Keep your food fresh longer

Opening a drawer to find spoiled food stinks. Waking up to stale bread can derail your meal. And how did this avocado get so mushy overnight?

The shelf life of your food can depend on where and how you store it. Here’s what you need to keep your food fresh.

bananas bowl

Keep your bananas fresh

  • Wrap stems in plastic wrap.
  • Buy green bananas.
  • Place ripe bananas in the fridge.
  • Freeze your bananas.
  • Still have bananas? Find more recipes.
Ice crystal representing cold temperatures carton of milk

Milk it – tips for long-lasting milk

  • Store milk at the back of a shelf in the lower portion of your fridge.
  • Freeze fresh milk if you aren’t using it right away.
  • Buy ultra-pasteurized options, if you can.
Sliced avocados in a glass jar. Storage container with half an avocado and an onion.

Avoca-dos and don’ts

  • Don’t put a whole avocado in the fridge until it’s ripe – leave it on the counter to ripen first.
  • Refrigerate halved avocados in an airtight container with a slice of onion.
  • Leave the skin on.
  • Discover recipes that go beyond toast.

Chef Joel Storage Tips

Don’t toss it – Revive and thrive

Just got back from the store? Make your groceries last longer with simple tricks to perk up produce from last week.

  • Keep spinach fresh with a paper towel
  • Store herbs in water to extend their life
  • Use airtight containers for longer-lasting produce
  • Make lettuce and carrots crispy again
  • Soften stale bread instead of tossing it
See more videos
Spiral notebook with drawings of fresh food on the cover.

Use our food storage guide

Our complete guide to storing food throughout your kitchen.

You’re a food preservation pro. Now try other ways to reduce your food waste.