Government body ends rows over ‘what food goes where’ by publishing a complete storage guide

No more shopping quarrels: New government guidance advises the best way to store food – including putting eggs in the FRIDGE and onions in a cupboard

  • WRAP, government watchdog, has given advice on how to avoid food waste 
  • They’ve created the ultimate guide on where to effectively store your foods 
  • Also given tips on how to make most of ingredients before throwing them away 
  • Apples should be kept in the fridge in their original packaging and monitored  

A government watchdog has created a comprehensive food storage guide that should settle any row over what product belongs where. 

WRAP, the UK government’s watchdog on food waste, published the A – Z of Food storage on its Love Food, Hate Waste website. 

The guide not only tells homeowners which food goes in the fridge and which is best placed in the cupboard, but it also gives useful tips on whether or not they should be frozen – as well as advising on how to get the longest shelf-life out of them.  

The guide, which covers everything from aubergines and eggs to pasta and rice, aims to encourage shoppers to buy and store their food cleverly and to limit food waste, which is on the rise in the UK after the easing of lockdown. 

A government watchdog has released a comprehensive guide on how to store your food to avoid food waste (stock picture)

The storage guide advises that apples should be stored in the fridge ‘in their original packaging,’ as they will last longer there than in a fruit bowl. 

They can be frozen after being cooked in boiling water and sliced, and can be re-used for apple sauce or cakes. 

The advice also suggests ‘keeping an eye’ on any bad apples and to separate the ones that seem to be ripening more quickly, from the others. 

When the apples get wrinkly, they can be used in a chutney, stew, or even a smoothie, so as not to go to waste. 

Bananas should never be kept in a fridge because they will go black. It's best to keep them in a dry and cool place like a cupboard

Bananas should never be kept in a fridge because they will go black. It’s best to keep them in a dry and cool place like a cupboard

Bananas and pineapples, however, should not be popped into the fridge but should be kept somewhere ‘cool,’ like a cupboard, according to the official guidance. 

In contrast, eggs should also be kept in their packaging – for extra protection – and placed in the fridge.

Dips are best stored in the fridge with their lids firmly on, as it will make them last longer, while hummus can be frozen if kept in an ‘airtight container with some space at the top’ – but should be defrosted in the fridge. 

While meat is an ingredient that obviously belongs in the fridge, the guide offers top tips to use if you don’t want to throw away any leftovers.  

Onions should be kept in a dry, cool and dark place, ideally in a cloth bag in order to help them last longer (stock picture)

Onions should be kept in a dry, cool and dark place, ideally in a cloth bag in order to help them last longer (stock picture)

For instance, leftover bacon from breakfast can be chopped and reused as a topping on a salad or can be added to soup, stew and bakes. 

Meanwhile, items that should always be kept in a cupboard include onions of all colours and potatoes, which should be stored in a dark, cool and dry place, ‘ideally in a cloth bag’ and away from strong smelling items.  

The list is full of useful storage tips as well as budgeting advice. For example, it advises buying a big block of cheese, grate it yourself and freeze it for later, instead of buying the pricier pre-grated ones. 

And when it comes to drink, fizzy ones should be bought in smaller quantities in order to avoid waste, while flat drinks can be turned into iced lollies during the summer. 

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