The Philosophy Of How To Store Food Correctly

Food storage is an important component of food security, and food safety is also a great helpful to enhance the shelf life of food without affecting its nutritional value and freshness. Improper storage may lead to food contamination and will cause significant health hazards to human beings.

Proper food storage by following food safety and storage guidelines can reduce the risk of foodborne sickness. Moreover, food will stay fresh for a longer time, and people can save a good amount of money.

Furthermore, it is also helpful to reduce waste production and thus is beneficial for economic and environmental sustainability.

Importance of Food Storage

Food storage is significantly important for the preservation of nutritional quality, and value of food. Proper food storage is greatly beneficial for the prevention of foodborne illness, and health hazards.

Freezing and refrigeration improves the shelf life of food by multiple times and does not cause any harm to the food quality, and nutritional contents.

Food storage is also helpful to cope with everyday emergencies and reduces needs for thawing, chopping, and offers quick, and safe eating options.

Moreover, household waste is also reduced, and a good amount of money can be saved.

Tips to Store Dry Foods

Dry foods can be stored by packing the clean, and dry containers or packets. These foods are more susceptible to moisture reabsorption, and insect contamination, so their proper packing is key most important for good storage.

Before packing, food should be properly cooled as warm food may cause sweating in the packet and will promote conditions for mold growth.

Dry food can be placed in dry and clean home canning jars, plastic containers for freezers, or plastic freezer bags.

Vacuum packaging is also a good option for dry food storage. Only that amount of food that can be consumed at a time, should be packed in one packet. Reopening of packet can expose food to moisture, and air, and greatly reduce its quality.

Dried foods must be stored in the dark, dry, and cool areas, for a maximum time limit of 1 year. These foods should be frequently checked during the storage conditions and problems should be immediately corrected.

If dry food is not spoiled but is affected by the moisture can be repackaged after re-drying.

Tips to Store Wet Foods

Wet foods contain more water contents and should be stored with more care. These foods can be stored in the refrigerators and sometimes can also be stored at room temperature in the dry, and cool areas.

Washing and storing wet food helps to make a more convenient cooking and eating experience.

These foods can also be stored by wrapping in the damp paper towel, or in the glass of cold water. Storage point should be away from sunlight, and excess heat should also be avoided in the surrounding areas.

They can also be directly placed in the fridge, and refrigerators, but it is necessary to keep a good eye to check their quality.

Tips to Store Cooked Food

Cooked, and leftover food should be properly cooled before storage. Usually, cooked food is stored in the refrigerators so direct placement of hot food in the refrigerator may cause problems.

Food containers can also be placed on the cooling racks to allow proper air circulation for around 20-30 minutes.

Cooked food should be loosely covered in the refrigerator as it helps the heat escape and offers good protection from accidental contamination. Cooked food can also be stored in the freezer bags.

The thickness of freezer bags is more than the ordinary storage bags, so they are significantly helpful to keep the food fresh for a longer time.

Freezing and thawing of food can be accelerated by storing and freezing the food in flattened and thinner freezer bags. Packets containing cooked food can also be labeled to avoid mixing, and doubtful situation.

Tips to Store High-Risk Food

High-risk foods are more prone to bacterial contamination, fungal attack, and spoilage.

These foods should be stored at 5 degrees Celsius or less. These foods should not be touched by hands and disinfected, and clean utensils should be used to prevent cross-contamination.

High-risk food should be properly covered during storage and its direct contact with other food items, and substances should be avoided. The use of colored chopping boards is also a good approach to reduce the risk of contamination for the high-risk foods.

In this way, people can chop different foods on different boards, and the problem of contamination will be greatly reduced.

Guidelines to Store Restaurant Foods

Restaurant food should be stored according to the nature of food, and its cooking conditions. This food should be stored in the dry, and dark areas. Food storage at a place receiving direct and intense sunlight should be avoided. Some vitamins, such as E, K, D, and A are fat-soluble, and they can degrade in the presence of sunlight.

Humidity levels should also be less than 15% at the storage place. The use of the air conditioning system, and moisture-proof packaging is also a good approach to preserve restaurant food.

Storage according to specific cooking conditions, and temperature is greatly recommended to improve its shelf life.

Food Storage Temperature Chart

Food storage temperature charts are provided with necessary guidelines for storing different kinds of food.

This chart offers conservative and short time to protect food from spoilage and taste loss. This chart offers complete instructions to preserve dough, bread, cakes, cookies, pies, dairy, eggs, fruits, vegetables, beverages, meat, soup, stews, poultry, pizza, seafood, and staples.  

Conclusion

Food safety and food storage is a matter of healthy life and should never be overlooked. Proper food storage is an essential element of quality control. Any mismanagement and mishandling may lead to food spoilage due to cross-contamination, and unhygienic conditions. While, the nature of different food types is different, so they should be stored and protected according to requirements, and recommended instructions. This will greatly reduce the burden of sickness, waste production, and will bring economic stability, and wellness.