Mia, Myself and I

How to Save Money on Food – Tips to Keep Your Produce Fresh

How do you save money on food? There’s nothing more frustrating than opening up your fridge and seeing all that expensive produce rotting in the fridge drawer. If you’re tired of throwing away moldy and rotten produce there are a few simple things you can do to prolong its freshness.

Our fridge temperature is probably one of the last things that’s ever on our mind. The temperature inside your fridge should be between 32F and 41F. If it’s too warm, food won’t be chilled correctly and bacteria will start to multiply. While if its too cold, ice particles will form within the food.

Avoid storing fresh produce in the plastic packaging in which it’s sold. Air should circulate around fruit and vegetables to prevent them from sweating and becoming soggy.

Potatoes: Stop potatoes from sprouting by storing them in a cool, dry place with a few apples. If you’ve peeled too many or have peeled them in preparation for cooking, put them in a bowl. Then cover them with water, and place the bowl in the fridge.

Lettuce: This is one exception to the no-plastic rule because it seems to thrive if it’s kept loose in a large plastic bag in the fridge. A good way to revive limp lettuce is to slice off a sliver of the stem and place the lettuce in a bowl of cold water. Individual leaves can be revived if you sprinkle them with cold water, wrap them in a tea towel and pop them in the fridge for an hour or so.

Carrots, beetroots and turnips: Cut off any green, leafy tops because these will continue to draw nutrients from the roots. Like all root vegetables, carrots will last longer if they’re kept in a cold, dry, dark place with good ventilation.

Lemons: After you’ve cut a lemon in half, place the halves cut side down on a saucer. Then cover them with an inverted glass and store them in a cool place.

Celery: Celery starts to lose its flavor as soon as it’s washed. The best way to store a piece of celery is to stand the stalk upright in a glass of water before placing it in the fridge.

Mushrooms: Store mushrooms in a cool, dark place, but not the fridge. I find that they last longer if they are wiped dry and laid on a piece of paper towel.

Onions: Onions are easy to store. Just put them into a vegetable basket or wire rack. The trick to preventing them from rotting is to keep the bulbs apart so that air can circulate around them.

Tomatoes: Some people like their tomatoes rock hard, while others prefer them soft. Green tomatoes, along with any that haven’t fully ripened, are best stored in a dark place. Exposing them to sunlight simply makes them soft not ripe. To ripen them, place them either in a brown paper bag with an apple or in a drawer, stalk side up, and leave them until they’ve turned rosy red.

Apples: Remove unblemished apples to prevent them from contaminating the others with their rot.

Saving money on food is more important than ever before, especially with produce prices at all time highs. Why not give these tips a try? Over the course of a year you’ll be surprised at how much you’ll actually save on your grocery bill.

About the Author

You may have heard about an infomercial product called Debbie Meyer Green Bags. They claim to keep your produce fresh for much longer. Please have a look at my honest review as well as several As Seen on TV kitchen gadget reviews at my blog HonestInfomercialReviews.com.

Fresh Produce

Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler $185.00 The Cuisinart(tm) Griddler makes “multifunctional” an understatement! Make perfect panini… plus! With four separate cooking options, it can handle everything from pancakes to sausages to grilled cheese to steaks, hamburgers and panini. It helps you prepare more servings of more kinds of food in less time, so you can cook for a crowd — no one has to wait!Simply change the cooking plates and adju…

Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker $165.00 A striking blend of retro style and modern technology. Programmable for brewing up to 24 hours in advance. Setting for 1 to 4 cups ensures full-bodied flavor and aroma. BrewPause™ feature lets you enjoy a cup before brewing is finished. Adjustable heater plate setting keeps coffee at the temperature you prefer. Audible “ready” signal. Automatic shutoff. Includes Gold Tone metal filter, #4 pap…

Flip & Tumble Reusable Produce Bags, Set of 5 Flip & Tumble’s reusable produce bags are draw-string polyester bags which resist staining and shrinking better than natural fiber bags. Plus, the fine mesh produce bags allow you to use them for smaller bulk items. Breathable, durable polyester; See-through mesh produce bags for easy checkout; Smart alternative to plastic produce bags; Compact & lightweight with drawstring closure; Saves time at …

Fresh Produce $16.98 Label: Ntone – NTONE CD 39 Format: CD, Album Country: UK Released: 2000 Genre: Electronic Style: Downtempo…

Big Willie Style $5.43 1. Intro 2. Y’all Know 3. Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It 4. Candy 5. Chasing Forever 6. Keith B-Real I (Interlude) 7. Don’t Say Nothin’ 8. Miami 9. Yes Yes Y’all 10. I Loved You 11. Keith B-Real II (Interlude) 12. It’s All Good 13. Just the Two of Us 14. Keith B-Real III (Interlude) 15. Big Willie Style 16. Men in Black…

Angels Calling $13.55 …

Rubbermaid 7J93 Produce Saver Square Food Storage Containers Set of 8 $16.29 * Produce saver * Fresh vent and crisp tray keeps produce fresh and crisp longer * Lids and trays snap to bases and each other for easy and organized storage * Microwave, freezer, and dishwasher safe * Square design * 8-piece set includes: one 14-cup, one 5-cup, and two 2-cup food-storage containers, with four lids…

Whirlpool 8171398SRB Refrigerator Deodorizer $5.67 This Whirlpool refrigerator deodorizer keeps fruit and produce fresher longer. It absorbs powerful refrigerator odors, including onion, garlic and fish. It contains high absorbency activated charcoal which is 50 times more powerful than baking soda! For best results use in conjunction with Whirlpool’s Ice Cube and Freezer Deodorizer and replace every 3 months. To use, remove protective film and pl…

Rubbermaid 7J92 Produce Saver Square 14-Cup Food Storage Container $7.96 14 Cup, Produce Saver, Square, Food Storage Container, Keeps Produce Fresh & Crisp Longer, Fresh Vent Provides Airflow, Crip Tray Raises Produce Out Of Moisture, Easy-Find Lids Snap To Bottom Of Base & To Each Other, Lid Made To Fit Several Size Bases, Bases & Lids Nest Inside Each Other For Compact Storage, Super Clear Base For Better Visibility of Contents, Square Shape For Better Storage….

Navitas Naturals Goji Berries, 16-Ounce Pouches $16.31 Goji berries have been used in Asian herbal medicine for over 5,000 years. This bag contains 100% pure goji berries that are certified organic, vegan and kosher. The goji berry is one of the most nutrient-rich foods on earth. It is a vegetarian form of protein, packed with essential amino acids, rich in vitamin A and a good source of vitamin C. Goji berries possess over 20 trace minerals and vitam…