Continuing on from last week on safe food storage with tips from Matt and the team.
Dairy Pantry
¨ Long-life (UHT) milk should be kept in a cool, dry place before opening and once open, place in the fridge. Fridge
¨ All fresh dairy items (milk, yoghurt, cheese, butter) should be kept in the fridge at or below 5o C.
¨ Make sure items are covered or sealed.
Freezer
¨ Fresh milk can be frozen. It’s a great way to make sure you never run out of milk! (It does go a bit yellow upon freezing).
¨ Yoghurt can be frozen and although it does go quite hard and icy, is a good snack for hot days.
¨ Butter can be frozen for up to 8 months. Protein
Fridge
¨ Meat, chicken, fish and any animal protein should be stored in the fridge below 5o C.
¨ Cover all meat and place meat at the bottom of the fridge so that any juices that may escape don’t drip down onto the foods below.
¨ Store meat away from ready to eat foods, such as salad vegetables to prevent contamination.
¨ Meat should be thawed in the fridge or microwave.
¨ Never leave cooked meats at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. Keep hot food in an oven or on a stove, above 60o C until you are ready to serve. If not eaten within 2 hours, cooked meals should be refrigerated.
¨ Fish – Place on a plate or tray or in a lidded container, cover with a damp cloth and then with plastic wrap or the lid. Store in the coldest part of the fridge and use within 2 – 3 days.
¨ Eggs – Keep in their carton in the fridge.
Freezer
¨ Seal meat in convenient portion sizes in freezer bags with a description and date so you can keep track of what you’ve got.
¨ The amount of time meat can be kept in the freezer varies, with larger portions of meat e.g. uncooked roasts keeping for up to 12 months.
Healthy oils Pantry
¨ Oils – All oils are sensitive to heat, light and exposure to oxygen. Buy them in dark glass or metal cans. If it’s in clear glass, choose a bottle from the back of the shelf. It’s best to store cooking oils in the fridge or a cool, dry place. Oil should be kept for four to six months once opened and longer in the fridge.
Fridge
¨ Table spread – Store in the fridge.
¨ Nuts – To keep nuts in the best condition, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Nuts can be kept refrigerated for up to 4 months.
Freezer
¨ Table spread can be frozen for up to 8 months.
¨ Nuts can also be frozen for up to 6 months in an airtight container. Starch Pantry
¨ Bread – Store in an airtight container for 3-5 days, or until use-by date.
¨ Cereals – Store in an airtight container and consume before use-by date.
¨ Rice and Pasta – Store uncooked pasta in an airtight container and consume before use-by date.