature cooking in such an appliance is that the food, sealed in an airtight manner, retains its original shape and color. The aroma of the food is not lost during sous vide cooking either. Also, note tips for preserving fish and our instructions for freezing meat.

3) Vacuum soups and stews properly

If you want to preserve soups or stews, we recommend that you freeze the food in the freezer a few days before vacuum sealing. Then you can easily seal them airtight as a block of ice in the bag. If they are then used, you should plan time to defrost the food.

4) Vacuuming bread

Even bread can be preserved with a vacuum sealer. For this, cut it into slices or leave it whole. Then you can put the vacuumed bread in the freezer. Then, when you take it out to eat, you should let it thaw slowly. As soon as it is thawed you can bake it in the oven until crispy. In addition, read tips on baking bread and how to freeze fresh bread.

Buy a vacuum sealer online

If you are looking for a high-quality vacuum sealer at a fair price, then the Clamp Classic Pro 80 vacuum sealer is the right choice. In the comparison test this year, he is the winner. It convinces with its variety of functions and easy handling. It has a pressure regulation for sensitive food and has an LED progress indicator.

Keep Reading
By
Food

Unnecessary Food Waste: That’s How Much Food Ends Up in The Trash Every Year

Food waste is a global problem. Far too often food ends up in the trash. A study shows that people who buy healthy food often throw away more. This wastes a lot of resources – and harms the environment.

Study shows: Fruit and vegetables in particular end up in the trash

The study examined the relationship between diet quality, consumer food waste and various sustainability measures. A look at the results shows that between 2007 and 2014 an average of 422 grams of food per person was thrown away every day.

Important resources are used to grow fruit and vegetables: in particular, irrigation water and pesticides are required more than for other foods. These resources are also wasted by throwing away fruit and vegetables – important resources that could have been used to grow other foods.

Wasted resources – simple household countermeasures

Accordingly, consumers who strive for high-quality nutrition are faced with the challenge of buying the right amount. Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables means buying more – which in turn increases the risk that some of it will go uneaten and end up in the trash instead. According to the researchers from the USA, this could be particularly difficult for consumers with little time and money and for families with children.

However, there are some approaches to counteract this. For example, you can enter exactly when which meal is prepared on a plan. This way you can plan better. In addition, consumers can find out how to store fruit and vegetables correctly so that the food does not become inedible. Another option is to freeze the food in between.

Impact: Waste also harms the environment

The “Federal Environment Agency” also warns against the careless disposal of food in the garbage: The authority emphasizes above all the drastic consequences this has for the environment: “More than 38 million tons of greenhouse gases are produced every year, a good 43,000 square kilometers of agricultural land are used, as well as 216 million cubic meters of water are consumed”, reports the “Federal Environment Agency”.

Conclusion: A healthier diet often goes hand in hand with increased food waste. Fruit and vegetables in particular often end up in the garbage. This not only wastes resources, but also harms the environment. However, with a few simple tips and a greater appreciation for food, this can be countered a little in the household.

Keep Reading
By
Food

Food Rescue Tips: How Long Does Our Food Keep?

The best before date (MHD) is often understood as an expiry or use-by date. However, this is a big mistake. The Hamburg consumer advice center gives useful tips on how to save food and how long it can generally be eaten.

Risk of confusion between the best-before date and the use-by date

However, food that is actually bad no longer belongs on the plate. Food infections or mold toxins are not to be trifled with. More than 200,000 people fall ill every year, mainly due to poor kitchen hygiene, insufficient heating or insufficient cooling, according to the Hamburg consumer advice center. When stored and at the right temperature, foodstuffs can often still be eaten without significant losses in taste and quality or any health risk. As a rule, the food is still edible after the specified best-before date.

The consumer advice center points out that there are two different information on the expiry date. Specifically, the best-before date (MHD) indicates the point in time up to which the manufacturer can guarantee that the food will retain its properties such as smell, taste and nutritional value. However, this always refers to unopened – i.e. completely airtight packed – and correctly stored goods.

The use-by date, in turn, indicates by what point in time a perishable food such as minced meat must be consumed in any case. Food such as raw meat can pose an immediate health risk after just a short time and is therefore marked with the use-by date.

Shelf life of food: This is how long grain and dairy products, drinks, fruit and vegetables can be kept

When it comes to the shelf life of bread, a distinction must be made between fresh bread from the baker and home-baked and packaged bread from the supermarket. The latter lasts much longer – even beyond the best-before date.

Packaged Bread:
Thanks to the enzymes used in production, they can be kept for up to eight weeks and generally still edible after the best-before date has expired
Tip: store in airtight packaging at room temperature and not in the refrigerator. The cold temperatures spoil the bread faster

Fresh bread:
Wheat bread*: can be kept for up to three days
Mixed wheat breads*: keep for three to five days
Mixed breads: keep for four to six days
Mixed rye breads*: keep for five to seven days
Rye breads: keep for six to ten days
Rye meal/wholemeal breads*: keep for eight to twelve days
Tip: it is best to store the bread in clay or stone containers and wipe them out regularly with vinegar. Place sliced ​​bread cut side down and do not refrigerate

The useful life of grain products

Grain products are generally still edible after the best-before date has passed. However, if the best-before date is a little longer, the products should be checked for appearance, mould, smell and, of course, taste before consumption.

Noodles:
Hard and dry noodles can be kept for a very long time after the best-before date has passed
Fresh pasta can be stored in the refrigerator for between three and four weeks
Egg noodles should no longer be eaten after the best-before date
Tip: Make sure it is stored dry
Rice:
Can be kept for up to two years. The following applies: Because of the lower fat content, white, polished rice has a longer shelf life than brown rice
Tip: store dry and airtight
Flour:
Wholemeal flour and meal: shelf life between three and four weeks
Very fine flour: shelf life between two and three months
Very coarse flour: can be stored for up to more than a year
Tip: always store dry, cool, dark and above all tightly closed
Muesli and cornflakes:
Can be kept for months after the best before date has passed
in the event of mold growth, the entire muesli must be disposed of
Tip: always store dry and tightly closed

The lifespan of beverages

Some drinks, such as wine, can be kept for a very long time after the BBD has expired. In general, these are all drinks, but they should be checked for appearance, smell and appearance before consumption.

Mineral water:
Unopened, the bottles can be kept almost indefinitely
Tip: store in a cool, dark place. Plastic bottles in particular should be protected from direct sunlight
Cola:
Can be kept long after the best-before date has passed
However, cola can eventually lose carbon dioxide in PET bottles
Tip: always store in the dark

Juices:
In glass bottles: up to one year after the expiry date
In boxes: up to eight months after the expiry date
In plastic bottles: can be kept for up to three months after the best-before date
Once opened, it only lasts a few days
Tip: always store in a dark and cool place
Beer:
Generally good for months after the expiry date
Pasteurized, heavily hopped beers with a high alcohol content have a longer shelf life
Tip: store in a dark and cool place, avoid strong temperature fluctuations
Wine:
Shelf life varies greatly depending on alcohol and acid levels or cork
Can be kept between one year for normal quality wines and ten years for Beerenauslese wines
Red wine generally has a longer shelf life than white wine. If the bottles are stored horizontally so that no oxygen can get to the cork, red wine will last for many years (and is said to keep getting better)
Tip: store in a cool place and protect from direct sunlight

Milk and milk products – that’s the shelf life

As long as the milk or milk products are unopened, they can still be kept past the best-before date. But once they’re open, caution is advised.

Milk:
Unopened milk packs: best for approximately three days after the best-before date
Raw milk: two to three days after the best before date
Pasteurized milk: Shelf life approximately six days after the expiry date if refrigerated and unopened. Can be kept two to three days after the expiry date if opened
UHT milk: closed, keeps for around eight weeks after the best-before date, opened for around two to three days
Tip: store in a dark and cool place

Butter:
Stored cool: stable up to three weeks after the expiry date
Tip: It is best to store the butter in a butter compartment in the refrigerator in a porcelain or plastic butter dish
Cheese:
Whole pieces of cheese: can be kept for several weeks after the best-before date
Fresh cheese that has been opened or individual slices: can be kept for up to one week after the best-before date
Shrink-wrapped cheese slices: can be kept for up to three weeks after the best-before date
Cheese with a low water content has a longer shelf life
Tip: store in a dark and cool place and separate from other foods. The packaging should not be airtight
Yoghurt and quark:
Unopened: 10 to 14 days past the best before date
Once opened: 3 to 4 days after expiry of the best before date
Tip: store in a dark and cool place
Cream:
Unopened: Can be kept for about four weeks after the expiry date
Once opened: 3 to 4 days after expiry of the best before date
Tip: store in a dark and cool place

Perishable foods: fruits and vegetables

There is no best-before date for fruit and vegetables as they are among the perishable foods.

Fruit and vegetables generally do not have a particularly long shelf life, as their high water content makes them very susceptible to mould
if mold is severe, you should always discard the entire quantity of affected food – even the pieces where the mold is not obvious are likely to be affected
Tip: keep local varieties in the fridge and tropical fruits at room temperature. Apples and tomatoes should always be stored separately from other fruits and vegetables as they release ethylene. As the Hamburg consumer center explains, the plant hormone would accelerate the ripening process of the other fruits and they spoil faster as a result.

Keep Reading
By
Food

Store Food Properly and Preserve It

Now store food properly and make it durable. Keep edible food fresh for longer with simple storage tips. Storing food is a small art in itself, especially in the summertime.

Good fruit, fresh asparagus, or herbs spoil quickly. Dairy products, sausage, and meat can also pose health risks if stored and consumed incorrectly. Because heat and other factors quickly turn fresh food into spoiled goods.

Proper food storage

We like to enjoy food fresh. But who goes shopping every day? If you make a bulk purchase, you should store the groceries properly afterward so that the groceries stay fresher for longer. Because if stored incorrectly, food can quickly go bad. You also want to avoid throwing away food. Incorrect storage can also attract small intruders. So we have tips on how to store your groceries. Also, note tips for fighting food moths.

1) Preserve meat and sausages

Perishable goods should be stored particularly well and safely. The best way to do this is to pack it with a vacuum sealer and then store it in the freezer. For this, also read our instructions and tips for freezing meat. This will prevent frost burn caused by improper storage. And the inclusion of bacteria in the freezer bags is also avoided. Ultimately, even the so-called zip bags do not protect against the inclusion of too much oxygen and bacteria. It is best to store meat in the refrigerator at 0 – 4 degrees above the vegetable compartment this way you can preserve the food.

2) Fish is best fresh

When it comes to fish, it has to be said very clearly: it should ideally be eaten on the day of purchase. Storing fish is also possible, but should be considered. If you buy fresh plaice, trout, and the like, you can put them straight into the freezer. It is best to vacuum pack and place it in the freezer separately from the meat. This process should be as quick as possible from purchase to freezing. If a certain amount of care is not taken with the fish, there is a risk of pathogens such as salmonella or food poisoning. Also, note our article on recognizing fresh fish and preserving it.

3) Herbs belong in a glass or flower pot

Keeping herbs as food fresh longer is not that easy. This works best if you dry the herbs. Again, you need to store these foods properly. If you grow herbs such as sage, rosemary, oregano, basil, chervil, chives, and wild garlic yourself, you should place them well. Cut herbs should stand in a glass with fresh water. However, the glass must be able to stand in daylight. If not, the water threatens to tip quickly and the herbs are gone. Herbs can also be frozen. You can also wrap cut herbs in aluminum foil and put them in the fridge. As a result, you can effectively preserve these foods.

4) Fruit stays fresh for so long

Unfortunately, there is no uniform regulation for the correct storage of fruit. But many types of fruit should be stored in a cool place to stay fresh for longer. This is especially true on warm days. And storing different types of fruit together can also ensure that they ripen faster. Therefore, we give you an overview of the correct storage of the most popular types of fruit. In addition, you will find out in another article how you can drive away fruit flies. These foods are also suitable for drying.

5) Vegetables are usually stored in cool

Most vegetables should be stored in a cool or dark place. This allows you to keep these foods fresh for longer. But not all tolerate long storage in the refrigerator well, as they are sensitive to cold. Likewise, some types of vegetables can be deprived of their aroma by severe cold. If you want to be on the safe side, you can also store your vegetables in the cellar or on the balcony, provided of course that you always keep an eye on the temperature. Thus, these foods can be preserved well. Find out how you can get the vitamins when preparing vegetables. The preparation with the steam cooker often helps.

6) Cleverly store cookies

Cookies can also dry out quickly. To keep your cookies fresh longer, store them in a tin or plastic container. These should be lockable and airtight. Depending on the type, you can store and enjoy your biscuits at room temperature for two to four weeks.

7) Properly store bread in clay

Bread and rolls from the bakery can be stored very well in a clay or earthenware container. Room temperature is also advisable for proper storage. A bread container made of earthenware can effectively transport moisture to the outside. As a result, the bread does not mold as quickly and retains its fresh taste. For more tips, read our post on storing bread properly.

Keep Reading
By