How to store food and drinks in summer

It's the season of the year when food waste reaches its peak. Yet it doesn't take much to avoid it. Here are 10 simple but highly effective tips.

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how to preserve food in summer
Buy only what you need and consume within a few days. Use the refrigerator, keeping in mind that some foods should be kept at room temperature, otherwise the flavors will alter. Pack your groceries quickly when you get home. These are some of the most important tips for store food well during the summer season, when the food waste They reach their peak. Especially in our homes. Sometimes due to pure distraction, in other cases due to having underestimated the lethal temperatures that put food at risk.
The chain at this point is clear: to avoid wasting food during the summer, you have to know how to preserve it and shop with particular attention. This is why we suggest our readers take a look at the ten commandments prepared by Movement for the defense of the citizen: 10 little rules, in practice some advice, which will allow you to have a summer with less waste e more savings.

ALSO READ: Fruit and vegetables: how to preserve them and avoid wasting them during the summer.

RULES FOR PRESERVING FOOD IN SUMMER

Let's see together, step by step, what are the simple gestures that allow us to preserve food well in summer, avoiding waste:

  • Don't forget the difference between expiry date and best before date.In the case of the minimum shelf life we ​​will find written "da consummate if preferably I enterThis is the date until which the food product retains its specific properties under appropriate storage conditions. Expiration date ( "da consumesi enter”) is the date by which the product must be consumed. Remember that this is only valid if you follow the storage instructions on the label.
  • Conservation methodCheck the label for the storage instructions and follow them to avoid triggering product degradation processes, which can accelerate in summer.
  • Don't break the cold chainBuy frozen foods last and use them thermal bags, so that the food is transported from the store to your home in the shortest possible time.
  • Do not waste timeAs soon as you get home, unpack your groceries right away to avoid interrupting the cold chain. Don't forget that your purchases were exposed to higher temperatures during the journey from the store to your home.
  • Know your fridgeKnowing the stars of your refrigerator It is very important to be able to evaluate the storage times of food. Due to the high temperatures, the refrigerator thermostat must be moved to a colder temperature compared to winter.
  • Beware of the 1-star fridgeStars classify the coldest compartments of the appliance. A 1-star refrigerator has no separate freezer, but a so-called ice compartment, which maintains a temperature below -6°C and can preserve frozen and deep-frozen products for up to a week. During warmer periods, be careful not to open and close the refrigerator frequently because you risk raising the temperature too much and defrosting the food.
  • "First in, first out“. Precisely because during high temperatures the foods purchased may have been more easily exposed to the heat, it is essential to respect the “first in, first out” rule, that is consume first the foods that were put first in the refrigerator.
  • Store at room temperature. As regards all those products that can be stored at room temperature, such as pasta or cookies, pay attention to move them if stored in areas particularly exposed to heat, where temperatures and humidity may be too high. Once opened, it's important to store them in closed containers.
  • Fruit and vegetables at the right point. As regards fresh products such as fruit and vegetables, choose products with the right degree of ripeness, therefore not too much maturiOnce home, store them in the designated compartment of the refrigerator (unless you want to consume them immediately) in paper bags.
  • Cook the food you buy as soon as you canAvoid leaving highly perishable foods that need to be cooked, such as fish or meat, out at room temperature or in the refrigerator for too long.

TO KNOW MORE: Apps against food waste: the 10 best to sign up for

WHERE DO YOU STORE PASTA IN THE SUMMER?

La pasta, like all grains, legumes, and flour, can be safely stored in the pantry or even on outdoor shelves in your kitchen during the summer. There are two precautions to keep in mind. Always check the expiration date, and if it's approaching, it's best to consume the product. Pasta in particular: if you've opened the plastic bag containing it, use large glass jars, hermetically sealed, for the remainder. Pasta, in fact, is more easily attacked by "farfalline“, and the risk of wasting it increases: so make sure the pantry is dry, clean it well (with a cloth soaked in water and vinegar) and check that there have been no attacks by parasites.

It doesn't take much

HOW TO PRESERVE BOTTLED FOOD DURING THE SUMMER?

To properly preserve bottled foods during the summer, it's not essential to place them all in the refrigerator. A fundamental rule: when you open a bottle of wine, beer, or any other beverage, whatever's left should be capped and stored in the refrigerator for quick consumption. As for water, however, it's absolutely essential. prevent plastic bottles from being exposed to the sun (It changes the flavor and can release toxic substances): therefore, store it in the pantry or refrigerator. Like any other beverage you've purchased. You can also skip the refrigerator step, if it's too busy, and chill it thoroughly in the freezer a few hours before drinking.

HOW TO WRAPPING FOOD IN SUMMER

To wrap food properly during the summer, you have to make some distinctions. Meat, fish, leftovers from lunch or dinner: it's best to use plastic containers that close tightly. Alternatively, cling film and plastic wrap are very effective. tinfoilFruit, vegetables, and greens, on the other hand, should be stored in paper bags (plastic is absolutely not recommended), either in the refrigerator or if you choose to leave these products at room temperature.

HOW TO PRESERVE SUMMER OIL

The risk of wasting oil, a condiment that, when of good quality, sells for high prices, becomes very likely during the summer. There is only one simple and effective countermeasure: store your oil supply in a cool place (other than the refrigerator), closed, away from light, heat, and air, in airtight containers. The ideal temperature for storing oil in summer is around 15 degrees Celsius. Finally, oil should never be stored in plastic, but only in glass bottles (covered to block out light) or in steel containers.

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HOW TO STORE FOOD WHILE TRAVELING OR ON A DAY AT THE BEACH

If your holidays include trips or long days at the beach, you'd do well to prepare yourself to preserve food and prevent it from spoiling. You need a thermal bag, perhaps with compartments that separate food from drinks. To keep everything cool, buy ice packs and put them in your bag: they're very effective. For coffee, tea, and after-meal drinks, use a classic thermos. If you're traveling by car, avoid packing the cooler in your luggage and carry it inside the car. If you're at the beach, always keep the cooler in the shade. Finally, avoid bringing foods with too many sauces or over-seasoning: they're the least suitable for travel and days at the beach.

THE BEST SUMMER RECIPES FOR RECOVERING LEFTOVER FOOD:

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