How to store your leftovers properly

Jan 01, 2012 4:30 PM by SheKnows Food & Recipe Editors

Posted in How-To / Food & Kitchen How-tos

Save It For A Rainy Day

If you tend to have a lot of dinner parties or like to make extra meals for the week ahead, you know what a pain it can be to store the leftovers. Here are some basic how-to tips for storing fruits, veggies and meats.

Vegetables in containers

Watch: How to store leftovers

Tips for storing fruits and veggies

When it comes to left over party snacks like fruits and vegetables, make sure you store them in separate crisper drawers -- fruits in one and veggies in the other. Fruits give off an ethylene gas that can shorten the life of your vegetables.

When fruits have already been washed

It's best to store fruit in airtight containers. If left in an open, unsealed container for too long, your grapes and berries will have a shortened lifespan.

Also, choose your plastic containers wisely. Smaller containers will make it easier for you to grab your favorite fruit on the go.

When your vegetables come home from the store

Tomatoes, for instance, should be left out on the counter outside of any sealed container so they can fully ripen. When you're ready to use one in a go-to recipe, it will make for a tastier meal overall. However, smaller tomatoes and cherry tomatoes should be stored in an airtight container or a resealable bag in the fridge.

If you're not going to use them right away

Leave the fruits and veggies in their original containers and store in the refrigerator. Washing them will cause premature deterioration, so leave them alone until you're ready to chow down!

How to freeze anything >>

When it comes to storing meat

If uncooked, store the meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you know that it will be a while before eating it again, opt to store it in freezer for a longer life.

If the meat is cooked, store it in the coldest part of the refrigerator after making sure it's wrapped and sealed well in a container of your choice.