Extend Freshness with These Food Refrigeration Tips
Improper food storage practices can lead to dry ingredients and bland flavors. Instead of throwing everything into your walk in cooler, you can save money by utilizing food storage techniques to extend the freshness of your food. Contrary to popular belief, the following foods should never be refrigerated.
Herbs, spices, and other cooking ingredients. Grocery stores usually keep fresh herbs refrigerated, but once you get them into the kitchen, store them in a glass of room-temperature water until you’re ready to use them. For flavor that packs a punch, ground or dried spices should never be cold. Most cooking oils can also be safely stored out of the fridge, but certain oils, like safflower or sunflower oil, should stay in the walk in cooler. Just remember that health code compliance requires all food storage containers to be appropriately identified.
Tomatoes and other produce. Tomatoes are commonly stored in the refrigerator, but they would actually benefit from room-temperature storage. Cold temperatures cause tomatoes to become soft and mushy, losing that fresh-picked taste. The FDA recommends that cut tomatoes, on the other hand, be stored at 41°F or less. Many different fruits and vegetables are actually in the same boat; although they’re commonly stored in the refrigerator, apples, onions, avocados, peppers, bananas, oranges, and other citrus fruits all do better stored at room temperature. However, once they’ve been cut into, they should be refrigerated in an airtight container.
Potatoes. Like the fruits and veggies previously mentioned, potatoes should also be stored in a cool, dark area instead of the fridge. When potatoes get too cold, the starches turn into sugar, ruining the taste and texture for picky customers.
Condiments and more. Contrary to popular belief, many condiment-type foods can actually be stored in a cool, dark area after they’ve been opened. Hot sauce, ketchup, pickles, peanut butter, jelly, some salad dressings, and other items high in preservatives will keep just fine in a pantry. If these products are used on tables or handled by customers, other health code restrictions may apply. You should check your state’s health code regulations for specifics.
Bread. While you’re taking the peanut butter and jelly out of the fridge, grab that loaf of bread as well. Storing it in your walk in cooler will cause it to dry out faster, so keep it on the counter or in the pantry, and it’ll stay fresher longer.
Photo Credit: Peyri Herrera
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