Lockdown Food Storage Hacks

In times of the pandemic, knowing how to freeze and thaw food properly is crucial to avoid waste and ensure family health and well-being during this tough time. Even though supermarket visits are permitted, the idea behind containment is to decrease the frequency of shopping and master these handy food storage hacks.

Let’s start with fresh fruits

Purchasing and storing fresh fruits are burdensome during confinement. According to the nutritionist’s the most resistant fresh fruits are - apple, orange, lemon (excellent for immunity), guava, melon, and pineapple. Another important tip, remember to freeze the fruits as they will retain most of the nutrients and flavors.

The next time you’re in vegetable shopping, keep in mind, the greenish looking ones are ones that can be stored longer, and the ripe ones are meant for short term and immediate consumption.

Fresh tomatoes, which are also fruits, can be better preserved in sauces and have a shelf life of up to 3 days in the refrigerator, but 30 days in the freezer.

If you want to freeze ripe fruits for long term

Cut them into small or medium pieces and squeeze the lemon juice on all the pieces. Place those in the right freezer pots or food bags, and remove all possible air and close it.

Tips to store vegetables and keep them fresh for longer

As per the nutritionists, the most resistant fresh vegetables are celery, broccoli, onion, potato, sweet potato, yam, carrot, pumpkin. Remember that garlic and ginger are excellent allies for our immunity. Thus, always keep them in stock.

To keep the vegetables fresh for a more prolonged period, remove the greens and vegetables from the packaging at the supply centers, clean them, and store them in large bowls.

Another solution, prepare large quantities of soup and cook stews or other vegetable dishes and freeze it. You will be able to consume it for several days by just quickly reheating at the time of eating.

Replace fresh products with dry or canned food

Fresh produce is almost always the perfect choice, but if you can't find them, there are many natural and healthy solutions available to store and prepare. Canned beans and chickpeas provide superb nutrients and can be accommodated in innumerable ways. You can also store them for months or even years. Canned fatty fish, such as sardines, mackerel, and salmon, are rich in protein, omega 3 fatty acids, as well as vitamins and minerals. These canned products act as great lockdown recipes. You can cook them or eat them cold in a sandwich, a salad or pasta.

You can also store grains and cereals such as rice, lentils, oats, corn, pasta, and take advantage of them being long-lasting and in-taking nutritional benefits. Thus, before placing supplies in pantries, store them in glass jars or wash the packages with soap and water, and spray 70% alcohol or chlorinated solution.

For a nutritious breakfast, you can cook oatmeal in milk or water and enjoy it with yogurt, pieces of fruit, or raisins.

Build a stock of diet snacks

Children often need one or two snacks during the day to recharge their batteries. Instead of giving them sweet or savory foods, opt for healthier products: nuts, cheese, yogurt (preferably sugar-free), fresh or dried fruits, hard-boiled egg, or other local choices. These solutions are better nutritionally and more satisfying. Also, you are helping your children develop good eating habits that will last a lifetime.