Best way to store food

Some handy tips on how to keep your food fresher for longer.

• Rinse berries in vinegar water — 1 part vinegar, 10 parts water — before putting them in the fridge to kill any mold spores. Raspberries will last up to one week, and strawberries up to two.

• Wrap banana stems in plastic wrap because they produce ethylene gas, which makes the fruit ripen faster. To keep them fresh even longer, separate the bananas and wrap each stem individually.

• Store herbs like you would store flowers — with a tiny twist. Place them in a jar of water and drape a bag over the top to keep in moisture, then store them in the fridge. Same goes for asparagus.

• Keep lettuce in a bag with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture, and store it in an airtight bag in the fridge to keep it from drying out.

• Don't chop up fruit, veggies, or meat until you're ready to use, since exposure to the air will make them dry out or go bad faster.

• Want to make onions last? Try storing them in pantyhose in a cool, dry, dark place. The air circulation will keep them from getting moldy, and they should stay fresh for about six months.

• Store potatoes with apples to keep them from sprouting. Don't store them with onions, because both release moisture and gases that cause the other to go bad faster.

• Wrap cheese in parchment or wax paper — not plastic wrap or tin foil — or it will dry out because it's not getting enough oxygen.

• Keep your fridge clean to prevent mold and other microbes from growing, and don't overstock it. Air needs to circulate to keep things cool.

• Store red spices — paprika, cayenne, and chili powder — in the fridge to keep them fresher and brighter. Light and heat can make them lose their color and flavor.

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