Well, maybe not years. But did you know that you can keep a bunch of cilantro fresh for up to 10 days, if you know how to store it properly? Or that bananas will be edible 3 months from now if you mash them up with a little lemon juice, then store them in the freezer? Or how about keeping eggs for up to a year just by piercing the yolks, adding a little salt, then freezing them? Proper storage and preparation of food can preserve your food supply, allowing you to take advantage of locally grown produce, snap up bulk deals, and stock up on grocery items when they go on sale. Understanding shelf life can change your life.
Enter StillTasty — Your Ultimate Shelf Life Guide. This site can help you save money, eat better and help the environment by cutting down on wasteful food mismanagement. It’s free and simple to use. On the “Keep It or Toss It” page, you can search for items to find out how to store them and how long they will last. Or browse items by category, if you prefer. Have a question? StillTasty will answer it for you. There’s also a tip page called “Shelf Talk”, with interesting posts about various topics like expiration dates and defrosting frozen foods.
Think of all those times you let something decompose in the refrigerator. You had the best of intentions, of course, but life sometimes got in the way. We’ve all been there. If I could get all the money back that I’ve ever spent on ill-fated produce, I’d probably be flying to Aruba next weekend. (Now that’s a sobering thought!) Actually, a few years ago I had a bout with food poisoning from some dubious goat cheese, and afterward became fanatical about throwing things out. Kat jokingly calls me the Freshness Nazi. With StillTasty, I can be more of a Freshness Ninja.
By the way, some things are still tasty after all these years. Chocolate chips, for example. An unopened bag will stay fresh for up to 2 years in a cool, dry place.
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