40 DIY Tricks To Make Your Groceries Last As Long As Possible

Keep Honey from Crystallizing

Honey is delicious but it can crystalize quickly. Honey is actually the only food that never spoils but it can turn sugary after a while. Just place the entire jar of honey in a glass container with a bit of water in the bottom and put it on a candle warmer. This helps to de-crystallize it and makes it wonderfully warm so it pours out easily.
Via – Pinterest

Store Rooted Veggies in Pots

Instead of storing rooted vegetables and herbs in the fridge, you can actually store them in pots filled with sand. Just place them in a flower pot, cover the roots with clean sand and then take them out as you need them. Keep the pot in a cool, dark area. This works great for carrots and ginger.
Via – Doorsixteen

Keep the Fridge Clean

If something in your fridge spoils, you will be able to smell it and it will leave behind mold that can find its way to other food. Clean your fridge out at least once a week or so and if you do have food that has gone bad, be sure to disinfect with bleach when you clean. Keeping a clean fridge will ensure that all of your food stays fresher longer.
Via – MarthaStewart

Store Onions in Pantyhose

Pantyhose are great for storing onions. Not only are they relatively cheap, they can help you to keep your onions edible for up to 8 months. Just purchase a cheap pair of pantyhose (unless you have an old pair lying around that you want to use) and be sure to tie a knot in between each onion. This is great for storage because it keeps onions fresh and it is easy to hang in your panty or even on the kitchen wall. Via – Seriouseats , Photo

Freeze Green Onions in Plastic

If you drink bottled water or even sodas in plastic bottles, save a few of them for storing green onions. Just cut the onions up and make sure that they are completely dry so that they do not get freeze burn. Pour them into the plastic bottle, date it and then freeze. This is a great space-saving way to keep green onions around for a while and when you need them, you just have to pour out the amount that you need and stick the rest back in the freezer.
Via – Lunchinabox

Buy an Ethylene Gas Absorber

Ethylene gas absorbers are great for the fridge. You can get 3 for around $15 and they will absorb the ethylene gas that fruits and vegetables emit. This helps to keep them fresher for a much longer period of time. In fact, you can keep fruits and veggies up to 3 times longer by absorbing the ethylene that they produce.
Via – Amazon.com

Store Herbs in Plastic

How you store your herbs is synonymous with how long they will last. To keep them longer, cover with plastic wrap and secure with a rubber band. Place them in the refrigerator and pull them out as you need them. This is a great method for keeping basil, cilantro, chives and other herbs fresh
Via – Thekitchn

Store Oily Herbs in the Pantry

Oilier herbs such as thyme should be tied together and then hung somewhere that they will get air. You can place them in the pantry if your pantry is relatively large or just hang them on the kitchen wall. Not only will this keep them fresh, it gives you a great decoration for your kitchen walls.
Via – Pinterest

Purchase an Herb Savor

If you tend to use a lot of different kinds of herbs, an Herb Savor is a great investment. The Herb Savor is simply a kitchen gadget that is proven to make herbs last for up to 3 weeks longer than traditional storage methods. It has a water base and is a great storage choice for asparagus and many different herbs.
Via – Amazon.com

Use Vinegar to Make Berries Last Longer

Soaking berries in a vinegar and water solution before you store them in the refrigerator will make them last for several days longer than simply putting them in the fridge. Just add one part vinegar to 10 parts water and swirl the berries around for just a few seconds. Rinse and store. Strawberries can last up to two weeks longer using this method.
Via – Passionforsavings

Use Cooking Spray on Guacamole

If you have left over guacamole, spray it with just a bit of cooking spray before you store it. The oils from the cooking spray will help to keep your guacamole from turning brown. You can also keep the pit from the avocado in the guacamole because the pit contains natural oils that will also help to preserve it and keep it from turning.
Via – Onegoodthingbyjillee

Store Onions and Potatoes in Separate Places

Onions and potatoes should never be stored together. If you do put them in the same place, your potatoes will spoil much faster. Store onions in a cool, dry area to make them last longer and keep potatoes on a separate shelf or hanging across the room from the onions.
Via – Thevspotblog, Photo

Store an Apple with Potatoes

If you have an apple sitting around, put it in the bag or bin with your potatoes. The apple will keep the potatoes from sprouting which will help them to last much longer. Just throw a red or green apple into the potatoes and then replace it whenever you buy new potatoes.
Via – Rubbercowgirl

Check Your Apples Daily

There is an old saying that one rotten apple will spoil the bunch. This is actually a true statement. One apple that is going bad will bring the other apples down with it. You should ensure that you check your apples daily to make certain that you do not have a rotten one and if you do, throw it out to protect other apples.
Via – Thedailymeal

Butter Will Help to Keep Cheese Fresh

Before you store a block of cheese, add just a bit of butter to the cut side. This will help to keep the cheese from drying out. Just spread the butter on the end that is cut and then store the cheese as normal. The oils in the butter protect the edges of the cheese and ensure that you do not have to cut away hard, crusty cheese when you use it again.
Via – Thedailymeal

Never Use Plastic on Cheese

Contrary to what you may have learned in the past, you should never wrap cheese in plastic wrap. Wrap it in wax paper instead and then store it in a plastic baggie. You should also keep your cheese in the warmest area of your refrigerator such as in the door or a vegetable bin.
Via – Thekitchn

Freeze Fresh Herbs

You can freeze fresh herbs to make them last longer. Just cut them up and add them to an ice cube tray and cover with olive oil. Once they are frozen, you can take them out and place them in a plastic freezer bag if you want. Remember to date and label the bag so that you know what is in it and when you froze it.
Via – Thekitchn

Keep Foods in the Right Places

Just shoving foods into your fridge will likely see many of them spoiling. It is essential that you check the temperature of your refrigerator and ensure that it is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Never mix meats with fruits and vegetables in a crisper drawer and don't slice your foods until you are ready to use them. Before you head out to restock your fridge, make sure that you pull older foods toward the front and rotate them so that you use those first.
Via – Squawkfox

Store Asparagus Like Flowers

When storing asparagus, think flowers. Just cut the stems and place them in a container of water. Cover with plastic and store in the fridge. You can use a rubber band to hold the plastic in place and this is a good method for storing parsley and other herbs as well. It will keep asparagus fresh for at least a week.
Via – Alwaysorderdessert

Wrap Bananas Before Storing

Actually, you don't have to wrap the entire bunch of bananas, but if you wrap the crown with just a little plastic wrap, the bananas will stay fresh for nearly a week longer than normal. Keep bananas stored on the counter and away from other fruits and veggies because they produce a large amount of ethylene gas which can cause other fruits and veggies to spoil faster.
Via – Snapguide