Keeping Food Fresh

Let’s remember first of all that all foods are perishable. The main cause of deterioration is the attack of microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts, and fungi. One of the most common ways to keep food fresh is cold, something that has been used since the prehistory of humanity. There is notable evidence in different cultures about the use of snow and ice to preserve hunted game. Refrigerators first, freezers, and finally ice makers changed the reality of the world starting in the 1930s, when the first frozen foods emerged. Let’s look at some tips that will help keep food fresh, very simple and practical. Buy and Freeze - Always check the expiration dates of packaged products. - Regularly purchase vegetables and fruits at a greengrocer, allowing you to access these fresh products in the quantities you need each day. - If you shop at a supermarket, load frozen foods and those kept in refrigerators into your cart last. This will prevent breaking the cold chain until you get home. Take the precaution of storing these foods immediately in the refrigerator or freezer as soon as you unpack your groceries. - If you do your shopping once a week or over longer periods, separate the products that can be stored in the refrigerator for immediate use, and those that should be stored in the freezer for consumption over a longer time. - If you store fruits and vegetables in plastic bags in your refrigerator, make it a rule to change them every 3 days to avoid moisture buildup that can be used by microorganisms. - Every container or bag for freezing must be completely clean. - When adding new foods to the freezer, place them behind the ones you already had. - There are foods like bread, cakes, butter, among others, that absorb odors and/or flavors. These should be stored separately from those that emit odors. - To keep the freshness of canned foods once opened, never leave them in their cans but place them in airtight containers. Defrosting - When defrosting foods from the refrigerator, you can leave them inside the refrigerator to reach normal temperature, use the microwave, or immerse the package or container in cold water. - Do not refreeze a defrosted food unless its state changes (raw to cooked). - Some foods lose their texture and quality if exposed to the cold of a refrigerator. This is the case for bananas, certain fruits, and vegetables. These should not be frozen. - If you have any doubts about changes in texture, smell, or color of a food, do not hesitate to discard it from your refrigerator. Keeping food fresh will help protect the health and well-being of your family. Below we leave you some recommended recipes to make the most of your purchases and all the foods in your refrigerator. Lemon Mousse A cold lemon dessert, delicious for summer and heat. It’s ideal if prepared a day in advance. Herb Potato Salad A delicious and simple potato salad that can be prepared a day in advance. Fish Wrapped with Tomatoes and Olives Fish cooked in wax paper with tomatoes, thyme, and olives. Pickled Shrimp This pickled shrimp cocktail tastes delicious as a snack accompanied by crackers. Prepare it a day in advance. Couscous A good change from rice, couscous is a typical grain of the Mediterranean. In this case served with almonds. Asparagus with Mustard Vinaigrette A delicious side dish or starter.